Fundraising team marks one month until porkstock 2018

The one month countdown to Porkstock has begun. One of Norfolk’s favourite food and drink events, Porkstock, takes place on Saturday 13th October 2018 at the Norfolk Showground. All the profits go to children’s bereavement charity Nelson’s Journey.  

Some of the team behind the free, family friendly food festival, including volunteers, sponsors, food producers and chefs, gathered at the Assembly House in Norwich on Monday 10^th September to kick-off the countdown and start the celebration of local food and drink.  

This is the fifth year that Porkstock has been a public event, having originally been started 15 years ago by a group of beer and barbeque-loving friends. It is now a free family event during the day and an over-18s ticketed party in the evening. The theme of great local food, drink and entertainment runs throughout the day and evening: with fabulous local produce and street food on offer.   

The event is organised by an unpaid team of volunteers and made possible by financial sponsorship and practical support provided by a range of local businesses.  

Key sponsors of Porkstock 2018 are Adnams, Cranswick Country Foods, Wayland Farms, and Loveday & Partners. They are joined by Hatch Brenner Solicitors and Breakwater IT.  

“We are delighted to be working with the Porkstock team once again in 2018,” says Dawn Parkes, managing partner of Hatch Brenner. “The event is a brilliant way to celebrate Norfolk produce whilst also raising lots of money for Nelson’s Journey. Porkstock volunteers show incredible commitment and energy, and we are pleased to be able to support them to help make a real difference to the lives of bereaved children and young people in our county.”  

Sarah Daniels is managing director of The Red Cat Partnership and has been part of ‘Team Pork’ for five years. “We couldn’t make Porkstock happen without the generosity of our sponsors: it is their financial support which underpins the event and allows us to raise much needed funds for Nelson’s Journey. Every year we try to bring something new to the festival, whilst retaining its essential ‘Porkiness’. For 2018, visitors will see a brand new cookery demo stage featuring our best ever line up of top local chefs, including Richard Hughes from the Assembly House, Iain McCarten from the Last Wine Bar, Roger Hickman from Roger Hickman’s Restaurant and Richard Bainbridge from Benedicts.”  

Music is a massive part of Porkstock from start to finish.  

“Our headline act for the Evening Knees Up this year is the awesome Cut Capers,” says Ben Handford, one of the founders of Porkstock. “Hailing from Bristol, the band performs an explosive mix of hip hop and swing and are favourites on the UK and Europe festival scene. They’re guaranteed to get everyone dancing. We also have local favourites Agent Orange on stage, who’ll be warming everyone up with some great covers and party tunes.”  

For the third year in a row, all profits from Porkstock will be donated to Nelson’s Journey, with event organisers hoping to exceed the £10,173 raised in 2017.  

“Porkstock 2017 was our best yet,” continues Ben Handford, “More than 5000 people came along to the daytime foodie festival and we had some fabulous feedback. But we won’t rest on our laurels and, with the continued support of our volunteers and sponsors, are confident that we can inject even more family, foodie fun into the event and raise lots more money for Nelson’s Journey.”

To buy tickets for the Porkstock Evening Knees Up or find out about volunteering, sponsorship or exhibiting opportunities, please visit www.porkstock.co.uk.

ESSENTIAL FESTIVAL INFO

During the day Porkstock is a free family festival for food, music and fun-lovers of all ages. From handmade fudge to artisan cheese; delicious preserves and chutneys to locally produced wine, beer and spirits; passionate Norfolk producers will be sharing their love of great food and their commitment to great ingredients. 

The cookery stage will be better than ever before, with a line-up including:

Daytime visitors to Porkstock will also be able to enjoy a fantastic selection of street food stalls, a real ale and Prosecco bar, lots of live music, a sausage eating contest, kids’ games and activities and lots of family fun.  

As the sun goes down the Porkstock Party comes alive. This is an adult-only, ticketed event where music takes over from food as the main attraction.

Along with a plethora of taste-tingling street food, bars selling gin, real ale, Prosecco and rum there will be live music to get everyone dancing. Tickets for the evening knees up are on sale at £20. www.porkstock.co.uk.  All profits from the event go to Nelson’s Journey.

Team Pork celebrates one month to go!