If you’re a voracious local foodie, a supporter of North Carolina’s sustainable agriculture or just enjoy good music and a cold beer, don’t miss the 8th Annual Pepper Festival this Sunday, September 27th, 2015 from 3-7pm at Briar Chapel Community Park in Chapel Hill.
The 2015 Pepper Festival challenges approximately 45 of the state’s top chefs to create one-of-a-kind recipes, from pepper chocolate to pepper vodka, using the locally grown and bred North Carolina pepper. The roster features culinary heavy hitters, such as Herons at The Umstead, The Fearrington Granary, TOPO, Harvest 18 and Gravy with craft brews from Carolina Brewery, Fullsteam, Crude Bitters, Yesteryears and more.
Photo courtesy of Abundance NC
For the first time, the Pepper Festival will feature Pepperpalooza, kid-friendly activities to provide hands-on education about local agriculture. The schedule features creative workshops such as “Food Fonts,” a chance to play and write with food, and “The Insane Science of Fairyland,” a storytelling experience that combines science with fairy-tale characters like the Big Bad Wolf. Festival goers can also enjoy artisan booths, acrobatic entertainment and music.
Photo courtesy of Abundance NC
Adult admission is $25-35 based on a cascading registration schedule. Drinks are cash bar. Children under the age of 12 attend free. Tickets may be purchased at www.pepperfestnc.org or by calling 919-533-5181. The festival will be held at the Great Meadow Park at Briar Chapel located at 185 Granite Mill Blvd. in Chapel Hill, N.C. Festivalgoers can enter Granite Mill Boulevard from Andrews Store Road near Margaret Pollard Middle School and follow signs to the festival.
Photo courtesy of Abundance NC
All proceeds benefit Abundance NC (formerly Abundance Foundation), a nonprofit that cultivates and celebrates resilient communities by strengthening food systems, increasing renewable energy education and developing robust local economies. Abundance NC partners with Piedmont Biofarm and other Chatham County farms to supply local peppers for the festival. Piedmont Biofarm produces sustainably grown, high-quality food year-round while improving soil fertility. A full list of partnering farms is available at pepperfestnc.org.
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