Full steam ahead for September fun
SUMMER may be coming to an end but there are still a string of unmissable events to enjoy along England’s coastline throughout September. Here, KATIE
ROWE checks out just a few of them.
BLACKPOOL ILLUMINATIONS
THE Illuminations have been dazzling visitors to Blackpool’s famous seafront for more than 100 years, and they’re set to light up this seaside heavyweight once more from September 2 to November 6. Don’t miss the opening weekend, which will see Dame Barbara Windsor pull the famous switch on September 2 and performances from DJ Fresh, Diversity and The Vamps.
LYME REGIS FOOD ROCKS
GET ready for a food-fuelled weekend on September 3 and 4 in the charming Dorset town. Renowned chef Mark Hix is joining forces with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution for the weekend-long Food Rocks festival. Catch cooking demonstrations by top chefs and the ‘Hix Academy cook-off’, which sees students compete against each other using selected seasonal, sustainable and local ingredients.
VINTAGE BY THE SEA, MORECAMBE
DROP off your bags at The Midland, one of the finest Art Deco hotels in the country, and get ready for a weekend of retro spills and thrills in Morecambe. On September 3 and 4, Vintage By The Sea sets up camp both in the hotel and in venues across the town. There’ll be a classic car show, a flypast by the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, plus plenty of vintage and retro-themed shenanigans, from a soul and funk after party in a magnificent Edwardian railway station to a huge market showcasing the best vintage and antiques traders in the UK.
ST IVES SEPTEMBER FESTIVAL
FROM a back kitchen to a contemporary town-wide shindig packed with events, St Ives September Festival continues to evolve each year, with more than 200 events taking place from September 10 to 24. Immerse yourself in live music, themed walks and talks, theatre and comedy in venues across this pretty coastal town in Cornwall. Highlights include an evening with renowned keyboardist Rick Wakeman on September 11 and a performance from The Blockheads on September 14.
AGATHA CHRISTIE BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS
PULL on the pearls and fedoras as the roaring Twenties are revived in Torquay for the Agatha Christie Festival. Celebrate this literary legend on her birthday – September 15 – in the beautiful surroundings of Torre Abbey with its Potent Plants collection, based on the poisons and remedies from Christie’s stories. Highlights of the day include a reading from the author’s grandson, a Royal Mail pop-up shop selling exclusive Agatha Christie stamps and, of course, plenty of cream tea!
INTERNATIONAL CLASSIC CAR SHOW, ISLE OF WIGHT
NOW in its 15th year, the Isle of Wight’s Charity Classic Car event will see vehicles from across the UK and Europe pull up to this free show on September 17 and 18. On the Saturday, Minis, Aston Martins, Morris Minors and many more steel stunners will gleam along Newport Quay, while Sunday’s events take place at Ryde Esplanade.