Thursday 5 September 2013

Sea Ilfracombe. Entertaining weekend ahead for everyone at Ilfracombe's Maritime Festival

With a huge range of entertainment and activities throughout the weekend, from Pirate Fun Activities for the younger children at the Museum on Friday morning to an open-air Songs of Praise at Preacher’s Rock on Wildersmouth Beach on Sunday evening, no-one can say that there’s nothing that will interest them! There’s a Visual Arts Extravaganza, opening at 2.00 on the Friday at the Landmark Pavilion, displaying all sorts of marine-inspired art work, and providing workshops as well. On Saturday and Sunday, there will be occasional sea-based musical entertainment while you peruse the exhibits, or enjoy a coffee. There will also be musical interludes in the Landmark Café. On Friday evening, the Oldenburg will be moored in the Harbour, and provide the venue for a Maritime Party, with a bar, canapés and musical entertainment. Tickets are available through www.wegottickets.com/seailfracombe or over the weekend at the Sea Ilfracombe office on the Pier. For those of an active bent, you can climb Capstone Hill for the Sea Watch (and hopefully at least see our local dolphins), you can try out pilot gig rowing, or take a guided ramble to the famous Torrs or Hillsborough: you could even put together a team of six and take part in the Sea Ilfracombe Skittles Match on Sunday afternoon. And if you don’t want to be quite that active, there’s a Fun Fishing Competition For those who like messing about with boats, you can take a trip on the old lifeboat, Hampshire Rose (tickets available as above), watch the Y-Sail Round the Island race, instituted last year, or have a go at sailing model boats in Bicclescombe Park.There are, of course, lots of opportunities to hear our performers, who this year include (in no particular order): Ian Hudson, Pam’n’Al, Roger Cockram, Malcolm Ward, Helen North, Anchors Aweigh, Tom & Barbara Brown, Monkey’s Fist, Four’n’Aft, LocTup Together, Martyn Babb & Andy Barnes, Old Gaffers, Steve Dawes & Helen Pitt. As well as performing The Landmark, they can be found on The Old Quay, in The Ship & Pilot, at the Yacht Club, and the Lifeboat Shed, plus they’ll be guiding open sessions at which anyone is welcome to have a sing on the Oldenburg and in The Ship & Pilot. And then there’s the food – ah, the food! The Yacht Club are running a Crab Day on the Saturday – so all things crab there! You can find traditional Devonshire Cream Teas with fresh strawberries at Larkstone Gardens – OK, not maritime, but it is traditional. And on the Sunday, there’ll be Fore Street Fish Festival, with pavement seafood dining, entertainment and a whole lot more. On Sunday evening, there’s the Gourmet Restaurant Trail, taking your starters, main course and dessert in different places, finishing up at Damien Hirst’s 11 The Quay. Oh, sorry, forgot to mention that the Restaurant Trail’s sold out – have to get in earlier next year! Last but by no means least are the children’s events, the first of which was mentioned at the beginning. On Saturday, Ilfracombe Aquarium and Coastwise will be guiding a Rock Pool Rambles, Ticklish Allsorts will be entertaining in the afternoon, and on Sunday morning running a creative workshop at the Landmark Pavilion, as well as Punch & Judy on Sunday afternoon. Sunday also sees a Pirate Fun Day in Bicclescombe Park at which Ticklish Allsorts will also be in evidence. So, all in all, a brilliant weekend is in store! 
For more information, you can go to the Sea Ilfracombe website at www.seailfracombe.co.uk, or call in at the Sea Ilfracombe office during the day over the weekend. Hope to see you there!

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