THE GREAT taste of Yorkshire will be among the appetising opening events at the first Ilkley Summer Festival.

Organisers of this year's inaugural August festival are adding a fundraising barbecue and a 'Food Trail' to the already well-stocked programme of events.

The festival begins on August 1, and co-ordinates many annual events held by Ilkley organisations with additional festival events. Festival organisers have selected themes including sport, music and food and drink.

Ilkley Tourist Information Centre hopes to head the Food Trail on Friday August 1 to coincide with Yorkshire Day, and the opening day of the festival. The planned event is expected to feature a selection of

speciality 'Yorkshire foods' for visitors to sample at the tourist office itself, on Station Road.

The centre also hopes to set up a trail around the town by asking local food retailers to offer samples of their fare or special offers. The food trail will not only help businesses in the area and promote what the town has to offer, but also tie in with Ilkley Summer Festival's food and drink theme.

The latest 'food and drink' event added to the festival programme is a fundraising barbecue at the Nell Bank Centre, Denton Road.

The barbecue will take place at the centre, which is one of the Lord Mayor of Bradford's chosen causes, on Saturday August 2.

The event will raise money for the Council-run outdoor activities centre itself.

Councillor Anne Hawkesworth, who came up with the festival idea, said: "It's going along great.

"This year's the first time, and I'm very, very pleased with peoples' enthusiasm. We're going to build on it year on year."

She says more musical events are being planned, including a 'double whammy' musical event on the final Saturday and Sunday evenings of the festival.

A concert is being planned for one of the evenings, with a 'Last Night of the Proms' style concert on the final night.

The festival may coincide with another landmark occasion - the official opening of the new Ilkley Skate Park on East Holmes Field.

Discussions are also underway on the idea of tying in a planned youth rock bands event with the official opening of the Ilkley skate park.

The skate park committee, Pipedream, would like to organise a musical event to mark the official opening of the facilities, and festival organisers are looking into the possibility of linking it to the festival.

With many events already tied in with the festival, and timetables about to be published, Coun Hawkesworth is interested to hear from anyone who would like to be on the Ilkley Summer Festival board for next year.

She said planning for next year's festival will have to start soon.

Anyone interested in helping out can contact Coun Hawkesworth on (07860) 856203 or (01943) 600701.