PICKERING is planning on showcasing the best local talent and produce with a weekend festival of food, drinks and live music.

The second annual Swanning Around festival will take place in Pickering from Friday, June 15 to Sunday, June 17.

Organised by the Black Swan and Whistler’s Bar, the three day event started in 2017.

Laura Bartram, manager of the Whistler’s Bar at the Black Swan, said the idea was partly based on an old festival called the Pickering Feast, and that the weekend was designed to feature a “bit of everything”.

“It should be a good event. We’re really excited to see how it goes this year,” she added.

On Friday there will be music from Scarborough-based pop band Lottie Holmes and the Sad Boys Club, as well as folk singer Edwina Hayes.

Saturday will see performances from local singer Em Hayward, singer-songwriter David Neil Crabtree, Pickering rock band Rocket Smith and York-based singer Jess Gardham who will perform with percussionist Karl Winn.

On Sunday, Irish singer-songwriter Christine Redmond and York-based Laura Kindelan will play at Whistler’s Bar.

There will also be local street food and drink businesses represented at two markets on Saturday, selling a variety of goods, including pies, cheese, home bakery, locally farmed meat and breads.

In the Memorial Hall, there will also be stalls selling crafts and hand-made jewellery.

The Swanning Around markets will take place around Pickering including at the Memorial Hall from 10am until 3pm and on the green on Smiddy Hill from 10am until 2pm.

The Black Swan’s owner and one of the event organisers Phil Hall said that initial plans to hold stalls in the market place had been altered due to event planning requirements.

In the Black Swan and Whistler’s Bar, drinks will include 15 local beers on and a gin festival with 20 different gins.

The historic Black Swan pub has recently undergone alterations with a new bar opening at the end of May following three months of renovation work.