Whether you’re a local or a visitor, come and celebrate our beautiful city by the sea with Seafest Plymouth on September 16 and 17.
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All the family is set to enjoy a fun-filled weekend of sea-themed entertainment, delicious food, demonstrations and performances all centred around the ocean.
Sponsored by Eco-Plug, and brought to you by the businesses of Pymouth Waterfront Partnership (PWP), children will have a whale of a time (excuse the pun) at Seafest Plymouth.
Enjoy Seafest Plymouth across the Waterfront
Activities will take place on Plymouth Barbican, Sutton Harbour, West Hoe and the Royal William Yard with lots of PWP businesses getting involved to spread the entertainment and activities wider across the city’s stunning waterfront.
There’s loads going on across the family-friendly weekend with kids being spoiled for choice of entertainment.
Traders will be lining the streets of The Parade on the Barbican, there will be conservation and sea life displays in Quay Square, live music sponsored by Early Bird and street performers at Commercial Wharf, Royal William Yard and Quay Square, as well as cookery demonstrations sponsored by Sound Seafood, and the official bar by Venton’s Devon Cyder at West Pier.
Quay Square will be filled with fun and games galore with the Fisherman’s Mission ‘Hook a Duck’, sinking sharks challenge, fisherperson dress up game, how to catch a ‘Fish Finger’ workshop, and a fascinating squid dissection by the Ocean Conservation Trust. More free family fun will include scallop painting, colouring activities and an Ocean Explorer walking trail to seek out 10 beautiful illustrations by Seafest’s resident artist Debby Mason across the Barbican.
Take a boat trip – or make your own vessel
If you fancy taking your children on a boat trip over the weekend, Plymouth Boat Trips are putting on various cruises. These include:
- Family-Friendly Fish ‘N’ Trips, departing at 10am and 1pm
- Sundowner Cruise, departing at 5pm on both days of Seafest Plymouth
- A one hour Harbour Cruise, departing daily at 11am, 12.30pm, 2pm and 3.30pm
- A two hour River Yealm Cruise, departing at 12.45pm on Saturday September 16.
The fabulous Barbican Ferry will also be operating between the Barbican and Royal William Yard, so it’s a great way to link up the events and make sure visitors can make the most of their time, without missing out on any activities.
One of the most fun events looks set to be the IMechE Cardboard Boat Race. Teams are being encourage to put their skills to the test in this engineering challenge on Saturday September 16 and build their own boat. The catch is they’re only allowed a few bits of cardboard and some sticky tape to do it with. And then they have to sail it around a course in Plymouth harbour – this I would love to see!
Schools and youth groups are being encouraged to enter with two categories available:
- Build on the day in 3 hours.
- Pre-build where if 3 hours isn’t enough time, schools and youth groups can let their imaginations go wild with building their vessel before the day. You can register here.
Another treat for the kids will be the chance to climb aboard a replica of a 17th Century Spanish galleon. El Galeon will be moored in Commercial Wharf from September 12 to 17, to give visitors the chance to experience the history and culture of the maritime era. This part of Seafest Plymouth is weather permitting and booking is required.
Seafest Plymouth At Royal William Yard
Once you exhaust the sea-themed fun on the Barbican, then hop on the ferry and head round to the Royal William Yard for even more of it!
There will be live performances, theatre and music at the Yard across the weekend from 10am to 3pm with something to entertain all ages.
Particularly for families though, will be a production by the fantastic Above Bounds Theatre group. They will be performing an award-winning children’s production on September 17.
Higher Beings Circus Worskshop will be entertaining kids on September 16 by giving them the chance to learn impressive circus skills. And there will also be an activity zone with an array of children’s crafts and face painting. And what kid doesn’t love face painting?!
Also at the Royal William Yard, there will be a fun-filled Sea Life Hide & Seek challenge (complete with tasty treats at the end!) and an interactive Geo Trail which will transport you 380 million years into the past to find ancient sea creatures around the historic buildings.
Fresh seafood galore at Seafest Plymouth
If you’re feeling peckish, you’ll be in the right place at the Yard, with a Fresh Seafood Market and BBQ situated at the Hook & Line restaurant’s outside seating area. On offer will be fresh fish and shellfish, caught locally by the city’s own boats to buy and make your own meal at home, or enjoy there and then cooked on the BBQ. Sounds delicious!
Want to work off that tasty lunch? Take to the sea with South West SUP Stand Up Paddleboarding at the Royal William Yard with a choice of sessions available to book including lessons, SUP yoga, SUP hire or SUP journey.
I’m predicting one of the most popular events of Seafest Plymouth will be the chance to take your dog for a swim at Tinside! The whole festival is family-friendly and if you don’t want to leave your four-legged friend at home, then you don’t have to. The dog-friendly swim takes place at Tinside Pool on Sunday September 17 from 4.30pm to 6pm. It costs £7 per dog, with adults going free with a ratio of one adult to one dog. Book a ticket via the app or website. Spectators are also welcome! Oh and you’re responsible for your own dog – the lifeguards are only trained to save humans.
So I think you’d agree it sounds like an awesome weekend of family fun! If you want to know more about it, including the schedules for the live entertainment and cookery demos, head to Visit Plymouth.
How did I do?
Did you enjoy this post? Keep an eye out for the latest Local Stuff here. And why not check out some of these:
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- Top 20 Outdoor Spaces In Plymouth For Families.
- The 20 Best Things To Do Indoors In Plymouth With Kids
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- Best Walks For Kids In Devon
- Pubs with play parks in and around Plymouth
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