PERSHORE is preparing to turn purple as the world’s largest plum festival returns to town.
Attracting more than tens of thousands of plum lovers around the globe, the Pershore Plum Festival finale is looking set to be a record breaker across August Bank Holiday tomorrow (Saturday) to Monday (August 31).
The heritage of the town’s favourite fruit will be at the heart of the annual festival as it celebrates a crammed calendar of action packed family fun activities.
The Town Hall will be hosting a First World War exhibition revealing the role of plums throughout history and the first-ever Plum Roadshow, where visitors can bring along any plum paraphernalia for a valuation by Antiques Roadshow’s Henry Sandon.
There will also be chance to see an historic model of the Pershore Plum steam engine, which was used to pull carriages bringing both horses and race-goers in Victorian times when the town boasted its own racecourse.
The festival’s 100 strong food village feature stalls which all sell something plummy from jams to drinks, and will even have an international take on the fruit, with Mexican and Indian themed dishes.
The ’50 Shades Of Purple’ window dressing competition will be in full swing, with the majority of shops and market stalls taking part and the winner being announced during the festival’s launch.
The one of a kind Plum Charmer will also be making an appearance, playing music to the fledgling plums alongside festival mascot, Prunella Plum.
Entertainers and musicians will be on hand to keep the crowds amused across all three days and more than 1,000 classic cars will be on show in the grounds of Pershore Abbey, with a Plum Fun Zone, vintage fair, 6D cinema and lots more attractions.
Festival organiser Angela Tidmarsh said: “We promise something for everyone across such a fantastic weekend celebrating the town’s iconic fruit.
“Saturday is Retail and Heritage Day, Sunday is Family Day and Monday is considered the Plum Fayre itself.
“So come along and get amongst the history of Pershore’s celebrated plums.”
Visit www.pershoreplumfestival.org.uk for more information on the festival and to see the full programme of activities across the weekend.
