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 kickoff with our Friday Night Fundraiser on 19th May followed by our Free Family Sea Fest Event on Saturday 20th May from 10am till 11pm on the Ham.
The festival’s 2023 theme accords with the challenging times as the cost of living and the climate crises are so uppermost in people’s minds.
With a day long programme on Saturday 20th May, there will be free art and craft, story telling and entertainment for all. A wealth of community groups, charity stalls and small food and trader stands will be on the Ham and the Esplanade from the Lifeboat station – there is something for everyone – a great day out for all ages.
Organisers Sidmouth Coastal Community Hub Director, Louise Cole, said: “We are pleased to welcome Sidmouth Repair Café this year and the Wellbeing Health Action Team, along with Bicycle Ballet and Sidmouth Cycle Forum – cycling is good for wellbeing and low cost and carbon neutral. There will be lots of examples of environmental awareness and inventive activities from all the contributors that don’t cost the earth, literally! "
Artistic Director Coco Hodgkinson, added: “We have a no single-use plastics policy and this year will be selling a boutique range of tees all carefully curated and sourced from charity shops with this year's vibrant abstract artwork by Tara Greifenberg. All the money raised supports the festival costs and our other community projects.”
The theme for 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 4pm 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 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/559498714717
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.
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.
Donations and raffle prizes are very welcome – please contact info@sidmouthcoastalcommunityhub.org if you would like to support in this way. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for updates https://www.facebook.com/sidseafest/ or @sidseafest
See the programme below:
