A virtual event is calling on local artisans to join the country's largest online food market and festival, for the chance to showcase and sell their wares to foodies nationwide.

Wells Food Festival with Charlie Bigham's is delighted to announce the launch of a virtual 48-hour foodie extravaganza over the weekend of 10 & 11 October, having made the decision to postpone the physical Festival this year.

"It has become increasingly evident that it would be both irresponsible and unfeasible to continue with the Festival in its normal format this year, during these uncertain times," explains festival director Jon Abbott. "But we are thrilled that working with our headline sponsor, Charlie Bigham's, we have been able to come up with an ideal alternative."

The virtual festival will showcase over 150 artisan producers from across the South West, providing them with an opportunity to reach a wider audience, via its virtual shopping experience – open for business now.

Several local producers have previously taken part in Wells Food Festival. Frome-based fermentation company, Bath Culture House, have traded there for the last two years, as has The Smoke Folk. Oliver Jones actually launched the company at the 2018 Festival and won both Best Start-Up and Best in Show awards.."It is a really important event for us and has a growing reputation nationally within the food industry," he says, and is looking forward to the new format. "It'll provide an opportunity to connect with customers old and new, and promote our products more widely."

Meanwhile, Paul Webb from Frome's Black Bee Honey attended last year as a shopper and was keen to be involved this year: "A lot of our honey comes from different areas of Somerset and I thought we'd be a good addition. Virtual events should only become more popular even when the physical events can happen."

In addition to the Artisan Market, a free, packed festival programme is being put together for the weekend of 10 & 11 October.

There will be live streamed masterclasses, cook-alongs and talks by Charlie Bigham and his team of master chefs, plus guest appearances by well-known Westcountry food stars.

At-home festivalgoers can sign-up to a flower arranging workshop with Georgie Newby, Somerset artisan florist and flower farmer at Common Farm Flowers, and a live drawing workshop with renowned illustrator Emily Sutton, who also creates Bigham's distinctive packaging. Paul from Black Bee Honey will be providing an insight into bee-keeping and making honey, including a virtual tour of a hive.

Visitors can have a 'behind-the-scenes' glimpse of some featured artisan producers, enjoy live-streamed music by blues band Harlem Rhythm Cats and enter an open-to-all food photography competition.

Charlie Bigham comments: "2020 has been a difficult year for small food and drink businesses, who also face additional challenges due to many food festivals being cancelled - their primary opportunity to generate sales. Our aim is to help this artisan community by bringing the Wells Food Festival to a virtual national audience, giving foodies across the country the chance to support and buy direct from the South West's finest makers."

Jon Abbott, festival director of Wells Food Festival, concludes: "Our top priority has always been to support artisan producers and put them at the heart of the festival. This year it seems more important than ever. Thanks to the support of Charlie Bigham's, we firmly believe 2020 will be remembered as the year Wells Food Festival went above and beyond to champion amazing food from across the region."

Food and drink producers interested in exhibiting should e-mail [email protected] for details.