A FOOD festival will return to a south Cumbria town this weekend with a host of entertainment for all the family.

Taste Cumbria Ulverston will take to the streets to celebrate the county's food and drink producers.

With the event expected to attract around 15,000 visitors, preparations are well under way for the weekend.

Organiser Marie Whitehead, director of CN Events, promised plenty of fun for everyone.

She said: "We’re really looking forward to taking Taste Cumbria back to Ulverston again this year. They don’t call this the festival town for nothing – it’s such a great location for us and all our visitors.

"We've got over 70 traders coming down, a beer fest at the Sun Inn, plenty of fun kids activities, hot food and a prosecco tent.

"It's going to be another great day out for the whole family. All the kids' entertainment is free and there'll be a lot of nice samples for you to try so you can save your money to spend at the stalls, or in some of the great Ulverston businesses.

"There'll be a lot of demos from some wonderful chefs so you can taste Cumbria's finest produce and get some great hints and tips as well."

The final touches are being made to plans, which will see the festival take over the town for the fourth year running.

The chefs’ demonstration stage will move outside the Laurel and Hardy Museum in Brogden Street to give more space for people to sit and see the experts in action.

The team from Ford Park will provide plenty of activities to keep little food fans entertained, with themed arts and crafts using materials from their parks and gardens.

Tonight will see 10 specially-invited guests experience Michelin-star dining courtesy of Kevin Tickle at the town's historic Sir John Barrow monument.

Though numbers will be limited this year, it is hoped this will prove to be a showcase for the festival with a full-blown pop-up restaurant at next year’s Taste Cumbria Ulverston event.

Festival organiser, Anna Lyttle, of CN Events, said: "We’re always looking for new ways to put Taste Cumbria on the map, and this year is no exception.

"Using Hoad as a pop-up restaurant is really exciting - we think this is the first time it’s been done. It’s great that Kevin is up for the challenge – and who wouldn’t want to eat the food of a Michelin-starred chef in such an iconic location."

Tomorrow night the team behind Another Fine Fest, Ulverston’s annual multi-arts and music festival, will be hosting an open mic comedy competition at the Laurel and Hardy Museum.

All aspiring comedians are welcome, with free entry for those willing to take to the stage, while guest tickets cost just £5, available on the door or in advance via Facebook.

Dave Crossley, organiser of Another Fine Fest, added: “It’s great that we are able to offer some Saturday evening entertainment for the large crowds here for Taste Cumbria. We have always enjoyed the festival and, since we are both hosting events on the same weekend, it makes total sense to partner up."

Taste Cumbria was created to help the county’s economy after the floods of 2009. The first festival took place in Cockermouth in 2010 and the event now attracts around 40,000 people.