The Plum Charmer will be one of the festival highlights (Photo: Paul Jackson)
When: 28th July – 30th August 2013
Where: Pershore, Vale of Evesham, Worcestershire
£: Ticket prices vary (Plum Tours cost £12 for adults, £11 for OAPs and £9 for children, Pershore Jazz Festival tickets from 13). Some events are free.
What is it?
The British plum season officially begins on 28th July with the start of the Pershore Plum Festival in Worcestershire’s Vale of Evesham.
The area is renowned for its acres of orchards which attract thousands of visitors to both the festival in the summer and the blossom trail in spring when the all the fruit trees are in blossom.
For over a month, the market town of Pershore turns purple as shops, restaurants and residents go plum crazy with a series of events culminating on August Bank Holiday Monday with Plum Festival Day. Festival highlights include the Plum Charmer who plays his clarinet to the fledgling plums ensuring a bumper crop.
Olivia Holder as the Plum Princess
The giant plum and festival mascot, Prunella, will also put in an appearance or two and people will be able to try a huge variety of plums in a host of guises. Plum sausages, pies, cocktails, beer, jam, chutney, cakes, Wellington boots, plum baked ham, burgers and pate are just some of the plum-based offerings.
Events include the Princess Victoria Plum Garden Party on 28th July and the Plum Coach Tours which run on 8th, 15th and 22nd August. There will also be a Purple Pirate Weekend on 10th and 11th August, a Plum Jazz Festival from 16th til 18th August, a Plum Arts Trail on 24th and 25th August and The Big Plum Beer, Music & Food Festival from 24th til 26th August.
The Plum Festival Day in Pershore takes place on 26th August from 10am. There will be workshops, a Plum Parade, a fun zone for children, a farmer’s market and a Plum Bazaar on the day.
More info: www.pershoreplumfestival.org.uk