The weather is looking fantastic for this weekend’s Loch Fyne Food Fair. Billed as Scotland’s longest running food festival, this is the 26th year in which the event has taken place.

The two-day event, which is free to attend and situated on the picturesque shores of Loch Fyne, will take place on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th May 2016.

Established in 1990 to celebrate the best food and drink Argyll has to offer, this year’s festival is set to attract over 3,000 visitors.

Succulent oysters

Retaining a strong emphasis on locally sourced food & drink, the event will showcase several producers from the Food from Argyll collective, including Winston Churchill Venison, Gigha Smoked Halibut, Bumble puddings, Home Ground Coffee, Fyne Ales and Loch Fyne Oysters, whose seafood stands will be stocked with fresh local fish and shellfish.

Producers from further afield include Spencerfield Spirit Company, Great Glen Charcuterie and Mhor Bread.

Loch Fyne Food Fair Founder, Virginia Sumsion, commented:

‘We are tremendously excited to be on the cusp of our 26th Food Fair. It’s rewarding to see Scotland’s appetite for locally-sourced, traceable produce grow year-on-year; 2016 being no exception.

‘From succulent Loch Fyne oysters to refreshing craft beer, there really is no better place to try such a diverse and delicious taste of Argyll in the company of those who make and produce it.’

Tapping into the growing interest for foraged and wild foods, a workshop, run by Duncan Smallman from Slate Island Seaweeds, will help participants identify different types of seaweed and explore their uses.

Festival goers can also try their hand at shucking oysters, cupcake decorating, healthy snack making as well as observing a seafood master class and cocktail making demonstrations.

Gin Fling

A lively Gin Fling will round off Saturday’s festivities. Priced at £25 per head, this event features a delicious three-course dinner paired with Makar Gin cocktails.

The eclectic live music line-up includes the Bute Community Big Band, local pipe bands,  fusion-ceilidh bands The Big Shoogle and Rusty Nail and even a Blues band – Dr.Hip.

Activities such as bouncy castles will complete the family-friendly offering.  The event is held under cover with plenty of space to expand outside when the sun shines.

The full weekend workshop line-up includes:

Saturday

• How to identify & use seaweed with Duncan Smallman
• Isle of Bute produce showcase with Jim Hood from Eat Bute
• Live gin distilling with Makar Gin, Glasgow’s newest gin distillery
• Learn how to open oysters with Virginia Sumsion of Loch Fyne Oysters

Sunday

• Green Fry Foods – a guide to fun, tasty & healthy snack making with Liz Adams from Bute
• Cupcake decorating workshop, fun for all the family with Natalie’s Cupcakery
• Makar Gin cocktail sampling
• Loch Fyne Oysters seafood master-class with Oyster Bar Head Chef, Jamie Nicolson

The event can be easily accessed by public transport from Glasgow and beyond via the Citylink Bus Network.

For more information go to www.lochfyne.com

The full programme is here.