A few thousand foodies are expected to converge on downtown Langley City this Saturday.
A few global travellers, in town on vacation, typically take advantage of timing to pop by the Fork & Finger Festival. But, most participants are from throughout the Lower Mainland – North Vancouver all the way to Chilliwack – who mark their calendars well ahead and come out during the five-hour event to quench their palette with local delectables.
Now in its seventh year, the Fork & Finger event is a highly anticipated food event that this year will feature a record 21 City eateries serving up “amazing food,” said event organizer Laura Warren.
She and the team at Rare Affair Events have worked with the Downtown Langley Business Association to grow this festival since its inception in 2014. The event was cancelled during 2020 and ’21 due to COVID.
“It’s picked up speed right from the very beginning and developed quite a big following,” Warren said, noting there were about 400 people who attended during the first year or two, and last year they easily fed 2,000-plus.
“The word really is getting out,” she said, noting that the increase in people is just part of the reason why the numbers of restaurants also rose from an average of 13 to 15 in past, up to 21 this time around.
Another reason, she speculated, was the addition of a $10 feature selection at participating restaurants.
Asked to explain how it works, Warren said it’s intended to be simple and fun.
Participants pick up a passport at the information booth at McBurney Plaza starting at 11 a.m., and head off to enjoy a minimum of three food features (and acquire three stamps on said passport) before the event concludes at 4 p.m.
In past, restaurants were restricted to only offering $5 features. This year, however, to incorporate a wider selection of eateries and dishes, there are now $10 dishes being offered, as well.
Also new this year is the amount of prize money being offered.
In past, the DLBA gave away $1,000 in downtown dollars. This year, the amount has been upped, Warren noted. There is one prize of $1,000 being offered, as well as three $500 prizes. Winners will be drawn at the end of the day’s festivities, but winners do not have to be present for the draw.
Those two features, alone, are expected to attract even more food lovers to the City core than ever before, said Warren.
While guests are encouraged to start in McBurney Plaza, to pick up their passport, there will be other reasons to return to the plaza throughout the day, including returning their passport to be entered into the draw.
One other big highlight is live entertainment offered through much of the day by Jada McKenzie-Moore.
Also, from 12 to 2 p.m., celebrity chef and author Spencer Watts will be on hand in the plaza.
While past events have offered cooking demonstrations, with step-by-step instructions for cooking certain dishes, this year’s chef will be doing something different, Warren explained.
He and his team will be cooking live on site, and still offering samples to guest (while quantities last), but Watts will be spending most of his time meeting and greeting his fans and answering questions.
“Chef Watts will be serving up delicious samples from his cookbook ‘Fish For You,’ and will be available for book signing, photographs, and to talk all things food,” Warren elaborated.
Discover Langley City will also be on-site handing out bite-sized treats from local bakeries every hour, explained executive director Teri James.
“And when you’ve had your fill of amazing food from the restaurants, come listen to some awesome music in McBurney Plaza,” James said, describing the atmosphere as high-energy and fun.
“We’ll see you in McBurney Plaza! Be sure to come hungry,” James concluded.
For more information, people can visit the website at downtownlangley.com.
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