The wheels are turning ahead of this year’s Sunderland Food and Drink Festival – with details of the entertainment programme announced alongside a new headline sponsor.
The festival – which last year attracted more than 50,000 visitors – is set to return on June 5-7 with food and drink vendors, arts and crafts stalls, and musical performances at Keel Square and High Street West.
This year, Stagecoach North East has come on board as a headline sponsor, while entertainment across the weekend will include top tribute acts, North East-based singers, and stage school youngsters.
On Friday June 5, those taking to the stage include new North East girl band Northern Daughters, Ami Vaziri, and Re-Live the 90s.
On Saturday, the crowd-pleasing music of ABBA will be on stage at Keel Square, courtesy of Voulez 2, along with Will Jennison Country Roads and tribute act Katy Perry Live.
Sunday will feature performances by Run to You – Whitney, The Story of Styles, and the talented team from Inspire Stage School.
A full programme of activities for children is planned across the weekend too, including a number of special workshop and the opportunity to play a range of outdoor games.
This year’s festival will coincide with Pride in Sunderland and Makers & Bakers market being held at the Bridges.
Roberta Redecke, head of business services at Sunderland’s BIDs – which includes the City Centre BID and the Seafront BID, and organises the event – said: “We are so grateful to Stagecoach North East for agreeing to sponsor the Food and Drink Festival which really helps us in delivering a memorable event. The entertainment, the live music and of course the amazing food and drink vendors ensure this event goes from strength to strength.”
Steve Walker, managing director for Stagecoach North East, added: “We’re proud to be headline sponsors of the Sunderland Food and Drink Festival; a fantastic event that brings people together and showcases the very best of the city. As a business operating right at the heart of everyday life in Sunderland, it’s important to us that we support events that are fun, inclusive and add real value to the community. With our bus services, we’re looking forward to helping even more people enjoy everything the festival has to offer.”
