The Sea Ilfracombe. Maritime Festival for the whole family from 6th-8th September

The Sea Ilfracombe Festival is back for its fourth year, and as a celebration of all things maritime there are activities and events to entertain the whole family at venues across Ilfracombe. The festival will run from the 6th to the 8th September. Here’s a quick taster of just some of the festivities in store this year:

• Music, Arts and Entertainment: Visit inspiring exhibitions and drop-in workshops at the Landmark Theatre (including glass, painting and textile pieces from renowned South West artists), follow a ceramic Fish Trail around the town, or be enthralled by coastal themed street processions and live performances. And if it’s music you’re after, you can enjoy uplifting sea songs, storytelling, humorous anecdotes and acoustic renditions by local and national acts throughout the weekend. 

• Food and Drink: Ilfracombe’s fishing heritage and popular restaurants lend themselves to a celebratory feast! With the Yacht Club’s Crab Day on the Saturday and Fore Street’s Seafood and Beer Festival on the Sunday there’s sure to be something to tempt you. And don’t forget the festival’s ever-popular Gourmet Restaurant Trail – 3 courses at 3 different restaurants, available to book now! 

• Children’s Activities: There’s a mix of exciting kids’ events on offer at this year’s festival too – from pirate themed sessions, rockpooling and a youth sailing race, through to creative workshops, entertaining performances and maritime themed activities at the Fore Street festivities. Come along and get involved! 

• Contests and Taster Sessions: Sea Ilfracombe offers the perfect opportunity to try something new: amongst other things you can row a Pilot Gig boat, join a guided Sea Watch session or a local walk, get creative with drop-in workshops and open singing sessions, or be competitive in a skittles contest or sea fishing competition! 

To find out more and see full programme listings please visit :www.seailfracombe.co.uk or www.facebook.com/seailfracombe 

Sea Ilfracombe Maritime Festival 6th - 8th September 2013

(Not for profit organisation) 

EMPTY NEST SYNDROME.......

Finally get to see where all the action has been coming from. Feel a little sad, a bit like when my son left home for the first time. I expect lots of Mums and Dads will be feeling the same as they tentatively drop their toddlers off for their first day of school or wave their bigger toddlers off to university . This masterpiece was tucked away in the Apple Tree, it just caught my eye after the light flooded the area after hedge trimming. It was still very much camouflaged but I recognised the dry Ornamental Grass and Monbretia that I had left out for just such a purpose earlier in the year. I think the nest belonged to the Blackbirds that have been keeping me so amused in the garden this summer. I have been watching them leaving the nest, ducking, diving and dodging cats. Here are just some of the stars of the summer show. Hope they have a safe journey, I will miss them.

B10 EVENT: Clovelly Lobster and Crab Feast Sunday 1 September 2013

Another lovely local event celebrating B10, the tenth anniversary of North Devon’s Biosphere Reserve Designation. Clovelly is famous for its sustainably caught lobsters and crabs and the Clovelly Lobster and Crab Feast is a good old fashioned celebration of this wonderful tradition. The North Devon Biosphere team join up with Devon and Severn IFCA (Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority) for a hands on experience with some Clovelly lobsters! You can learn about the work of IFCA putting into practice the Biosphere message of balancing environmental conservation and economic livelihoods. Live folk music will be provided by Nick Wyke and Becki Driscoll, The Vagrant Ramblers and fabulously funny a capella trio 3’s Company. Of course there will be plenty of tasty food too! Chef Sanjay Kumar will be giving cookery demonstrations and tastings and there will be local food stalls and beer tasting. Children will be kept entertained by street theatre, walkabout magic, themed craft activities and there will be a chance for visitors to enter the B10 prize draw with lots of superb prizes donated by North Devon Biosphere businesses and supporters.This event will be raising funds for the National Lobster Hatchery in Padstow, who will be exhibiting some of their baby lobsters prior to their release into Clovelly Bay at the end of the day.

Admission: Adults £6.50, Children (7-16 years) £4, Family (2 adults and 2 children): £17 and under 7s free. For further information, call Clovelly on 01237 431781 or visit www.clovelly.co.uk
Clovelly Lobster and Crab Feast Sunday 1 September 2013