Line up revealed for Ocean City Festival 2016

More waves are being made about the exciting events lined-up for this year’s spectacular Ocean City Festival, as the full programme was launched today at the National Marine Aquarium.

For two weeks in September Plymouth will celebrate its links to the sea showcasing everything from sailing to seafood, marine conservation to blue science and technology.

The Ocean City Festival, sponsored by City College Plymouth, is now in its fifth year and organisers have pulled out all the stops with more than 30 events laid on from 11 to 25 September, to promote the city’s fantastic waterfront location and its vital maritime ties, past and present.

The Council’s cabinet member for Culture, Councillor Glenn Jordan, said: “It was great to see so many organisations and partners here today, to launch this fantastic programme of events, which is offering something for everyone.

“We are so lucky to live in such a beautiful and vibrant waterfront city. With its stunning views across the Sound, which is one of the oldest continually studied marine areas on Earth! This is worth celebrating.

“The Ocean is such a big part of Plymouth’s history and future; from the epic voyage of the Mayflower to the New World in 1620, to its world leading cluster of marine science and research organisations.

“While we inspire, encourage and educate the city’s next generation of marine biologists, or just enjoy a family day out trying new things, the Ocean City Festival brings all these aspects together, and makes us proud to be part of Britain’s Ocean City.”

This year organisers have mixed business with pleasure with the new
high-tech Marine Tech Expo 2016 at Plymouth University’s Marine Station.

It will bring together under one roof, some of the region’s brightest scientists, engineers and innovators to promote Plymouth’s blue technology sector at home and abroad.

The fun-filled Festival kicks off on 11 September with the challengingly fun IMechE Cardboard Boat Race – where entrants make boats out of cardboard and sticky tape with the winner staying afloat the longest. New this year will be a pre-built category.

Also on 11 September, the Plymouth RNLI will be holding an open day, including a tour of a lifeboat; the Sea Portraits Exhibition gets underway and there will be regular tours of the Royal Citadel.

Pupils from schools throughout the South West will be taking part in the National Marine Aquarium’s fifth annual STEMFest with a series of interactive workshops, events and activities with a science, technology, engineering and maths theme.

Throughout the Festival the recently refurbished Mayflower Museum will be looking at the city’s historic maritime links, including the upcoming 400 anniversary celebrations of the Pilgrim Father’s voyage to the New World.

There will be workshops on everything from marine litter to the study of marine mammals, as well as theatre shows and the return of the Open Air Cinema at the Royal William Yard, with a showing of this year’s smash hit Ghostbusters.

There will be loads of Family Fun at Frankfort Gate on 17 September, where the nautical theme continues with arts, crafts and competitions.

Children can also have a go on a Mount Batten Watersport’s land based kayak and meet some creepy critters from Dartmoor Zoo.

The fortnight of fun draws to an end with the fantastic Plymouth Art Weekender – with more than 80 exhibitors in locations across the city - and the delicious Plymouth Seafood Festival at Sutton Harbour and the Barbican on 24 to 25 September, not forgetting the Barbican Raft Race on 25 September.

The Plymouth Seafood Festival, supported by the Plymouth Waterfront Partnership, has been attracting foodies from all over the country and this year the harbour will come alive with an exciting quayside celebration of the city’s fantastic locally caught seafood.

Top West Country chefs, including Matthew Norton from River Cottage and Dez Turland at the Saunton Sands Hotel, will be showing off their culinary skills in the Cookery Theatre.

And visitors will be able to taste everything from kelp to lobster at dozens of food stands and take part in a children’s crabbing competition and a fish auction of the day’s freshly caught catch.

Plymouth Waterfront Manager, Sarah Gibson, said: “The seas around Plymouth are teeming with some of the best seafood in the country.

“Plymouth is home to the second largest fresh fish market in England, and was the first city to be awarded the Fish2Fork Blue City Award in 2012.

“The Plymouth Seafood Festival has quickly become an annual event for foodies, with new recipes, great cooking demonstrations and always the chance to taste something unusual and truly delicious.

“We love organising the Festival because it brings so many people to the Waterfront and gives us the chance to show visitors that Plymouth is the place to be when it comes to great food and wonderful surroundings.”

Plymouth City Council is working in partnership with Plymouth University, City College Plymouth, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, National Marine Aquarium, Sir Alister Hardy Foundation for Ocean Science, the Marine Biological Association, IMechE, Devon Chamber of Commerce,
Barbican Theatre, Plymouth Culture Board, Destination Plymouth, Plymouth Waterfront Partnership and the Plymouth City Centre Company.

The full programme of events is available online at: www.oceancityfestival.co.uk