Fruit means fun at Street Eat

Vicky Lomax from Jamboree Arts, Shamin Akhtar, Barbar Pervez and Badou Parveez from Strawberry Garden, with Jayne May, Rochdale BID Project Executive from Rochdale Town Centre Management

There’s plenty to keep young children occupied at the Street Eat festival this weekend – and they can tuck in and enjoy healthy fruit as well as taking part in food inspired family activities.

Vicky Lomax, from local company Jamboree Arts, will be at the event this Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 May providing free family friendly activities including showing little ones how to make tasty and nutritious fruit kebabs. Children will also be shown how to create coloured stamps from different fresh vegetables, before printing their own souvenir postcard to take home.

It’s all aimed at promoting healthy eating, said Jayne May from Street Eat organisers, Rochdale Town Centre Management: “There’s plenty to keep children occupied this weekend anyway, but we also wanted to make sure there are healthy food options available, so these fun activities will help children learn about all different types of fruit and vegetables as well as being shown how simple and delicious healthy eating can be.”

All the fruit and vegetables for the children’s activities have been donated by Strawberry Garden on Yorkshire Street and this week Jayne and Vicky went to thank the staff for their support. 

Strawberry Garden, who recently moved to a prime new location in the town centre, have been trading in the town for over thirty years, selling locally grown vegetables, fruits and spices imported from around the world.

Street Eat, sponsored by building and construction company Willmott Dixon, is promising another two days of food and fun, with lots to eat, drink and free entertainment, bringing together the town’s best food and drink establishments.

There will also be activities and funfair rides for children and Punch and Judy shows every hour.

Traders include The Baum, WowYauChow, Bombay Brew, The Medicine Tap, Issan Friends, Pudding Paradise, Vicolo del Vino and The Flying Horse Hotel.

There will also be a bar for the adults and live music hosted by Revolution 96.2.

Organisers of Street Eat have banned single use plastics, with all traders using environmentally friendlier paper alternatives instead. All food will be served in compostable sugar cane cartons or on sugar cane plates that are heat resistant and grease proof. You’ll be able to tuck in using wooden cutlery, and drinks will be served in 100% paper cups, with paper straws.

The headline sponsor is Willmott Dixon, with support from Pulsar Property Solutions and Rochdale Round Table. 

Admission is free and the event is open from 11am to 9pm on both days.