The first ever Taste of Orkney Festival has been put on the back burner until next year in light of the pandemic.
This event was set to take place in September to showcase local food and drink provenance and promote the islands as a foodie destination.
Organisers Orkney Food and Drink are “disappointed” about having to cancel due to the coronavirus crisis.
The event will now run from September 17 to 19 next year, primarily at Orkney Theatre in Kirkwall.
The festival will also form part of the rescheduled events programme for the Scottish Government’s Year of Coasts and Waters 2020 celebrations, led by VisitScotland.
Taste of Orkney project manager, Edgar Balfour said: “It’s disappointing that we’ve had to postpone the event as we had a packed programme of demonstrations, workshops and experiences planned, as well as an exciting fringe festival.
“However, we want to make the most of the opportunity and are looking forward to celebrating our fantastic food and drink with everyone when the time is right.
“Hopefully by next year there’ll be more certainty about the staging of events and we’ll have a clearer idea about what, if any, physical distancing requirements we’ll have to accommodate.
Mr Balfour added that the festival was working closely with its funding partners, EventScotland, Scotland Food and Drink and Orkney Islands Council, to confirm the full programme for 2021.
