We’ve just about recovered from a weekend in Bakewell at Eroica Britannia festival – and what a fab weekend it was!
Photo: Brook Hayes
It was at the beginning of the year when Eroica invited us to have a stall at the festival. They had seen how successful we had been at events like Sheffield Food Festival and wanted us to bring some WI flavour to Eroica.
Eroica (not Erotica like some people think!) is a 3-day family lifestyle and cycling festival in the Peak District not far from Sheffield. Now in it’s third year, the festival is based on the original L’Eroica (meaning ‘the heroes’) cycle ride held every year in Gaiole, Tuscany, since 1997. It’s a of good old-fashioned cycling before carbon fibre, lycra gear and energy gels.
But it’s not just cycling – there’s lots of vintage clothing, crafts, music, entertainment, and most importantly for SHWI, food!
Photo: Brook Hayes
Grace and I worked together on organising our stall like previously at Sheffield Food Festival. We try and divide it straight down the line – she deals with our WI volunteers and I sort the logistics and liason with the organisers.
This time we were camping which provided an extra layer of complexity! But luckily, we had some excellent help all weekend from Charlotte, Brook and Cat who helped Grace and I get fed and stay dry. We had been concentrating so hard on our stall that we forgot essentials like toothpaste, wellies (we arrived to a mud bath on site), and food.
We were supplied with extra hands bringing fresh cake every day too which meant we got to have a wander round the festival, soak up the atmosphere or go for a much needed kip!
Photo: Brook Hayes
Saturday was our best day and we had a steady stream of customers buying our brownies, flapjack and lemon drizzle cakes. It was great to see so many WI members too from groups around the country! Grace and Lucy had entered the Best in Show cake competition and Lucy came third place. Other competitions included Best Dressed, Best Home Brew, Best Dressed Dog and Best Moustache!
Photo: Brook Hayes
Sunday was the day of the big bike ride and cyclists set off from Bakewell early to ride 30, 55 or 100 miles through the beautiful Peaks. It was a quieter day for us as families and friends were busy watching the ride. However, we still had a good day and loved watching all the bikes arrive at the finish line.
We’re so happy that we raised another £600 for Light Sheffield, our charity of the year who support families affected by perinatal mental health illnesses.
Photo: Ellie Last
Thank you to everyone who made cake or volunteered, or came to buy some cake from us! And a big thanks to Eroica for inviting us. Our next fundraising event will be SunFest – Abbeydale Brewery’s beer festival at the Rising Sun, Fulwood Road, Sheffield.