MORRIS dancing, traditional folk music and classic cars will be on the menu for the official launch for this year’s British Asparagus Festival.
Vale residents are expected to flock to the The Fleece Inn in Bretforton on Tuesday (April 23) as the festival, which regularly brings in more than £1million into the local economy, gets under way.
This year, the Chelsea Pensioners will be the recipients of more than 1,000 spears of Vale of Evesham asparagus which will be delivered to the Royal Hospital by Gus the Asparagus man in a fleet of Morgan cars.
Accompanying him and the ‘100’ round of asparagus will be the asparamancer Jemima Packington, St George himself as well as a man who sings about asparagus and a lone Morris dancer. The troupe are expected to arrive in the capital at 3pm.
The start of the asparagus season is marked in eccentric British style with the first-cut round of asparagus being celebrated and revered.
Before setting out on the journey from Worcestershire, the asparagus will be blessed, danced around by morris dancers, have poets recite odes to it and singers sing songs to it.
Classic British cars are invited to take part in an asparagus treasure hunt starting at The Fleece where visitors can also enjoy free activities ranging from silver band and singers, blessing of the Vale of Evesham asparagus, a bouncy castle, face painting, Gus the Asparagus Man, a treasure hunt, morris dancing and much more.
The occasion marks the official launch of the asparagus season, which runs into June. It is the start of a series of events around the county run by the British Asparagus Festival.
Nigel Smith, landlord of The Fleece Inn and chair of the British Asparagus Festival said: “Asparagus is one of the most important exports from this part of Worcestershire and is steeped in so much history so it is only right to celebrate.
“This year we will be taking things back to the roots of the Asparagus Festival with the classic car asparagus run. It is a fun, family friendly celebration: all are welcome.”
Throughout the Vale of Evesham, where the best asparagus is said to be grown and has been recognised by the European Union by being awarded geographical protected food status, restaurants, pubs and eateries join the celebrations by serving asparagus in every imaginable guise, from jam to sausages and even soap.
The entertainment starts at midday and continues throughout lunchtime, starting again as the cars return for an great asparagus cook-off and St George’s Day morris dancing by Belle D’Vain and friends.
Visit www.thefleeceinn.co.uk or call 01386 831173 for more.
