Visit Isle of Wight (VIOW) is inviting local landlubbers and salty sea dogs alike to get on board and join in the fun as it celebrates the Island’s maritime history and heritage with a nine-day Festival of the Sea from Saturday 14th September to Sunday 23rd September.
Aimed at giving out-of-season visitors more things to see and do during a September stay on the Island, it is also seen as a great opportunity for people living on the Island to get involved in a whole range of sea-themed events and nautical activities.
The so-called “Anchor” events included in this year’s Festival will include:
-Fishbourne Beach Arts, September 15th-22nd.
-Spyglass Inn Songs of the Sea & Shanty Festival, Ventnor, September 14th.
-Red Funnel Food Show, Cowes, September 15th.
-Sea to Shore: The IW Kite Festival, Yarmouth, September 21st.
-UKSA Community Fun Day, Cowes, September 22nd.
-Pirate Hover Open Day, September 22nd.
A raft of other “satellite” events and promotional activities are also being brought under the Festival of the Sea banner, including evening cruises to Lymington and Hurst Castle, seafaring suppers and local talks, walks and bicycle rides.
Visit Isle of Wight (VIOW) – the not-for-profit limited company created to increase the economic benefits of tourism on the Isle of Wight – is spending around £25,000 on marketing the Festival of the Sea both on and off the Island. This includes regional newspaper advertising, south coast radio advertising, on-board ferry TV advertising and lift advertising at South East Coast shopping centres.
All events can be viewed on the Visit Isle of Wight website (https://www.visitisleofwight.co.uk/events/festival-of-the-sea) and will be listed in an official festival guide, which will be available from Island tourist information points in Ryde, Shanklin, Ventnor, Brading (Railway Station) and Brighstone. A digital version will also be available for downloads via VIOW and partner websites: Wightlink, Red Funnel, Hovertravel and the Isle of Wight Council.
During festival weekends, there will be a pop-up tourist information point on board car ferries to encourage people to make the most of the various events and promotions.
