Hundreds of families enjoyed a culinary journey around the world as Scarborough hosted a weekend-long celebration of mouth-watering cuisine.

Scarborough Food and Drink Festival returned to the town’s Open Air Theatre for its second year with residents, visitors and businesses turning out in force to support the event on Saturday and Sunday (April 11 and 12).

Organised by North Yorkshire Council, the festival offered something for everyone, showcasing some of the county’s finest local produce alongside much-loved dishes from across the globe.

From Greek and Turkish baklava to wood fired pizza and jerk chicken, the air was filled with irresistible aromas from more than 60 separate stalls across the site.

Those with a sweet tooth were treated to a stunning range of freshly-made waffles, donuts, crumbles and crepes, while visitors who fancied a tipple were able to sample home-produced cider along with craft gins, vodkas and rums.

The tipi bar proved to be a popular meeting spot all weekend for those needing much-needed refreshments, while there was a fantastic selection of popular fairground rides provided by O’Brien’s Funfair which helped create a vibrant, family-friendly atmosphere.

North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for arts and culture, Cllr Simon Myers, said: “A lot of hard work went into planning and organising this event and I would like to thank everyone who played their part in ensuring it was a truly memorable weekend.

“It was great to see so many local residents, visitors and businesses turning out in support of the festival, which showcased some of the very best produce that this county has to offer.

“This was only its second year, but it’s clear to see that the town has really taken the festival to its heart. I look forward to seeing how it continues to grow, attracting even more families from across North Yorkshire and beyond in the years to come.

“The visitor economy is very important for our local economy, and events like this are crucial in continuing to encourage people to visit our towns and coastal destinations, particularly outside the traditional tourist season.”

The food and drink festival was staged during this year’s celebrations to mark the 400^th anniversary since Scarborough became a spa town.

A programme of events is being coordinated by North Yorkshire Council and local organisations to honour the town’s rich past, while shining a spotlight on Scarborough as a must-visit destination now and into the future.

Tourism in Scarborough generates nearly £580 million each year and contributes to North Yorkshire’s visitor economy which is worth more than £4 billion annually.

For more information about upcoming events across North Yorkshire, visit https://visitnorthyorkshire.com/.