Culinary celebration as popular food festival returns to Midleton

The East Cork food and drink festival, fEast, is returning to Midleton from tomorrow until Sunday.

Now a firm fixture on Ireland’s festival calendar, fEast has grown into one of the most dynamic food festivals in the country.

In 2024, the festival welcomed more than 20,000 visitors to East Cork, showcasing the producers, makers, and hospitality talent of the region, while cementing Midleton’s reputation as a popular culinary location.

Adrianna Hegarty, president of Midleton and Area Chamber of Commerce, said: “fEast is about great food, local talent, and the community that makes East Cork so special. Every event brings people together and shines a light on the people behind the produce.”

This year, the new fEast Talk Stage will feature a series of talks and discussions hosted by Dee Laffan. These will explore topics such as food culture: past, present, and future.

Conversations will also take place ranging from the new wave of restaurants shaping Midleton’s dining scene, to memories of the kitchen table, to the legacy of Irish food pioneers, the challenges of growing and the evolving world of Irish drink and pub culture.

Among the other highlights include farm-to-fork feasts at Yellow Belly Farm and dining at Ballyvolane House, and the official opening party at Midleton Distillery Experience as well as the famous Main Street Festival on Sunday.