Festival News Update - First week of Oct 2014

Just one month out from a delicious day of local food tasting, a 100⁺-exhibitor-strong food trending showcase and your chance to score unique local delectables for your pantry or holiday gift list. Meet the farmers, food entrepreneurs and food artisans converging this November 2 at the Civic Center in Rochester, Minnesota!

We are super excited about this premiere event and want to make sure everyone hears all about it. Hoping we can count on you to help spread the word. Please read on, learn what’s in store and help stir up a big helping of buzz. We invite you to like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and use #LocalFeast to keep in touch!

FEAST! FESTIVAL FORECAST – 30 DAYS OUT:

• WIN FREE TICKETS TO FEAST!

Post a picture of your favorite food, farm, or farmer on our FEAST! Facebook page throughout October. Your photo should include a brief description for context. Each Wednesday we’ll pick a winner and award two tickets to FEAST! Festival, plus a copy of the Minnesota Homegrown Cookbook.

• LOOK WHO’S COMING TO FEAST!

Breakfast gets a wild overhaul and you get a preview sample thanks to Prescott Bergh and his family who started Simply Native Foods earlier this year. Be among the first to taste this awesome wild rice breakfast treat – yes! before it’s even available in stores! Launching this hot breakfast cereal of all-indigenous ingredients was fated to happen: Prescott was raised in a family committed to foraging wild foods and has spent most of his life managing his organic farm and working in the organic food industry. Simply Native Grains is no instant oatmeal. A satisfying breakfast blend crafted exclusively of indigenous ingredients for active, health conscious eaters. Preston’s new sustainable morning sustenance is based on a nutrient and texture-rich, low-glycemic supergrain: wild rice. This wholesome breakfast from Simply Native Foods won’t be on store shelves until the end of 2014, but for those attending the FEAST! Festival and Tradeshow in Rochester, MN on Sunday, November 2nd, a tasty sample is a bit closer on your horizon. Read more about trend-setting vendors who'll be attending…

• MUSIC TO MUNCH BY…

What’s a festival without some festive tunes? FEAST! is thrilled to host 4 live bands, including the DitchLilies, Wisconsin's American and International Roots duo playing from 10am - 11:30 on November 2. The DitchLilies have been in musical cahoots since 1998. Kari Larson and Lisa Schultz are stringed multi-instrumentalists/vocalists with a soft spot and keen enthusiasm for early swing, old-time mountain music, world roots and juke joint songs from the golden era. Together, they turn back in time to dust off the rare and forgotten tunes or to hone the familiar tried and true melodies. Read more about who'll be entertaining…

NEXT TIME, watch for more delicious details about the upcoming FEAST! including:

• GOOD EATING STARTS YOUNG – BRING THE WHOLE FAMILY!

• CHEF UNDER FIRE, ON-STAGE COOKING EXTRAVAGANZA!

• TREND SETTING LOCAL FOODS CLASSES

• MORE LIVE MUSIC HIGHLIGHTS

• AND OTHER SUPER-FOOD-WORTHY SURPRISES!

PREMIER PARTNERS – see the list of Feast! sponsors, contributors, supporters & volunteers.