KILDARE: Naas Wild Food Festival kicks off this weekend

The upcoming 11th annual Naas Wild Food Festival will take place from September 6 to September 10.  From its humble beginnings in 2010, this festival has embarked on a remarkable journey of growth,  steadily blossoming into a prominent event on the local calendar. The festival will take place at a  variety of locations in the centre of town during the week. 

The festival celebrates the local community. It’s a  not-for-profit, family-oriented all-inclusive community event run by volunteers from Naas Tidy  Towns, Naas Men’s Shed and the newly formed Naas Women’s Shed. The festival aims to give the  residents of Naas 5 days of wonderful food, music and fun. It is also the festival's ambition to extend  its welcome beyond the town's borders and draw in visitors from near and far and improve tourism  in Naas for the benefit of the town and local businesses. 

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The festival schedule includes a number of events.

The Wild Food Trail takes place on Wednesday and Thursday September 6-7 from  6pm – 10pm 

Ticket holders will embark on a delectable culinary mystery tour around Naas, exploring some of. its  finest eateries. Starting from the Potato Market (opposite Naas Post Office) at 6pm sharp each  evening – ticketholders will be met by guides for a meet and greet hosted by The Club at Goffs. The  revellers will then be taken on a walking food tour around Naas where they will visit a further 3  restaurants where they will taste a selection of locally sourced dishes and drinks. 

Tickets for the Wild Food Trail are limited so to avoid disappointment, you are strongly advised to  book your tickets early to enable you to enjoy and experience some of the best ‘wild food’ culinary  bites Naas has to offer. 

There will be a live food and music event at  Hederman’s car park on Friday  7pm-11pm 

Music will be provided by the  Qween and Bon Jovi tribute bands backed up by up and  coming local musicians. Hederman’s car park will host a free evend on Saturday  11am – 5pm. It will be a  and a great opportunity for all to  experience what the wild food fest is about. There will be  food trucks, stalls, music, and family entertainment, and it will showcase a variety of dishes and  products locally sourced in County Kildare from wild ingredients. This event allows people to explore  and appreciate the diverse and often untapped culinary possibilities that the natural world has to 

offer. Whether you are a food enthusiast, an adventurous eater, or just curious about trying  something new, Naas Wild Food Festival promises to be a delightful and educational experience. 

More live music has been pencilled in for the same car park on: Saturday 7pm – 11pm. Headlined by local  rising star – Lea Heart the event will feature food stalls, pop-up bars, and a fantastic atmosphere. Tickets for all events are available on line at downdaroad.com.

A festival at the Canal Harbour on Sunday is a free event. 

“We are  returning to our roots and holding an event back at the Canal Harbour this year. Expect a plethora of  food, craft, and community stalls, alongside family entertainment with live musicians and bands  performing throughout the day,” said Gerry Kehoe.

The organizers Naas Festivals CLG extend their gratitude to the unwavering support from Kildare  County Council, the Local Enterprise Office, An Garda Siochana and Kildare Civil Defence who have  provided great support to the festival for years. While local businesses have also shown support, the  dedicated organising team of volunteers still seeks additional sponsors to help cover overall costs  and elevate this beloved local festival even further. If you have any queries or want to participate or  promote your company during the festival, please email naaswildfood@gmail.com.