Plymouth set to host rebranded 'Ocean City Festival'
Following the city’s rebranding to become ‘Britain’s Ocean City’ earlier this year, Plymouth is set to host the now renamed Ocean City Festival from 9 – 22 September 2013 which will take place in a range of venues across the city including The Barbican, Sutton Harbour, The Hoe, Plymouth University and the Royal William Yard.
The festival is designed to offer an exciting programme of events to entice residents, visitors, scientists and adventurers alike to explore the city and discover all it has to offer. The event also aims to raise awareness, nationally and internationally, of Plymouth’s role as a leading UK ocean city, for research, leisure, heritage and local produce.
This spectacular thirteen-day festival of seafood including chef demonstrations, live music, entertainment, aquatic leisure and cultural events returns for a second year to celebrate Plymouth and its links to the sea. The event aims to attract thousands of visitors to Plymouth’s historic quayside areas and to highlight the city’s standing in ocean Culture, Business, Science & Education.
Key events will include:
- Plymouth Seafood Festival, 20 – 22 September
This three-day celebration highlights the city’s enduring relationship with the sea and its traditional fishing industry, as well as its growing reputation as a food lover’s haven. Showcasing the fantastic quality of seafood available in Plymouth, both local and celebrity chefs will demonstrate creating a range of mouth-watering dishes from the catch of the day.
- Ecover Blue Mile challenge, 14 and 15 September
The Blue Mile challenge is a 1-mile timed, open water swim which takes place in the waters of Plymouth Sound. Those not taking part can cheer on the swimmers from the Hoe.
- STEMFest, 16th – 20th September
Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) are at the heart of the vision for Plymouth as an internationally renowned Ocean City and STEMFest is an event put together by a collaboration of educators, employers, researchers and STEM ambassadors to provide a motivating showcase of marine science and technology that is shaping the way we relate to our oceans. Based around the National Marine Aquarium, the event will feature high-profile speakers, fun and engaging presentations, interactive activities and the opportunity to meet inspiring STEM role models, all of which will provide a glimpse into the world of Marine Science and Technology.
New events for this year’s festival include The Royal Navy Freedom of the City Parade, the launch of the River Tamar Project, Influencing the River, a major cultural event exploring the future potential of this significant waterway in the South West, and Resurgam, an interactive gaming experience featuring a supernatural action-adventure movie with you at the heart of the story. History, digital technology and theatre are integrated to create a unique gaming experience that immerses players sending them out on a citywide treasure hunt to find the magical ‘Pearl of Plymouth’.
There will also be a children’s parade through the streets of the Barbican on Saturday 21 September in celebration of Britain’s Ocean City and the full programme of Ocean City Festival events will be announced over the coming weeks.
Plymouth’s Ocean City Festival is a landmark event which aims to cement the city’s reputation as Britain's Ocean City. The festival will bring the world under the waters of Plymouth Sound to life with a colourful programme of events and activities for all the family.
For more information on the Ocean City Festival visit: www.visitplymouth.co.uk/oceancityfestival
For more information on Destination Plymouth visit: www.visitplymouth.co.uk
