The first Porlock Weir Sea Festival welcomed local residents and visitors from afar with around 700 people attending over the course of Saturday afternoon.
The free event on Saturday September 24th was organised by Porlock Visitor Centre, in collaboration with Porlock Manor Estate, The Bottom Ship pub, Exmoor Adventures and Porlock Bay Oyster Company, with funding from Somerset County Council’s Community Renewal Fund.
Entertainment included kayaking and archery with Exmoor Adventures, boat trips with Porlock Weir Charters, live sea shanty music from Hugill’s Crew and The Barnacle Buoys and live theatre from Clementine’s Live Arts. Porlock Bay Oysters was open for sales and shucking demonstrations, there were sea themed wood carvings by Mike Leach, a treasure hunt, painting demonstrations and a talk by Exmoor Natural History Society.
Groups taking part included the National Trust, the RNLI, HM Minehead Coastguard and Porlock Weir Gig Club who were holding a regatta on the same day with the boats arriving back into harbour to round off the event.
The event has been two years in the planning and inspiration for it came from former Porlock Visitor Centre volunteer Janet Milne.
Porlock Visitor Centre manager Deborah Stanyon said: “I have been delighted by the crowds of people who came to the inaugural Porlock Weir Sea Festival last Saturday. The weather was perfect, giving everyone the opportunity to spend a few hours enjoying all of the entertainment, the wonderful scenery and a great festival atmosphere at Porlock Weir.
“It was an amazing team effort by all of 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 people who had taken part in all of the activities. My huge thanks to our network and partner organisations and volunteers who worked so tirelessly to pull this event together.”
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