THE annual Alresford Watercress Festival will be returning to celebrate its 20th anniversary.

Taking place on Sunday, May 19, the event will feature dozens of popular returning attractions.

This includes the crowning of the Watercress King and Queen followed by the dispersal of fresh, new season watercress to the crowds, cookery demos by celebrity chefs, live entertainment, food stalls, craft stalls and the World Watercress Eating Championships.

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Hampshire Chronicle: The Watercress King and Queen at the 2023 festivalThe Watercress King and Queen at the 2023 festival (Image: Newsquest)Watercress Festival organisers have also said that there will be a few new surprise attractions to help celebrate the 20th anniversary.

Watercress is grown in natural spring water which bubbles up from underground aquifers mainly in Hampshire and Dorset.

Alresford is known as the ‘Capital’ of Watercress due to the role it played in the growing and transportation of fresh watercress by train to the fresh produce markets of the North and London.

More information about the Watercress Festival can be found on the event's website.