Ethan Forbes of Poco Prosecco and Sameer Dhumale of Beetle Juice in training for Edinburgh’s first Prosecco and juice pong contests. Pic: Chris Watt.
Edinburgh Food Festival is back at George Square Gardens for a fourth year.
The free festival runs from Wednesday 25th to Sunday 29th July. Last year, more than 25,000 people attended.
As well as oodles of street food, visitors can look forward to topical food and drink debates.
A rather more frivolous time can be had at the festival's Prosecco pong competition.
Obviously, Edinburgh is far too la-di-dah to play beer pong. So, festival organisers have teamed up with Edinburgh-based Poco Prosecco to kick-start this year’s event with a fresh take on the traditional ping pong ball drinking game.
Fans of the popular fizz are being challenged to go head to head in Assembly George Square Gardens from 6.30pm on Wednesday 25th July.
For people looking for a softer option, the VW cocktail and mocktail bar, Beetle Juice, will be also be running a fruit juice pong contest.
Edinburgh Food Festival: wide choice of Scottish produce
There will be some twenty-odd food and drink producers on hand to ensure that nobody feels an unwelcome hunger pang or gets drouthy.
From Jarvis Pickle pies to Alanda's Gelato via Ting Thai Caravan, there will be lots of edible options to choose from.
If Prosecco doesn't float your boat, then Fyne Ales will be able to sort you out with a beer or two.
Visitors to Edinburgh Food Festival will also have the opportunity to attend talks and demos in the gardens’ beautiful Piccolo Tent.
Taking to the stage to talk all things food and drink is a range of key industry figures including author and whisky consultant, Blair Bowman.
On Saturday 28th July, at 4pm, Blair will be chairing The Great Gin Debate. Along with a panel of industry influencers, brand owners and distillers, Blair will be discussing issues around the production, regulation and transparency of the burgeoning Scottish gin industry.
More debates and demos will be announced nearer the start of the festival.
Sharon Burgess, Managing Director of Assembly Festival and Edinburgh Food Festival, said: 'We’re really excited to be announcing our fresh line-up for the fourth year of the Festival.
'We have the biggest and best line-up of Scottish food and drink stallholders yet, including Edinburgh’s Ting Thai Caravan, which is new for 2018. It’s free for all, so bring your friends and family and kick off Edinburgh’s brilliant festival season in good taste.'