SURBITON: Food lovers, families and friends from across Southwest London and Surrey are invited to attend this year's Surbiton Food Festival and sample the very best of what the area has to offer. 

Starting this Sunday (14 May), the festival brings together local businesses and the community to showcase and celebrate local food, art and crafts, drink and live music.

It's organised by The Community Brain, a Kingston upon Thames-based not-for-profit, which creates and delivers a wide range of creative, social, environmental and heritage projects and events, to enhance the area. 

Originally started by a group of volunteers in 2013, this year's food festival features two FREE headline events, the legendary Freshwater Sardine Celebration on Sunday 14th May, and Seething Family Sports Day and Dog Show on Saturday 20th May.

The Freshwater Sardine Festival is one of the most unique and bizarre celebrations to take place along the course of The River Thames. The fishy fun kicks off from 1pm on Sunday 14 May in Claremont Gardens, Surbiton, with FREE live music, food and craft stalls and a charity bar.

Then at around 3pm, attendees – many in colourful costumes – will parade from the centre of Surbiton down to the banks of the River Thames, a short walk away. Arriving at the riverside, they will be invited to join in with sea shanties (song sheets provided) as they witness fishermen on the Thames haul in the season's first catch of Seething's legendary Freshwater Sardines.

With the fish pulled from the water, the parade will continue back to the event site in Claremont Gardens, Surbiton, where for a small charity donation, everyone can enjoy a freshly barbecued sardine sandwich, while listening to music performed by local musicians.

Live music, food and drink and family-friendly fun drew large crowds to last year's Surbiton Food Festival

Then, on the following weekend (Saturday 20 May), the pace of the action picks up with the 2023 Seething Family Sports Day and Dog Show, held at Victoria Recreation Ground, off Balaclava Road, Surbiton. The day's FREE activities kick off at 12noon with a celebration of local canines, with a family-friendly, competition for all types of dogs.

The dog show will then be followed by the annual Seething Family Sports Day and Community Picnic, which will see people of all ages and abilities go head-to-head for some sporting-themed silliness and games, ending with a team tug of war contest.

Throughout the day, there will also be local food and craft stalls, DJ and music, and a charity bar available on site.

For more information about the Surbiton Food Festival, including the latest details about the full programme, check out the event's Facebook page here.