ORGANISERS of July's Yorkshire Dales Food and Drink Festival near Skipton have announced this year's event will support children's charity The Principle Trust.

The festival, due to take place at Funkirk Farm, Carleton, from July 21 to July 23, features a mix of celebrity chefs, Gino D'Acampo, James Martin and the Hairy Bikers, food stalls and workshops, and a host of entertainment including both original and tribute acts. There is also camping at the site, so families can go for the whole weekend.

The event kicks off on the Friday with Gok Wan and 'sounds of the 80s' with The Zoots, and on Saturday, the chef's show will feature Gino D'Acampo and the Hairy Bikers. The fabulous Brutus Gold's Love Train and Spice Girls and Take That tribute acts will also take to the stage.

For the Sunday, it will be the turn of chef James Martin, Pat Sharp will be the DJ and there will be tribute acts celebrating the music of Katy Perry and Queen.

Original acts appearing over the weekend include DJ Luke Pompey, Callum Spencer, Love Generation, Sarah Widdop, Dan Burnett, Andy Longden, Connor Walmsley, The Lulas, The Keatings, Marc and Kiki, Charlie Whittam, Pip Barton and Lee Bailey.

The Principle Trust, which provides free respite breaks to underprivileged, disadvantaged, and disabled children across Yorkshire, will take over the festival’s children’s activity tent, which will provide an array of crafting, drawing and making fun throughout the weekend, all for a small donation.

Mike Davies, MBE, founder of Skipton based The Principle Trust, said: “We are indebted to the festival team for choosing The Principle Trust as its charity partner.

“The family-friendly festival, with its producers from the Dales, celebrity chefs, children’s area, and camping fits our mission to create lasting memories for families living with serious childhood illnesses, trauma or disabilities.

“Thanks to its incredible support we will be able to help many more of the region’s disadvantaged, disabled and poorly children escape their everyday troubles.”

Rachael Higgins, festival founder, added: “The Principle Trust came to our festival last year and we were really impressed with their commitment to providing respite to struggling families. We are a family business which runs a family festival so it is a perfect partnership.”

The Yorkshire Dales Food and Drink festival, launched in 2016, has quickly become the go-to festival for food lovers looking for a weekend to remember.

To find out more about the festival, and to book tickets, go to:https://www.yorkshiredalesfoodanddrinkfestival.com/