Whitby Fish & Ships Festival, 16 – 17 May 2020
If you want to feed your soul as well as your belly, then Whitby’s the place to be between 16 – 17 May as it serves up a hearty plate of fish, ships and fun and for one of the Yorkshire Coast’s favourite family seafests, the Whitby Fish & Ships Festival, supported by Seafish.
Last year’s inaugural event was enjoyed by thousands of visitors from across the UK, who flocked to the world-famous seaside town to explore its unique seafaring way of life, and taste its sensational seafood. This year’s free festival will be even bigger, with a centrepiece Food Village populated by celebrity chefs and local seafood heroes, more family entertainment, ships of all shapes and sizes to explore, the Song for the Sea competition, and star turns by Whitby’s finest fishermen, boat-builders, shanty-singers and sea balladeers, artists and lifeboat crews.
“The festival has sparked such huge interest: Whitby is one of the few places left in Britain where you can still experience a seafaring way of life, from sea to shore as it’s been for hundreds of years, but this friendly and feel-good event does much more than celebrate the past,” explains Janet Deacon, Tourism and Corporate Marketing Manager for Scarborough Borough Council and Area Director for Welcome To Yorkshire.
“It showcases how local people are building on tradition to put top quality seafood on Britain’s plates in their own unique and sustainable way, whilst creating an extraordinary harbour life that’s thriving in the 21st century. Seafood from the Yorkshire Coast is in demand across Europe; it can boast some of the best fish restaurants in the country and Britain’s best boat-builders; its sea-fishing school and the region’s catering college are nurturing a new generation of top industry talent; and it inspires artists and musicians of international renown. We want visitors to fall in love with Whitby, so we can’t wait to share the town’s fishy secrets again this year!”
Seafish have once again given their backing to Whitby’s Fish & Ships Festival, recognising the dedication and vision of those working so hard in the local fishing industry, from its boat-builders to its seafood chefs.
Councillor Liz Colling, Scarborough Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Economy, Communities and Commercial says: “The success of the festival is the best possible tribute to our coastal communities, who devote their lives to putting the highest-quality and healthy produce on our tables, pitting themselves against the North Sea – and our Great British weather! Fish and Ships are a way of life for everyone in Whitby, and so it’s not surprising that the entire town is getting involved to put their magnificent seafaring heritage in the spotlight, ready to inspire people and business for years to come.”
You can watch the following video’s from the 2019 Festival to give you a taste of what to expect:-
Whitby Fish & Ships Festival 2019:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyHT-RbMhGE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyJDaXVI89g
For more details about Whitby Fish & Ships Festival visit, www.discoveryorkshirecoast.com/whats-on/major-events/fishandships.aspx
