LAST-minute preparations are underway as Burnham-on-Sea’s annual food and drink festival returns for its 13th year.

Thousands of visitors are expected to fill the town’s streets on Saturday (October 27) as more than 150 traders set up shop and sell local produce.

There will be live chef demonstrations, a cider festival, sushi-making workshops and The Hawksmoor Cookery School at the free event which will run from 9am to 4pm.

Bev Milner Simonds, co-organiser of eat:Burnham, said: “We are really pleased with the line-up traders and the great range of festival activities planned for our 13th festival in Burnham-on-Sea.

“The positivity from visitors and local businesses about this festival spurs us on to get more creative and include more and more free elements.

“This wouldn’t be possible without the support of our sponsors and partners and of course our volunteer stewards.

“I’m looking forward to welcoming the primary producers and livestock who help us tell the story of the connection between the countryside that surrounds us, food production and the amazing range of produce on sale at the festival.”

This year the festival’s organisers say they have focused on sustainability and are working with Travelwest and The Buses of Somerset to urge visitors to walk, cycle or taking the bus to the event.

And they have been working with traders coming to the event in a bid to reduce waste and be single-use plastic free.

Sarah Milner Simonds, co-organiser of the event said this year’s festival is bigger than ever and she hopes visitors will enjoy the changes they have made.

“We have made a few tweaks this time, like increasing the number of free from and vegan choices available, plus our low priced street food options,” Sarah said. “There will be an impressive range of street food available, with global flavours made from local ingredients.

“The festival is spread over College Street, High Street, Victoria Street and Princess Street and also includes the Methodist Church, Baptist Church Hall, Ritz Social Club and Princes Theatre.

“eat:Burnham has an environmental impact; requiring transport, energy, water, materials, and producing waste and generating emissions and has a lasting social impact on the local communities.

“We have an opportunity, through our festivals, to inspire visitors through a raised awareness of environmental and sustainability matters; sharing our management decisions on reducing our environmental impact in partnership with our crew, our sponsors, local authorities, suppliers and traders is one way.

“We have worked hard with our producers and waste partners to come up with a solution for waste management that allows our producers and visitors to minimise their impact on the environment.

“Alongside our other twenty four Sustainability Goals we hope make a positive difference through our festivals.

“We are encouraging visitors to make a greener travel choice and to remember to bring their own shopping bags, or panniers if they are cycling in.”

For more information and a full festival line up visit eatfestivals.co.uk.