PICNIC Penarth was celebrated in the town centre over the warm and sunny weekend.

Thousands of residents and visitors gathered in Penarth’s town centre to enjoy the fourth annual food festival over the weekend of September 14 and 15.

The pop-up street food feast was free to enter and organisers made efforts to keep the event plastic free in line with the town’s Plastic Free status.

This year marked the first time the festival was held in the city centre. Last year’s event was held on Penarth Esplanade.

Organisers Penarth Town Council and Production 78 welcomed back a host of traders from previous events, along with new faces and plenty of local businesses.

Attendees included Cardiff South and Penarth MP Stephen Doughty, international singing superstar Bryn Terfel and Welsh football hero Joe Ledley.

Businesses taking part included Bella Paella, Doughnutterie, Dusty Knuckle Pizza, Ele’s Little Kitchen, Hard Lines Coffee, Hohi Hogi Hogi, Keralan Karavan, Meat and Greek, Meating Point, Ridiculously Rich by Alana, Riverford Organic Farmers, The Crepe Escape, Brod – The Danish Bakery, The Pudding Wagon, Tukka Tuk, Umpa Lumpa Sweet Shop, Utility Warehouse, Vale Roast Meat Company and Windsor Fruits.

The largest crowds the event has enjoyed to date watched stage entertainment from a number of local acts, including the Mark Jermin Stage School, Harri Pain, Cat’s Claw Twmpath, Evolution Dance, Nick Hoare and Curtis Lee.

Penarth local DJ Hoarez put together several sets over the evening, supported by Matt Pearse and The Lunar Ensemble.

For the first time, slots were available for open mic and the local talent was well received by the town.

Bars were provided by local traders, including Bar 44 and The Bear’s Head, using biodegradable glassware.

Local businesses like Fauvette provided special Picnic takeaway options and Rowleys Jewellers provided a pop up quiet space to assist visitors.

Vale Amusements rides and games like carousels, bouncy slides and face-painting were on hand, providing a good accompaniment to the stage.

Penarth’s own Shop Penarth scheme was on hand to promote the loyalty scheme and local traders.

The scheme was put in place to provide Penarth residents a way to support local independent traders, and earn rewards.

Karen Dunlop, owner of Umpa Lumpa sweetshop and member of Shop Penarth, said: “It was great to see the Shop Penarth stand at Picnic Penarth as it gave so many businesses the opportunity to interact with the community and chat about shopping locally.

“A number of cards were sold and we were delighted to see so many people wanting to support the scheme.

“Special thanks must go to the following businesses for volunteering over the weekend - Peter Knowles - Hamptons, Jane Lorimer - Hand to Heal Reflexology; Tricia Griffiths - Shop Penarth steering group, Elena Duffy from Sonic Alarms; Jean- Marc Delys of Fauvette, Mel Griffin from Griffin books, David Langdon of Langdon Osteopathy, Sian Griffin from Class Act Company and Chris Gardner from Webjects.”

Penarth town clerk Emma Boylan said: “We’re delighted that so many thousands enjoyed Picnic Penarth, which has proved hugely popular with the community and attracted so many visitors to our town centre.

“The event continues to be a great success, adding to Penarth’s well-deserved reputation for high quality food and independents.

“Our thanks go to everyone who took part and who attended, with special thanks to our local partner events team at Production 78.”

The event opened at noon on Saturday, September 14, with food and entertainment running until 10pm. The festival reopened at noon on Sunday, running to 7pm.

Windsor Road was closed from its junction with Arcot Street to its junction with Albert Road, along with Lower Glebe Street from its junction with Ludlow Lane to Windsor Road from noon on Friday, September 13 until midnight on Sunday.

Official event photos from local photographer Jane Lasonder are available on the events Facebook page.

For more information on the Shop Penarth scheme, visit: ShopPenarth.co.uk.

Information on the town council’s future events, including the Christmas Lights Switch On on November 17, will be available on www.penarthtowncouncil.gov.uk