As this year’s Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week fast approaches, Alan and Suzanne Whitewood take a look at the shoreside activities taking place in 2016.
Cowes Week takes place between 6th-13th August, with entertainment extending to include tomorrow (Friday).
Visitors can expect shoreside entertainment at all the usual venues including The Parade, Northwood House, High Street, Cowes Yacht Haven and Shepard’s Wharf Marina, as well as the new events centre ‘Sugar Store’ and let’s not forget additional entertainment at East Cowes.
Around Town
Sunday 7th August is Family Day with special activities for children this year based on ‘Swallows and Amazons.’ These will be held on The Parade at 14:30.
During the afternoon The Parade will host several solo singers including VIOW’s David Thornton (14:00 Wednesday) and bands to keep everyone entertained. In the evenings the pace hots up somewhat with acts such as The Apple Beatles (20:45 Saturday) and Mumma Mia (21:00 Tuesday).
Stands and pop-up eateries will fill the Bandstand area and along The Parade. One of the regular stands will be the pop-up shoe shop from Chatham one of the Cowes Week sub-sponsors and the Official Footwear Partner for Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week 2016.
New for Summer 2016, Chatham has launched its exclusive British collection for men: Made in Britain – which will be on display on Cowes Parade and showcases innovation and true British heritage. This new collection forms the first boating shoes to be made in Great Britain, from Chatham’s new purpose-built factory in Exeter, Devon.
In support of UKSA, Chatham will also continue its support of this local sailing youth charity with a donation made from the sale of all shoes bought from the innovative Aqua Go range.
In Cowes Yacht Haven there is Try Sailing with UKSA (book your place at UKSA stand) and Nyetimber Tasting Master Class (Sign up for your place at the Nyetimber Bus. £15pp- most days at 16:00) as well as a selection of bands and DJ sets on stage across the afternoon and evening.
Everyone will once again have the chance to enjoy Cowes and views of the Island from a great height on the Red Funnel Flyer (Big Wheel), this year situated at Shepard’s Wharf.
High Street
Throughout the High Street there will be Music, entertainers, facepainting and Glitter Tattoos based at various locations.
Meanwhile at Shepard’s Wharf Marina there is on stage entertainment including well known local band Lucid (20:30 Monday). Lucid also play on The Parade (19:00 Wednesday).
Northwood House
Cream Teas will be served on the Eastern lawn and the Lawn Lounge will also ‘pop-up’. Open alongside the main Lawn Lounge Bar, the Gin Festival opens daily from 12noon on Friday. It is free to enter apart from after 17:00 on Friday 12th Aug when tickets for the Firework Party are available (£5). Two Gin and Jazz evenings on Saturday 6th and Wednesday 10th will also feature.
Northwood House will host a Ladies Day Lunch on the Tuesday followed in the evening by, the sponsored by Slingsby Gin, Ladies Day Trophy Presentation (invitation only). Sunday and Wednesday at Northwood House sees the popular Outdoor Cinema, which is open from 19:00 for a film start at 20:30.
Aerial Displays
Thursday sees what some will consider the highlight of the week – other than the sailing – The Red Arrows, who will perform at 19:20. This display will be based around The Parade (weather permitting).
Of course Friday would not be the same without the annual Firework Display, which gets underway at 21:30. There are a number of sponsors for this year’s event including the Yacht Clubs and the RYS; Red Funnel; Blue Funnel; Cowes Town Waterfront Trust; Solent & Wightline Cruises and Cowes Business Association. However, to ensure that the display goes ahead this year and in the future Cowes Week Limited is always pleased to receive donations from members of the public. Red Funnel are organising a Firework Cruise departing Southampton and East Cowes.
Prior to the Fireworks and weather permitting there will be a RAF Typhoon Display at 19:30.
All the main activities (including the sailing) continue on Saturday and following that the Gin Festival in the grounds of Northwood House will remain until Sunday 14th August.
