Seafest Plymouth Celebrates Britain's Ocean City

Plymouth's waterfront is preparing for Seafest, the annual maritime festival organized by the Plymouth Waterfront Partnership and the Plymouth Sound National Marine Park. Supported by an £11.6 million grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for the Marine Park's Horizons project, this major event is expected to draw up to 25,000 visitors. The festival spans across key waterfront locations including Sutton Harbour, the Barbican, Trinity Pier, West Hoe, Mount Batten, Mount Edgcumbe, and the Royal William Yard. For those planning to attend, subsidised and free public transport options will be running throughout the weekend, with services provided by Plymouth Boat Trips, the Mount Batten Ferry, and the Plymouth CityBus 'Shark and Ride' service.

Water sports and activities are a major focus of the weekend, featuring swimming, diving, snorkelling, paddleboarding, kayaking, and sailing trials. To mark the 90th anniversary of Tinside Lido, the venue is offering 90p swimming sessions for everyone. Nearby, 'Seafest presents: The Tinside Motion Picture Show' will host outdoor cinema screenings of films like Finding Nemo and The Salt Path. Out on the water, the 45th J/24 World Championship fleet will be stationed in the Sound, and visitors can book special trips on the historic vessel Johanna Lucretia, operated by The Island Trust.

Cultural and family activities are scheduled across the different sites. At the Royal William Yard Green, Circo Rum Ba Ba will present 'The Whale', an interactive experience where visitors can step inside a giant inflatable Sperm whale to hear marine stories. The Royal William Yard will also host the 'Royal William Yard 200 Exhibition', showcasing local stories, objects, and art. Over at the Barbican, the Plymouth Fishing and Seafood Association is running the 'Keep Plymouth Fishing' campaign, featuring seafood cooking demonstrations with sustainable local ingredients and a live fish auction. Other entertainment across the waterfront includes a cardboard boat building competition, live shanty bands, family trails, street theatre, and craft workshops, while the 17th-century Mount Batten Tower will open its doors for historical visits.