Over the bank holiday weekend, the market town of Pershore will be turning purple in tribute to the humble plum.
This year’s Pershore Plum Festival will take place from Saturday 24th to Monday 26th August in Worcestershire. In honour of the event, shop fronts will be specially decorated with purple or plum themes and lots of plum related entertainment will be taking place.
Visitors should look out for the unique plum characters – Prunella the Pershore Purple Plum, Eggbert the Yellow Egg Plum, Queen Victoria, and the Plum Princess and her attendants – popping up at the festival events.
The festival will kick off on the Saturday, National Plum Day, featuring beer, food and music at the Angel Hotel, decorated shop windows, and entertainment in Plum Alley. The entertainment in Plum Alley will include live music, horticulture advice and plenty of plum-themed food and drink. There will also be a fun fair in the Plum Fun Zone.
Sunday’s highlight will be the Family Fun Day at Plum Abbey, featuring a Plum Plodders 10k race, Plum Pooches dog show, Abbey Tower tours, Ariel Bikes, a food village and a craft market. Over in the Plum Fun Zone there will be more family entertainment with circus and drumming workshops, face painting, a smoothie bike, land zorbs and a mini zoo. There will also be more live entertainment on the bandstand.
Bank holiday Monday will be Plum Fayre Day, with an art trail, classic cars, Abbey Tower tours, a food village, entertainment in the bandstand and children’s activities.
There will also be a Plum Bazaar with lots of plum produce; food and entertainment in Plum Alley; and a Plum Market Place with a farmers’ market. The River Zone will have paddle boarding, and a plum beer festival.
And if all that isn’t plummy enough for you, the Great Comberton Flower Show will be holding a Plum Jerkum competition. Jerkum is an alcoholic drink made from… yes, you guessed it, plums!
The Pershore area has been famous for growing plums since medieval times. The modern-day Plum Fayre began in 1996 to celebrate Pershore’s long history with the fruit.
When: 24th – 26th August 2019
Where: Pershore, Worcestershire
£: Prices vary depending on the event. Many events are free
More info: www.pershoreplumfestival.org.uk