Perfect weather ensured hundreds of people enjoyed the annual Porlock Weir Sea Festival at the weekend.
Local residents and visitors came from afar with around 900 people attending over the course of Saturday afternoon to take part in and enjoy maritime inspired activities, music and
entertainment.
The free event was organised by Porlock Visitor Centre, in collaboration with Porlock Manor Estate, with funding contributed from Somerset County Council and Exmoor National Park Partnership Fund.
Entertainment included kayaking and archery with Exmoor Adventures, live sea shanty music from The Barnacle Buoys, The Original Sailors Hobby Horse, performances from Porlock Pantomime and Drama Society and an opportunity to make sea monsters with Wild Wellies in a “marooned shipwreck”.
Porlock Bay Oysters was open for sales and shucking demonstrations, there were sea themed wood carvings by Mike Leach and face painting at the Harbour House Coffee Shop.
Groups taking part included the National Trust, the RNLI, HM Minehead Coastguard, National Coast Watch, Exmoor Search and Rescue, Exmoor Natural History Society, Porlock Weir Gig Club and the Porlock Weir Sailing Club decorated their boats.
Visitors enjoyed refreshments from Harbour Stores, Harbour Gallery and Café, The Bottom Ship and Harbour House Coffee Shop and the event was kicked off by Town Crier Grant Dennis, who was master of ceremonies for the day.
Porlock Visitor Centre manager Deborah Stanyon said: “I have been delighted by the crowds of people who came to Porlock Weir Sea Festival last Saturday. The weather was perfect, giving everyone the opportunity to spend a few hours enjoying the wide variety of entertainment, the wonderful scenery and a great festival atmosphere at Porlock Weir.
“It was an amazing team effort by our local businesses and our volunteers who generously gave their time to ensure the event was so successful. It was lovely to see so many happy faces and hearing all of the positive comments from local residents and visitors who had come along to enjoy the activities. My huge thanks to our partner organisations and volunteers who worked so tirelessly to pull this event together.”
National Coast Watch had a stall at the event and Fundraising Lead Peter Welch said: “Well done, for organising a very successful and entertaining festival. National Coast Watch UK had the perfect pitch and had a very successful day with volunteer applications and donations.”
Ema Rowe from Wild Wellies said: “It was really lovely to be able share my creative ways to connect both local and visiting children with our very special natural environment that is Porlock Weir. I chatted to the local children about what real sea creatures they might find in Porlock Bay to encourage them to revisit what’s on their doorstep. The visiting children, on the other hand, wanted to know more about the wider natural environment from woods to moors and sea! All while making Sock Sea Monsters. It’s a fantastic community event that draws together and uplifts everyone who came or took part”.
With thanks to Chris Metcalfe for the photographs.
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