South Molton’s food fest draws record crowds despite the storm

27 Nov 2024, 10:57 by Lewis Clarke · DevonLive

South Molton’s Pannier Market buzzed with energy on Sunday, November 24, as thousands of visitors defied inclement weather and challenging road conditions to attend the much-anticipated food festival. Traders and organizers celebrated what many are calling the busiest event yet in the market’s history.

Melanie James, speaking from the heart of the event, expressed her astonishment and gratitude: "It's going very well, I don't know where these people have come from. The roads are horrendous, the weather is terrible, but people have turned out in their thousands, I'm pleased to say."

The market boasted a full house, with only one trader unable to attend due to the hazardous travel conditions from Newton Abbot. Despite this, the festival maintained its impressive lineup of over 60 stalls.

Mel added: "We've just worked out that with the exception of three stalls, everything else is made by our traders. So when you've got 60 stalls here and only three of them are things that have been imported, that's quite impressive."

Now in its fourth year, with three events annually, the food festival continues to grow in popularity.

Looking ahead, South Molton Pannier Market is gearing up for its Winter Wonderland on Friday, November 29. The evening promises festive attractions including stalls, live performances on stage, a snow globe, Santa’s sleigh, and reindeer. The event will run from 5 PM to 8:30 PM, adding seasonal magic to the town.

For more information about upcoming events, visit the South Molton Pannier Market website or follow them on social media.