Scarborough's maritime heritage celebrated at Seafest
The event is in its 23rd year
A maritime weekend extravaganza featuring some of the best culinary talent and a host of live music is back in Scarborough this weekend.
Seafest, which is being staged in the town for the 23rd year, takes place until tomorrow (Sunday 16th July) on the town's West Pier with live music and cooking demonstrations.
The popular music and beer marquee in partnership with Cropton Brewery is back for another year alongside the Scarborough Hospitality Association Food Theatre, where visitors can catch some of the Yorkshire Coast's best chefs sharing their secrets and recipes.
There will also be a wide variety of food and craft stalls, street entertainment, children’s activities, and the Seafest fireworks display tonight at 9.45pm.
Younger visitors can meet ‘Cali and Mari’, two larger than life octopus walkabout stilt characters and the spectacular Lionel and Leona the Lion Fish, two brightly-coloured sea creatures among the crowds.
The character that featured in the Pirates of the Caribbean films, Captain Jack Sparrow, will be swinging onto the West Pier today before Captain Hook drops in tomorrow.
There will also be swing boat rides, a face painter and the Royal Navy vessel HMS Explorer will be dropping anchor at the event today, with on-board tours available between 10am and 2pm.
Live cooking demonstrations from some of the area’s finest chefs in the Scarborough Hospitality Association Food Theatre at West Pier will offer up a fabulous feast for all the senses from 10.30am today and tomorrow.
North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for culture, leisure and housing, Cllr Simon Myers, said: “Seafest is a unique event that brings together the best of what the coast has to offer.
“As well as highlighting the great seafood Scarborough and its West Pier is famous for, cooked by some of our finest chefs, it is also a showcase for some fabulous musicians.
“It is wonderful to have an event that caters for everyone and I am sure that this year’s event will be the biggest and best Seafest yet.”
Cooking demonstrations will include:
Phil Akrill, head chef at Raithwaite Estate, Sandsend:
July 15 and July 16: 10.30am.
Dan Hargreaves, head chef and owner, Embers, Scarborough:
July 15 and July 16: 11.30am.
Martyn Hyde, Eat Me Café, Scarborough:
July 15 and July 16: 12.30pm.
Rob Clark – head chef and owner, Clark’s Restaurant, Scarborough:
July 16: 2.30pm.
Ed Trewhitt, master baker, the Brickyard Academy, Guisborough:
July 15 and 16: 3.30pm.
Rob Green, UK Chef Ambassador for Seafish:
July 15 and 16: 1.30pm.
The full live music line-up in the West Pier music and beer marquee is:
Saturday, July 15:
11am: The Blackcoats.
Noon: Billy Neilson.
1pm: 21st Century Liability
2.30pm: The Hattones.
4pm: Caleb Murray Band.
5.30pm: The White Roses.
7pm: The Living Young.
8.30pm: Soul Rida.
10pm: Bad Luck Brian.
Sunday, July 16:
Noon: The Woolgatherers.
1.15pm: Mark Stanley.
2.30pm: Dirty Windows.
4pm: Wildfire.
Cllr Janet Jefferson, Seafest committee chairman and North Yorkshire Council’s local member for the Castle division, added: “We have put together a packed programme for all the family that celebrates our fishing industry and its heritage, and some of the very best food, drink, musical talent and crafts on the Yorkshire coast.
“Also on the Sunday, we will have the annual Blessing of the Boats ceremony at 10am in the marquee with the RNLI and local cadets present.”
All the details about Seafest are available at the Discover Yorkshire Coast website.