THERE will be an aspara-frenzy this weekend as a celebration of food, fun and Vale Gras gets going just outside Evesham.

This year's AsparaFest is set to be an event full of good times for the whole family centred on the Vale of Evesham's favourite green vegetable.

The two day mini festival kicks off on Saturday, May 31, at Ashdown Farm, Badsey Road, near Evesham, and is one of the main events in the Asparagus Festival, which runs throughout the Vale during the asparagus season.

Mr Bloom will be leading the fun on Saturday, whilst his CBeebies stablemate Stefan Gates will be bringing his Gastronaut Live show, packed full of inspiring, explosive science and wild food adventures to the family festival goers on Sunday, June 1.

There will also be cookery kitchen with Felice Tocchini, Junkfish Arts & Crafts, EveryBODY dance Aerial Theatre Show, ‘The Lovely Bugs’, AnimalMania Zoo, TuttiFrutti Hula, the Wychavon Get Active Roadshow, a climbing wall, cake decorating, willow weaving, storytelling, body zorbing, clay modelling, barn owls, falcony, a fun fair and swingboats, vintage engines and classic cars, Samba Tots workshops, Bhangra workshops, the world's only Asparamancer, the Asparafairy and of course Gus the Asparagus Man.

In addition, Asparafest has two music and dance stages, a Real Ale & Cider Festival, cookery theatre, street food, food stalls, and lots and lots of Vale asparagus.

Organiser Nigel Smith said it will be something not to be missed.

"It's going to be fantastic," said the landlord of National Trust owned pub The Fleece Inn at Bretforton, which hosted the launch of the Asparagus Festival.

"We have a full programme, including Stefan Gates who is putting on cooking demonstration such as painting a tongue blue and counting the taste buds.

"There will be a lot of cooking going on with local restaurants coming as well and a big music line up.

"This is our second year and we have put more into it in terms of the number and variety of performances and demonstrations."

Tickets for Asparafest are on sale now from £6.00. The profits from all tickets sold will be donated to the Evesham Bell Tower Appeal.

For more information, full programme and camping details visit asparafest.co.uk.