A FUN-FILLED food festival is set to go ahead in the Forth Valley over the October school break.

Forth Valley Food Festival will go ahead for the third year with socially distanced events taking place between October 10 and 25.

Alloa's very own Inglewood House and Spa will be taking part with a gourmet steak night on Friday, October 23.

Guests will arrive from 7pm on the night and will be treated to a delicious three-course menu.

The star attraction on the night will be a sharing board of a 28-day aged fillet, ribeye and flat iron steak served with all the trimmings.

Still to be confirmed, a dining in the dark event is also being planned, giving people a chance to experience food in a completely different way.

A similar event had already proven to be a hit earlier this year.

Festival organisers at Forth Valley Food and Drink CIC say one of the highlights in the wider area will be at Arnprior Farm.

The farm has a bumper crop of 10,000 pumpkins on its patch, with 12 acres of space for people to safely distance and find their perfect squash, just in time for the spooky season.

Rebecca McEwen, from Arnprior Farm, said: "Our pumpkins come in every shape and size you can imagine and we'll be encouraging everyone to put their pumpkin carvings to good use by whizzing up some pumpkin soup or pumpkin pie this Halloween."

Newcomers to the festival this year will be Bannockburn House, teaming up with chef Sara MacMillan from The Kitchen at 44 King Street.

Together, they will be delivering two friendly virtual cook-a-longs, live on Facebook.

One session will take place on Monday, October 12, while the other will go ahead exactly a week later – both at 4pm.

Kate White, head gardener at Bannockburn House, said: "We'll be broadcasting live from the gardens of Bannockburn House, showing you how to whip up two savoury recipes using some common store cupboard ingredients and fresh local veggies.

"We'll also be showing you how the veggies are grown at Bannockburn House and talking about how using seasonal produce can help reduce your food miles."

There will be much more, including rainbow bread making at Camphill Blair Drummond, tasting sessions at Allanwater Brewhouse and a kitchen medicine workshop by Trossachs Wild Apothecary.

People can visit forthvalleyfoodanddrink.org for full details.