Garlic, Chillies and Gooseberries
Seasonal Foods and Food Festivals in August

August is a holiday month still and also a month when fresh produce is in plentiful supply. Anyone with a garden will have more fresh fruit and vegetables than they know what to do with.

So August is also a month for making jams and chutneys, for preserving and pickling.

Soft fruits, courgettes, onions, marrows, beans, tomatoes, peppers, chillies and - of course - garlic are all at their best and on everyone's menu. Later in the month, Victoria plums and damsons come into their own.

August is also the time for food festivals, produce shows and village fetes, for celebrating summer, good food and good company. It's a month for barbecues, too - never mind the weather.

And August wouldn't be August without Pimms in the garden, al fresco dinners and picnics in the park. After all, it will be cold and dark again all too soon.

The food festival circuit during August does not disappoint, either. There are many reasons for spending a day out of doors, sampling tasty fare.

Chillies, garlic or gooseberries anyone?

Egton Bridge Gooseberry Show

Yorkshire doesn't just grow rhubarb, I'll have you know. It's also a favourite place for gooseberries. Once there were numerous shows celebrating the prickly green (or not so green) fruit, but these days only a few are still running. The Egton Bridge Gooseberry Show goes back to the 1800s. Growers from all over the country compete for the honour of growing the heaviest gooseberry over four categories. A really English thing, this. If you've never been to a competition such as this one ... try it. It's great!

Isle of Wight Garlic Festival

In addition to holiday makers and music fans, the Isle of Wight also attracts foodies - especially in August, when the Garlic Festival is being held. If you can get your head around the weirdness of garlic beer and garlic ice cream - along with more traditional things like garlic bread, sausages, pickles and roasts - then you'll do very well here. Bring the family and have a lovely weekend at this well-established food festival!

West Dean Chilli Fiesta

The Chilli Fiesta at West Dean Gardens has a loyal following across the country. And this one's not just about eating chillies. You can grow them, buy them, drink them ... I think there are even chilli-based body care products if you're brave enough. It's busy, and fun, and the music's good, too.

Chilli Fest at Levens Hall

Apparently, chillies are extremely popular - and celebrated not just in Sussex. An equally enthusiastic bunch of people congregate in Levens Hall, near Kendal, in Cumbria for the Levens Hall Chilli Fest. Salsa is obligatory here, as are jams, jellies, chocolate and sauces. See if you can handle it.

Pershore Plum Fair

Last year was a real washout for plums and damsons, but the Pershore Plum Fair still went ahead. And it was great. Apart from a limited supply of plums and damsons, there were plum sausages, cakes, chutneys and all manner of tasty pies, as well as a stunning (while unexpected) classic car show and organ recitals in Pershore's ruined abbey church. In fact, the whole town joined in and there was fun, good food and good cheer all round.