THE Bridport Food Festival is underway – and there’s plenty more lined up as the extravaganza reaches its finale at the weekend.

Visitors flocked to the first events on Open Farm Sunday at Denhay and Washingpool farms as well as a culinary trail at the museum, quiz and sausage tasting at the Ropemakers and cooking workshop.

But a host of actitivities are also lined up over the coming week before the main event at the Askers Meadow showground, near Morrisons, on Saturday, June 18.

Highlights include the two-day Bridport Round Table Beer Festival on June 17 and 18, cookery demonstrations and a Question Time.

Event organiser Amanda Streatfeild said: “The Food Festival has been getting bigger and better each year since it started in 2004.

“It is a great showcase for the wonderful produce and local food businesses in West Dorset attracting people from all over the country.”

The beer festival will feature more than 60 ales and ciders.

More than 3,000 visitors have attended in previous years and proceeds go to local charities.

The beer festival starts at 6pm on Friday and ends the following day at 11pm.

There will also be a wine tasting on June 17 at Askers Meadow with local vineyards in aid of the Dorset County Hospital Charitable Trust.

Tickets are still available for Friday evening’s Food and Drink Question Time at the Bull Hotel in East Street, Bridport.

A panel of experts will be tested on culinary conundrums.

They will include chef Mark Hix, grower Michael Michaud, Cleeves Palmer from Palmers Brewery and Caroline Parkins of Leakers Bakery. The main extravaganza on Saturday, June 18 will include a range of regional exhibitors. River Cottage cook Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall will be among a number of top local chefs preparing their own dishes on stage in the Festival’s Cookery Theatre.

He will also be judging the Great Bridport Bake Off, see below for details of how to enter.

Places are also still available for free, half-hour cookery sessions for seven to 12-year-olds.

On Sunday, June 19, the festival will be rounded off by Bridport’s Big Picnic.

The free event takes place in the Community Orchard behind St Mary's Hall, Bridport, between noon and 3pm. People are encouraged to bring along locally sourced food as far as possible.