Whitstable Harbour & Boat Show returns!
Organisations and community groups in Whitstable, and beyond, have created an amazing Harbour & Boat Show for the family on Saturday 9 August. The day will be packed with a full programme of activities, on and off the water, from 10.30am to 4.30pm, plus an evening concert in the Harbour. Admission is free!
Heritage vessels arriving by sea are offered a free berth and race in the Swale. Whitstable Maritime are now extending this offer to include a free site and a secure overnight compound for builders of small wooden craft using traditional and/or modern techniques. We shall be displaying our own restoration project - the 1906 44ft Whitstable Oyster Yawl Gamecock - and are particularly interested in working with boat-builders and sail-makers willing to display some of the skills, tools and materials they employ, as well as retailing completed craft. This packed event includes:
- Family art & craft workshops on maritime themes
- Yacht Regatta - dozens of yachts & catamarans racing off-shore
- RNLI, Police & Border Force emergency craft to board
- Miniature steam railway ride along the Quay
- Large cargo vessel to explore
- Tipper-truck simulator to drive
- Boating pond with radio-controlled model craft
- Heritage barges and gaffers packing the Harbour
- Shipwrights, riggers and sail-makers demonstrating their crafts
- Advice and support on building your own wooden boat, large or small
- Tracking by satellite of rising sea-levels and coastal erosion
- Protection of wintering coastal birds
- Restoration of local lobster stock
- Experts on local historical railway & boatyards
- Professional story-telling and poetry reading about the sea for the young
- Restoration of a 1906, 42-foot, oyster yawl
- Oyster education programme
- Marching and concert bands
- Fishing fleet display
- Canoeing demonstrations
- Wild sea swimming
- DIY coracle building
- Street food & gift stalls
- Evening Harbour concert & dining
Part of the promotional activity will be mailing and publishing stories of exhibitors and activities both before and after the Show, and there is an aspiration to make this a bi-annual event.
Please contact gordonjohnvincent@gmail.com Mob: 07852 266006. Leader: 2025 Show Planning Team
Zone South East