To the north of Hobbiton¡¯s center, up beyond the party tree, another party of extraordinary magnificence is taking place. The very best cooks throughout the Shire have contributed samples of their favourite vittles for the most exciting event of the year: The Taste of Hobbiton! The four fastest and hungriest hobbits in the Shire have been chosen to compete in a race to taste it all. The winner, and his family of course, will have the great honour of proving their hearty appetite and speedy legs to be second to none!
The participating hobbits have been chosen for their renowned insatiable appetites as well as their uncommon energy, especially when in pursuit of a bite to eat. While most halflings can be found happily dozing after a few round meals, these four have made quite the reputation for themselves for actively pursuing several meals more.
Daffodilly Hayward
Daffodilly Hayward is famous in Frogmorton for her excessive love of pie. She has developed a bit of a rascally reputation amongst friends and family for some sly pie-filching or ¡°Window shopping¡± as she calls it. She has been known to walk great distances in the pursuit of her next meal; a most unusual trait for any Halfling. Like all of the contestants she¡¯s known for taking more than her share at dinners and parties. While most hobbits are recovering pleasantly from their fourth helping, Daffodilly Hayward would shock her hosts by asking for a seventh.
Burdy Gamwich
Burdy Gamwich, champion eater of the Gamwich family, has travelled far to participate in the Taste of Hobbiton competition and win renown for his kin. A humble farmer in his tweens, Burdy is a hard worker and tirelessly ploughs the great vegetable fields of his family from dawn until dusk. He undoubtedly works up quite a hunger as he ploughs throughout the day, but his mother also ensures that he is given a bottomless supply of foodstuff to fuel him as he goes. Burdy is a master of eating on the fly and looks forward to the challenge of speed-sampling all the first-rate foods of the Shire.
Gladiola Chubb-Baggins
Gladiola Chubb-Baggins, Gladdy to her friends, was born and raised in Hobbiton and is generally considered to be a great local beauty. Her figure has been influenced by the many hearty meals bestowed upon her by the numerous gentlehobbits who court her, but rumour has it that she is yet to decide upon a suitable fellow. Though she will never admit it to those who pursue her, for generous encouragement is important in ensuring proper nourishment. Gladdy is not famed for her speed or energy, but it is widely known that Dodder Twofoot and Bando Brandybuck, coordinators of the Taste of Hobbiton, are both very much in love with this fair hobbit-lady, unbeknownst to each other.
Mudric Rumble
Mudric Rumble is known in his hometown of Bywater as the youngest hobbit to eat a full meal of solid food. At only two months of age, baby Mudric¡¯s mother quickly realized that her child was not to be sated by milk alone. After draining a full pitcher of milk into her yawning child, she offered him a bite of lamb and was astounded as he proceeded to finish a whole rack followed by a potato and a full serving of buttered green peas. An hour later he ate three eggs, half a sausage, and a tea-cake! All witnessed by many astonished neighbours. Needless to say, this surprisingly excessive eating behaviour has continued as Mudric arrived at adulthood.
Festival Run Horse Races
Sadly, the horse races are currently disabled. But, they are under construction for future books. We hope to reintroduce them in upcoming festivals with several significant improvements and changes. While I am very sorry to miss the Festival Run this summer, the festival run token is still being offered as a reward to those who can generate a sizeable quantity of barter tokens. This means the Lithe horse and pony will still be available to those who look forward to owning this eye-catching mount.