Market gardening heritage will be the theme of a popular festival which is back for another year celebrating the very best South Derbyshire has to offer.
Visitors to the Melbourne Festival will see almost 150 professional artists exhibiting in more than 70 private houses, public buildings and businesses in the historic heart of the festival trail showcasing the best creative talents from across the East Midlands and much more besides.
There is expected to be a party atmosphere with music, food and fun activities for youngsters, and the young at heart.
Each year the festival has a theme, and this year it is The Love of Lettuce. Thanks to the Heritage Lottery Fund, Melbourne Festival has a Sharing Heritage Grant for a big project celebrating Melbourne’s Market Gardening Heritage.
Alongside planning the festival the organisers have been collecting memories and photographs from retired market gardeners while photographer Chris Mear has been photographing the market gardens and their produce ready to exhibit at the festival.
Visitors are asked to look out for exhibitions around the trail, pop-up vegetable plots and Mr McGregor and his arch enemies Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny.
Not just vegetables but all kinds of food are available on the art trail with a side order of live music.
The performing arts are a highlight of Melbourne Festival and the programme has become more adventurous and more successful each year.
The festival actually runs from Saturday, September 16, to Sunday, September 17, with the art and architecture trail from 10am to 5pm.
More details are available by visiting www.melbournefestival.co.uk
