Food Revolution Snohomish County, a movement aimed at encouraging growing, cooking, preserving, and eating real and healthy food, brings the Celebration of Food Festival to Lynnwood for the second straight year on May 19 at the Lynnwood Convention Center.

The festival is a free, family event where participants can taste, explore, and experience real food from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. The event will include free food samples, food demonstrations for children and adults, displays, and items for purchase.

“This event brings together people who are passionate about delicious, local, wholesome food,” said organizer Chris Hudyma. “Farmers, ranchers, culinary professionals, youth, students, and business owners will offer activities to inspire the enjoyment of real food.”

Fifty vendors, with products ranging from cheese to vegetables to chocolate, are confirmed for the event. They include Taylor Shellfish, Theo Chocolate, Volio Olive Oil, Snoqualmie Ice Cream, Blue Stilly Coffee, Golden Glen Creamery, and Cats Paws Bees.

Farms from throughout Snohomish County will be represented, including: Garden Treasures Organic Farm of Arlington, Klesick Family Farm of Stanwood, Willie Green’s Organic Farm of Monroe, Mother Nature’s Organics of Lake Stevens, and Pioneer Farm of Stanwood. Also represented are the farmer’s markets of Everett, Mukilteo, and Snohomish.

There will also be displays and information offered by farm and garden professionals, including WSU Snohomish County Extension and Seattle Tilth, to show the benefits of growing your own food. Resources will be available to help both children and adults learn about growing, cooking, and preserving food.

New this year:

Expanded children’s activities from the Pacific Science Center, Imagine Children’s Museum, and Edmonds Community College STEM (science, technology and math) programs;

Children’s story tent;

Kids’ food demo station;

Nine presentations on topics ranging from “Understanding GMO Labeling” to “Converting Your Lawn into a Bountiful Garden”; and

Shuttle available to take visitors to overflow parking lot.

The Celebration of Food Festival is sponsored by Central Market, City of Lynnwood, Edmonds Community College and the college’s Green Campus Fund, Grow Northwest, PCC Natural Markets, Swedish Edmonds, Verdant Health Commission, Whole Foods Markets, and the Cascade Harvest Coalition.

For more information, email foodrevsnoco@edcc.edu, go to www.edcc.edu/foodfest, or connect with Food Revolution Snohomish County on Facebook, www.facebook.com/foodrevsnoco.