The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
A festival of salty fun
SANDCASTLE COMPETITIONS, puppet theatres, beach huts and traditional fishing vessels...
The countdown is on for the annual Arbroath Sea Fest!
This year’s theme revolves around memories of old-fashioned trips to the seaside and marks a return to the town’s “glory days” as one of Scotland’s top beach resorts.
The event, now in its 16th year, takes place around the harbour on the weekend of August 3-4.
It will feature hundreds of traders’ stalls, a daily launch of Arbroath’s lifeboat, visits from restored fishing and sailing vessels and live music. The Reaper, part of the Scottish Fisheries Museum’s fleet of historic fishing boats, will be berthed at the harbour throughout the weekend.
Visitors will get the chance to go below deck of the herring drifter and discover what life was like for fishermen a century ago.
If you’re lucky your visit will coincide with sea shanty legends Kimber’s Men giving one of their impromptu sing-alongs on deck!
Other visiting boats include Christina, a 40ft restored fishing boat, and Britannia, who celebrated her jubilee this year.
This vessel has been restored to her former glory and is usually berthed at Anstruther harbour, where she takes passengers on pleasure trips.
St Vincent, a Zulu sailing fishing boat built in Banff in 1901, will also be on show during the festival.
This sympathetically-restored fishing boat was first used to catch herring off the west coast of Scotland and fished commercially until 1980 — and is one of the few surviving Zulus.
There will also be demonstrations of the traditional skill of coracle making — the one-man, oval boats which have been around since the Bronze Age.
Lynn Cameron of Arbroath Sea Fest Committee said: “We’re going to re-create a traditional beach scene on Beacon Green, next to Arbroath harbour, complete with beach huts, puppet theatres, ‘yellow coats’ and sandcastle competitions.
“We’ll even have old-fashioned deckchairs.
“Last year, our sea shanty groups were so popular we had no hesitation in booking the excellent Kimber’s Men once again — and booking several other top-rated sea shanty groups too.”
The festival offers a stage for up-and coming local bands and those confirmed include The Declaration Band, Bygones, Jordan Murray and Around 7.
There will also be performances by young stars from Limelight Theatre Company and Showcase The Street, as well as music at the marina courtesy of the Sea Cadets Band and Arbroath Instrumental Band.
This year, for the first time, there will be an extra performance area — an open-topped double decker bus.
As always, the overall theme of the weekend will be Arbroath’s maritime heritage.
“There will be opportunities to explore traditional fishing boats similar to those of Arbroath’s long-gone fishing fleet, sample delicious Arbroath Smokies and watch the daily, highspeed launch of the RNLI Lifeboat,” said Lynn.
“And, inspired by Arbroath’s fame as one of Scotland’s favourite seaside holiday resorts, there will also be a fabulous selection of fun activities with a traditional seaside holiday slant.”
For those who enjoy a bit of retail therapy there will be a wide range of stalls selling everything from fresh seafood to handmade jewellery, crafts and confectionery.
Admission is £3 for adults, £2 concessions, under 5s are free and parking is £2.
www.arbroathseafest.co.u