THE town centre will be buzzing this Saturday for the first ever Okehampton Festival.

The event will be a celebration of local food, folk, crafts and cream teas, organised by Okehampton and District Chamber of Trade to promote the many varied food producers and crafters in the area.

There will be the monthly farmers' market around St James' Chapel, and food and craft stalls in St James' Street, where it is hoped there will be a mobile kitchen with cookery demonstrations.

The White Hart Hotel will be giving demonstrations on how to cook healthy traditional meals on a budget, while Okehampton Community Garden will have demonstrations and activities throughout the day.

Rockin' Beads and Purple Penguins will both put on jewellery workshops, while OCRA will be putting on sports activities throughout the morning at the top of St James' Street.

At 11am, the FOOTsteps dance group will be performing outside Fairplace Church.

For those feeling competitive there will be scone, jam and Devon Split competitions in the Charter Hall from 1.30pm. Children can bring along three decorated cupcakes to be judged. Entry forms are available from OK Leisure, Donald's Menswear and

Rockin' Beads.

As well as food and crafts, there will be plenty of musical entertainment throughout the day from Wren Music, and an open mic session. Morris dancers will also bring their traditional dancing skills to the event.

The idea originally came from Okehampton resident Ruth Maile, who thought the chamber of trade should do something to promote the Devonshire Cream Tea. The idea snowballed as traders and organisations wanted to become part of the festival. Local cafés will be offering cream teas as specials throughout the day.

BBC Radio Devon will be broadcasting from Okehampton in the afternoon, so visitors may get interviewed as the presenters wander through the streets.

The event is one being organised by town promotion manager Lisa Wadling. Since taking the post in mid-January, she has helped to organise the St George's Day Challenge, pancake races in the town centre, and offered advice to Okehampton Rotary when organising their May fair.

Lisa said: 'The Okehampton Festival is all about celebrating everything local. There's lots to do for all age groups and we hope the local community will come out and enjoy the day with the family.'