The next festival is on 18 May 2009 (details)
Watercress Festival 2006
in the UK's capital of watercress farming.

In celebration of our most historic salad leaf,The Watercress Festival is taking place on Sunday 14th May 2006. There's fun for all the family with cookery demonstrations by celebrity chef Antony Worrall Thompson, street theatre, live music, a "Mind, Body and Soul" exhibition with a range of practitioners on hand from aromatherapists to acupuncturists, rides on The Watercress Line heritage steam railway, and a fantastic food market.
All entertainment at the festival is free. Book a free watercress farm tour and find out the fascinating story behind watercress production.Watercress is grown in mineral-rich spring water and is bursting with more than 15 essential vitamins and minerals.
So come along and join us for a great day out from 10am until 4pm.

There's so much to see at this year's Watercress Festival, with street theatre a particular highlight. Incredible stilt walkers Incandescence will be entertaining the crowds as giant masked black and white birds along with an amazing walkabout illusion by The Gargoyles.
Children will love the cheeky stone-covered characters Rocksy and Granit as they move among the crowds.
You'll be enthralled by contemporary clown Fraser Hooper, whose show combines physical comedy, juggling and elements of vaudeville.
A free bouncy castle and ball pit, plus face painters will ensure the smiles stay on the children's faces all day long!

From pubs and restaurants to tea shops and cafés, eateries around the town will be putting together imaginative watercress menus as they compete to win the festival food awards, Stop off and sample the winning delights!
Last year's innovative entries into the Watercress Food Awards included such delights as watercress chocolates, watercress ice cream and the award-winning watercress beer.
Judges, including BBC Good Food magazine editor Gillian Carter, are looking forward to trying out even more inspired creations from this year's stall holders.

The food market will be a watercress lover's delight with more than 35 stalls selling a range of fabulous produce, from watercress crepes and watercress pesto to watercress soup and sausages. Sample some of Hampshire's finest food and stock up on goodies to enjoy at home.

Find out why watercress is a hit with the professionals as leading chef and staunch supporter of Great British food,Antony Worrall Thompson demonstrates some quick, healthy and delicious recipes using watercress.

Grown in the pure spring waters of Southern England since the 1800s, watercress is packed full of vitamins and minerals. Gram for gram watercress contains as much vitamin C as oranges, more calcium than whole milk and more iron than spinach. It also contains a variety of antioxidants which can help mop up potentially harmful free radicals. What's more, it contains a unique compound called phenylethyl isothiocynate, or PEITC, which is believed to increase the body's resistance to certain carcinogenic (cancer causing) agents. No wonder watercress is known as the original 'superfood!'

Is your child a budding Jamie or Nigella? If you're looking to make them the next mini-masterchef, enrol them on one of the watercress cookery workshops at the Watercress Line's Goods Shed. Having taught more than 10,000 children to cook in the last 7 years, Cookie Crumbles returns to Alresford to give children a chance to get messy in the kitchen! The classes, which are suitable for children aged 5 to 12 years, cost £12.00 and last for an hour, running at 11.30am and 1.30pm. Places are limited so book in advance by calling 020 7 371 8100.

If you're seeking some peace and tranquillity, head for the mind, body and soul exhibition in Alresford Community centre in West Street, at the top of Broad Street, where an array of complementary practitioners will be on hand to answer your queries on a variety of treatments.
Alresford based complementary practitioner Valerie Kelly-Miller has brought together a wealth of experts all under one roof. You'll be able to discover the benefits of pilates, reflexology, osteopathy and homeopathy, in addition to meeting local experts on sports injury therapy, cranio-ostepoathy, candle therapy and psychotherapy.
There will also be the opportunity to try some of the treatments. For complete relaxation, try a mini Indian head massage, or enjoy a mini facial. Learn how to maximise your best features with a make up lesson and enjoy demonstrations of treatments such as a Hopi Ear Candle display. If you're looking for an energy boost to keep you going all day, try some of the aromatherapy oils on offer.
And if you're looking to take some peace and tranquility home with you, there will be plenty of products to purchase.

Meet the watercress farmers, find out about the production methods and pick up a bag or two of free watercress from The Watercress Alliance stand, where you'll be able to see a model watercress farm. Or see the real thing by taking a 15 to 20 minute stroll down to one of Alresford's watercress farms where you can find out more during one of the free one-hour farm tours.
The tours are running at Manor Farm,The Brook at 11.30am and 1.30pm (call 01929 463241 to book) and at 12noon and 2pm on Pinglestone Farm (call 01264 732022 to book).

The Watercress Line heritage railway, so called because of the vast quantities of watercress it used to transport up to Covent Garden Market, makes for a charming day out in its own right. So what better incentive for a trip on this remarkable steam railway, than the fact that visitors to the Watercress Festival will be able to enjoy a free park and ride? There is capacity for 1500 cars at Ropley Station, from where visitors will be able to enjoy the 8 minute trip to Alresford. Alternatively, park at Alton, where you cam board the train to enjoy the whole 40 minute trip to Alresford, with tickets costing from £10 adults and £5 children over 3 years.

Parking is also available at Perins School and just off the Old Alresford Road - follow the AA signs. If you are coming from the Basingstoke/Old Alresford side of the town we strongly recommend that you park at Old Alresford.