Sidmouth Coastal Community Hub, producers of Sidmouth’s first festival of the year, with a strong focus on community and the environment - is all set to kick off with our Friday Night Fundraiser on 19th May, followed by our Free Family Sea Fest Event on Saturday 20th May from 10 am till 11 pm on the Ham.
The theme for this year's Sea Fest is Driftwood & Thrift, creatively bringing focus on re- using and recycling, making and creating - to act responsibly to sustain our seas and use resources carefully. Driftwood is often a useful home for marine biodiversity and thrift is about reducing waste, managing well in difficult economic times as well as being a coastal plant!
The Friday evening event opens at 4 pm with live bands, DJs and bar with local food from Sidmouth Trawlers, Pura Vida, Café Dish, Pizza Butlers, the Off Road Café and West Country Dim Sum and The Prawn Cocktail Bar on the Ham. Tickets are available to book via Eventbrite.
The line-up is amazing, featuring comedian Fitz of Giggles, guest DJs and live music from Samantics, The Hawkmen and beat-box trio, Bloxed Beats. Thrifting tickets are £10 and Gifting tickets are £15. Friday tickets can also be purchased from Paragon Books, High Street, Sidmouth and from the Tourist Information Centre, Ham Lane, Sidmouth.
The Sea Fest main event (free to all) on Saturday 20th May will kick off at 10 am with an eclectic mix of art, craft, local groups, music, dance, literature and environmental activities and continue to 11 pm with a special evening of entertainment including Bicycle Ballet, Street Heat, Razzomo, Revolution Roots and The Kabins.
Sidmouth Coastal Community Choir, with Sidmouth Primary School, will kick off the main stage events at 11 am followed by a full day of activities for all ages. Sidmouth Plastic Warriors will lead a beach clean from 1 pm to 2 pm and the plastic finds will be analysed on-site by Greenpeace and then upcycled into art by Clean Jurassic Coast.
The site will feature art installations including a Thrift planted starfish by Sidmouth In Bloom and a driftwood Sea Monster sculpture co-created with local young people and artist Dan Wakeman from I Made This.
A wealth of local groups and environmental organisations and creativity and art activities will be on site along with crafts and charity stalls and storytelling. Angel Chops Cakes and Vanilli Bean Ice-Cream Tuk Tuk will also be available on Saturday.
There will also be plenty of activity with a special art and well-being zone, the Lifeboat and East Devon Dance performing next to the sea with a road closure in place from the Lifeboat station to the turning circle. There will be a Drfitwood and Thrift Cake Off Competition for the best themed decorated cake – bakers are asked to bring your cake along on the day to enter.
SCCH are very grateful to have the support of Sidmouth Town Council/Visit Sidmouth, and a host of other local sponsors.
Businesses in the town, shops, cafés and restaurants are encouraged to get into the Sea Fest spirit and dress their windows or put a special dish of the day on their menu to share the Driftwood & Thrift message creatively.
Sidmouth Coastal Community Hub Director Louise Cole said: “Sea Fest is known for its community spirit and sense of fun in tandem with a collective sense of commitment to our beautiful natural coastal environment. This has never been more so important than during such challenging times. Our theme reflects this and we are committed to the event being free and fully accessible to all. We hope everyone will turn out to support and enjoy this community social celebration.”
Artistic Director, Coco Hodgkinson, added: "Sea Fest is a wonderful shared platform with so many taking part and volunteering. We have lots planned that highlight our commitment to being thrifty and to using resources carefully.”
Donations and raffle prizes are very welcome – please contact info@sidmouthcoastalcommunityhub.org if you would like to support in this way.
Sidmouth Sea Fest is a free coastal community one day festival that takes place annually. This vibrant collaborative festival is aimed at people of all ages to connect the community with everything in, on and by the sea. Through bringing together local music, groups, food, entertainment, arts and crafts and a focus on how we can act together to value our coast, the festival provides a fun and welcoming opportunity for people to come together and celebrate our unique coastal location.
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for updates https://www.facebook.com/sidseafest/ | @sidseafest.
Images: Sarah Hall