Lampeter Young People’s Food Festival took place on 5 July 2014, three weeks before the town’s main food festival.

The event took place in Victoria Hall and the adjoining Parc yr Orsedd. It was officially opened by Elin Jones AM.

Activities included stalls, a Pizza Design Challenge, a Pedal Powered Smoothis Maker, bushcraft skills, circus skills, talks and a cooking contest.

The main focus of the day was the Young People’s Cooking Contest where teams from a number of local schools and youth groups competed to prepare the best Welsh Rarebit, burger and Welsh Cakes. The winners received cash prizes from the nearby Pont Steffan Dental Practice.

The festival was rounded off with an ‘Alice at the Food Fair’ drama piece from Lampeter Youth Theatre that led into a real Tea Party with pizzas from the Design A Pizza contest.

There was music on the day from Platform 1, and talks by young food entrepreneurs Scott James of Coaltown Coffee and Liam Burgess of NomNom Chocolate, and YouTube gardener Huw Richards.

This first Young People’s Food Festival was widely considered a success with over 300 people attending. Alas the event has never been repeated in Lampeter.

The event was organised by Lampeter Food Festival Director Chris Studman and a group of volunteers. Chris Studman is now the Editor of Lampeter 21.