Originally scheduled to take place over Saturday and Sunday (June 6 and 7), the morning of the festival’s first day saw organisers “gutted” to make the call to cancel the first day due to a forecast of high winds and severe weather conditions that would have left traders soaked on the seafront.
The decision was made with the safety of traders, visitors, performers and staff in mind, with organisers saying that they didn’t feel the conditions were safe enough to proceed.
This blip in the planning left traders with surplus stock, with some taking to social media to sell their products for collection orders. The public didn’t disappoint, helping these traders sell any stock that would not have been good enough to sell the following day at the festival.
By the time Sunday rolled around, the skies were not as grey as the day previous, and the wind had died down significantly – meaning the festival would go ahead for its second day.
Visitors did not disappoint, coming out to support the dozens of traders braving the seafront weather conditions. Guests could buy anything from street food like hot dogs, loaded fries and curries, or satiate their sweet tooth with cheesecakes, cookies and fudge.
Traders lined the promenade, with independents setting up shop underneath the Western shelter, giving those in need of some retail therapy a place to shop the best products on offer from traders across the Vale of Glamorgan – along with the chance to throw some pottery or enjoy a pint.
The Pembrokeshire Cheesecake Company expressed how grateful they were for the support they were shown.
They said: “People have come out and supported it. The amount of work people put in before even getting here is crazy.
“The weather hasn’t been as bad today – we’ve sold two days’ worth of stock in a day.
“Everyone is just having a cracking day.”
Bloom Bakery shared the sentiment, saying that whilst they were sad about the initial cancellation, “safety has got to come first.” Regardless, the public came out to support them and the others they were trading alongside.
Organisers of the Barry Island Food Festival said: “It was a great, great day, and it was lovely to see such a buzz on the island.
“There’s something really special about seeing Barry Island so full of life, with the sun out, good food in hand, music in the air, and so many smiling faces all in one place.”
