From humble beginnings to one of Cornwall’s biggest and best-loved specialist food festivals, Falmouth Oyster Festival, from October 13 to 16, is planning to celebrate its 20th birthday.

The Festival celebrates the start of the native Oyster dredging season, the quality of Cornish seafood and one of the last remaining oyster fisheries.

The Port of Truro Oyster Fishery is the only remaining oyster fishery in Europe, if not the world, where traditional methods of sail power and hand-pulled dredges must be used, methods that have changed little in the last 500 years.

Last year’s festival packed in the crowds with more than 40,000 visitors and almost 20,000 oysters consumed over the four days. A full programme each day of talented chefs demonstrating their gastronomic flair and a wide range of music from folk to jazz entertained record crowd numbers.

For details of the festival programme and further information please visit www.falmouthoysterfestival.co.uk, find the event on Facebook ‘Falmouth Oyster Festival’ or follow @FalOysterFest on Twitter.