BLAENAU Gwent’s first ever food and culture festival is expected to draw in crowds of around 15,000 on the weekend.

Valleys FaCE (Food and Culture Event) will take place on Saturday and Sunday at Festival Park, Ebbw Vale.

Organisers of the not-forprofit event hope it could become a biannual occasion as it aims to celebrate local producers and crafters.

Jaime Devine, managing director of Tudor Brewery in Llanhilleth, is one of the founding members of FaCE.

He said: “It’s gone very, very well. There’s no festival in Blaenau Gwent that comes close to the Newport Food Festival, or the Abergavenny Food Festival and so we thought it was about time we had one here.

“I’ve lived in this area for seven years and I’m fed up with the negative press it gets, and the attitude of some people towards the area. It’s not what I’m seeing on a day to day basis. I moved my business to Blaenau Gwent because the people here have so much to offer.”

Mr Devine, along with fellow members James Carver and Wayne and Verity Lewis, hope that another FaCE festival will be held at Christmas to give local businesses a boost.

“We got together in December and it’s suddenly ballooned into this amazing thing,” added Mr Devine.

“I think we’re being conservative when we expect around 15,000 here on the weekend.”

The event has already exceeded expectations and applications for stalls have now closed, with 105 stalls and 22 local bands and dance troupes booked to take part.

The event will begin at 9am until 6pm on Saturday, and 11am until 4pm on Sunday.