The organisers of Sidmouth Sea Fest, the Coastal Community Hub, say they've have been inundated with messages of thanks and congratulations, following the events on Friday, May 17 and Saturday 18.
Saturday’s free community day was colourful and diverse with many community groups taking part and activities available. This year's branding message was 'Seas The Day!' with artwork by Tara Greifenberg, and the festival content related to raising environmental awareness and taking care of our coast and sea.
The Sidmouth Primary and St John's School children kicked off the event and were then joined by the now 40 strong Sea Fest Community Choir, led by Tess Bisson. Each number was chosen for its message, with children and adults finishing the set singing and signing together the poignant but hopeful 'I Am The Earth' song by Glyn Lehmann.
The weather forecast on Saturday boosted early crowds. Sidmouth. Sidmouth Lifeboat and crew were outside the lifeboat station with a special Seas The Day! installation along the railings by East Devon Craftivists. Organisers welcomed South West Water who had a busy day hearing concerns and sharing plans for Sidmouth’s sewage system improvement project. The Creativity on the Coast marquee on the Ham was again a thriving hub led by local artists, with many people getting creative.
The new Sea Fest Arcadia marquee hosted community groups including Sidmouth Hospice at Home, Sidmouth’s Wellbeing Health Action Team and East Devon Walking Festival, along with its own Sea Fest Boutique, whose vibrant Seas the Day designs proved popular. The 2024 T-shirts are on sale at Sidmouth Tourist Information Centre, continuing to raise money for the event to keep it free to the local community.
Sidmouth Repair Cafe also had a stall, and said they had a lot of interest from all ages with people swapping tips on mending clothes and fixing household and garden items. The Repair Cafe's team will hold their next monthly session at the Manstone Youth Centre this Saturday, May 25.
Seafest's Main and Seaside Stage, curated by the event's music and marketing lead Tara Greifenberg, gave a platform for young and local talent throughout the day including Blue Honey, the McSmiths, the Adders and the Pigeons. East Devon Dance was a lunchtime favourite at the Turning Circle which later hosted the Street Heat Samba band. Sidmouth Coastal Community Hub's curious 'art meets poetry meets music' installation, The Clamship, inhabited the best ever DJ booth spot, overlooking the sea.
Rain held off for a spectacular outdoor show on the Ham with Richard Garaghty and Sidmouth’s Goronwy Thom. This street theatre comedy was a hilarious riot of audience participation and comic timing genius, with an outrageous finale double act of fire club juggling atop seven-foot unicycles with outlandish Thom sporting a pink tutu and not much else!
The evening's live music began with young local band the Kabins followed by Sea Fest veterans Cavemouth and ending with high energy Malavita to round off the event.
Festival co-directors Louise Cole and Coco Hodgkinson shared this statement: “We are so happy with Sea Fest 2024, it was what we wanted it to be with everyone actively taking part and interpreting the Seas The Day! theme to show what they do best.
"There is so much positive action in the town and shared passion to look after where we call home, it’s important to come together both to share and celebrate, that’s what Sea Fest is all about.
"We would like to express our total thanks to our many volunteers who work so hard with us to make Sea Fest happen and to make it the collaboration it is, it is such a team effort.”
SCCH are very grateful to have the support of Sidmouth Town Council/Visit Sidmouth, South West Water, Potburys, Fords, Molyneux Financia, Sidmouth Hotels and Burts Snacks, Sidmouth International Jazz and Blues Festival.
Donations are very welcome – please contact info@sidmouthcoastalcommunityhub.org if you would like to support in this way.
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