| Where: | New Alresford, Hampshire - town centre with Cavalcade starting at the Globe Inn on Broad Street |
| When: | 3rd Sunday in May |
| Time: | All day from 10 am with Cavalcade at 10 and Eating in the afternoon |
Alresford is at the centre of the watercress growing trade in Hampshire, and each May a free festival takes place celebrating the plant and its consumption. A Cavalcade processes up Broad Street to really get things started; expect morris dancers, musicians and a horse-drawn cart containing the Watercress King and Queen, who distribute the first fruits of the annual watercress harvest (they hurl packs of watercress at the crowd with gusto!). Chefs and cookery writers have their own stand for demonstrations of watercress recipes and the World Watercress Eating Championship takes place during the afternoon. Musicians have a stage on Broad Street and different performers take turns to entertain the crowds, while historic buildings are open to visitors.
Helpful Hints
It’s a family friendly event and all ages are welcome – but you must be over 18 to enter the World Watercress Eating Championship. There are stalls selling local produce (including watercress!!) and other items. Jazz fans are musically well catered for and there’s plenty to keep you busy all day.
In 2025 it should be on Sunday May 18th.
Click here for the event website : http://www.watercressfestival.org/
please advise is there any disabled parking. coming from Basingstoke and looking forward to another festival
Hello! Here at calendarcustoms we haven’t any connection to the organisation of the festival, but I know that disabled parking is available for blue badge holders at the station. For up-to-date info on this , click the following link to the festivals own website http://www.watercressfestival.org/how-to-get-here.html – and their site also has a contact link for if you need more detailed asistance. Hope you have a great time!
Best Wishes,
Averil
Please can you tell me, can you take a dog on the train from park and ride to the festival. Thanks
Hi Debbie,
Here at calendarcustoms we haven’t any connection with the organisation of the festival so I’m sorry I can’t answer your question regarding dogs and the park and ride – but of you visit this page: http://www.watercressfestival.org/contacts.html it actually belongs to the festival and has a contacts link for emails so hopefully they should be able to advise. Best of luck!
Averil