THE great and the good of the food world, along with thousands of hungry visitors, will descend on Oxford once again this month.

The third annual Foodies Festival will take over South Park on the August Bank Holiday weekend.

Last year’s event saw more than 20,000 people take part in classes, demonstrations, tasting sessions and workshops.

Top chefs including Alex McKay from TV show Ready, Steady Cook and The Telegraph’s Xanthe Clay will cook dishes live in the chefs’ theatre and show how dishes can be cooked at home.

Daniel Galmiche, from the Vineyard, near Newbury, said: “This will be my third year at Foodies Oxford and I have such a wonderful time that I always look forward to it. This year, I will cook recipes from my book, The French Brasserie Cookbook, such as cod, coriander and garlic parcels and grilled courgettes with olive oil and thyme.”

The festival first visited Oxford in August 2010 and looks set to become an annual feature in the city’s calendar.

New to the event this year is a children’s cookery theatre, run by Beverley Glock from Splat Cooking, and a ‘city beach’ complete with sand, deckchairs and beach huts selling ice-cream, tea and cocktails.

There will also be masterclasses in matching beer and food together, cakes and wine drinking.

Other attractions include a street food avenue serving dishes from around the globe.

Co-organiser Sue Hitchen told the Oxford Mail: “There’s a great audience in Oxford because there aren’t a huge number of events like it in the area.” There will also be live music on the entertainment stage, including the Gloria Miller Duo, The Coronettes and Contagious Vibes.

l Tickets cost £18 for the three days and are available from foodiesfestival.com or by calling 0844 995 1111.