PETERSFIELD is set for a gastronomical treat at the end of the month – with the town set to be home to an inaugural, two-day food festival. Showcasing 'local food for local people', the festival will begin with an evening of music and food on The Square on Saturday May 31, and continue with an all-day extravaganza on Sunday, June 1. More than 100 stallholders will participate, while demonstrations, live music, activities and a restaurant trail will feature. Hampshire Farmers' Markets, which is co-hosting the festivities with Petersfield Events, is also providing an extended market, with all ages catered for, with an array of cookery demonstrations, tasting stalls, and the possibility of a small livestock display. On Saturday, from 6pm-10 pm, there will be live music on The Square, featuring five quality acts, and a street kitchen, delivering a wide range of locally produced food and drink to taste and enjoy. On Sunday, from 10am-3pm, the regular Hampshire Farmers' Market will be complimented by many more stands that will line the High Street, as well as The Square. Live on the stage will be demonstrations by Jake Watkins, of Petersfield's Michelin-starred restaurant JSW, staff from Annie Jones restaurant in Lavant Street, Dwayne Bartram from Perfect Pickles, Jennifer Laing from Cresson Creative, and the Hampshire School Meals service. There will also be a children's farm, complete with a range of livestock, sponsored by local businesses Meon Valley Travel and Biscoes lawyers. The restaurant trail, which runs across the town from May 24 to June 7, is an opportunity for people to try local food at local restaurants. Participants currently include JSW, The Lounge, Henderson's Railway Café, Folly Upstairs, Annie Jones, Djangos, La Piazetta, The Square Brewery, The George, The Five Bells at Buriton, and The George in East Meon. The food festival, which will also stretch along the High Street, came to fruition thanks to the success of last year's August Bank Holiday festivities, as organiser Philip Haines explained. "We thought the Bank Holiday festival was so well received that we would look at other events that would work well in The Square," he said. "The idea of a food festival came up and everyone felt enthusiastic about it, so we contacted Hampshire Farmers' Markets and agreed to co- organise it with them. If it's successful, it will be bigger and last longer next year," he added. Citing the model of Emsworth Food Festival, which regularly attracts 55,000 people to the Hampshire village, Mr Haines continued: "As an historic market town Petersfield is ideally situated to hold a local food festival, and we look forward to the event becoming an annual fixture in the town's calendar. "The aim is to get lots of local producers and local people together and hopefully to expose them to producers that they have not seen before." As one of the organisers of last year's highly- successful Petersfield Festivities on the August Bank Holiday, Mr Haines spoke of a desire to repeat on last year's success, which attracted thousands to the town. "Last year's bank holiday event was an excellent trial, but this year we can do so much better. Last year's event was pulled together in just a few weeks while this year we have been planning since last September. "The aim continues to be to showcase The Square and demonstrate how the centre of Petersfield can be used to benefit the town's residents. "A recent survey commissioned by East Hampshire District Council highlighted The Square and its surroundings as a weakness in the town. We believe that it is a strength and should be used far more than it is," he said. "It really is all about being a community festival, and this year we have the benefit of time to ensure as many local societies and clubs can be there."