Asparagus Festival season is hotting up

1:00pm Saturday 10th May 2008

A VILLAGE pub is going asparagus crazy with a series of events in honour of the Vale's most famous vegetable.

The Fleece Inn at Bretforton began its annual Asparagus Festival Season on St George's Day and it will continue until Midsummer Day on June 21. The highlight of the season will be The Vale Asparagus Festival on Bank Holiday Monday, May 26.

But there is plenty for visitors to get involved in before then starting with a vintage and classic cars day on Wednesday, May 21 from 6.30pm onwards. Owners and enthusiasts will come together in Bretforton for one of the first meetings of 2008.

Next on the schedule is the famous Asparagus Auction on Sunday, May 25 from 6.30pm. As well as the auction, crowds will be entertained by the Pebworth Morris Men with all proceeds going towards the Bretforton Silver Band.

The culmination of the series of events takes place on Monday, 26 with the highlight of the festival season - The Vale Asparagus Festival and Farmers Market from 10.30am.

The festival features the Antiques Roadshow's Henry Sandon and flying chef' Rachel Green. There will also be tutored asparagus tasting, aspara-poet and asparamancer, antique engines and cars, craft fayre, morris dancing and Hook Norton brewery will be bringing along some dray horses.

On Sunday, June 1 St Leonard's Church is holding an asparagus service and auction at 6.30pm. The open-air service will be accompanied by music from Bretforton Silver Band.

For more information on the asparagus season visit www.thefleeceinn.co.uk

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