Plymouth's Ocean City Festival set to return

Plymouth will once again be hosting the annual Ocean City Festival from 7 to 27 September 2015 across the city and businesses and the local community are invited to get involved.

This fun and vibrant festival will focus on all things relating to the ocean and anyone who has an event that fits with the ocean theme can be part of the spectacular Ocean City Festival, whether that’s water sport events, boat trips, rock pooling or events around Plymouth’s maritime heritage or marine environment.

The festival is designed to offer an exciting programme of events which will appeal to all ages, offering a real variety including:  seafood, exploration, marine science and technology, education with lots to see and do for the whole family.  The festival also has a business side, which focuses on Plymouth’s diverse marine companies and expertise.

Deputy Leader of the Council, Pete Smith, said: “This 20 day festival celebrates Plymouth’s waterfront location and provides numerous fun activities for people to get involved with. The planning of these events is well underway but we want more businesses to put forward their events so we can make it bigger and better than ever before.”

Some of the key events will include the Open Air Cinema, Aquarium Lates, 80th anniversary of the opening of Tinside Lido, STEMFest, UK Hydrographic Shallow Survey Conference, Beach Rangers, Submarine Service Open Day and the popular Seafood Festival to name a few.

The Ocean City Festival will celebrate everything that makes Plymouth’s waterfront – and its relationship with the sea – so special, whilst reiterating Plymouth’s reputation as Britain’s Ocean City.

Garry Parker, Head of Business for Ocean Plymouth BMW and main sponsors of the event, said: “Supporting events that promote Plymouth is of great importance to me and to Ocean BMW, so it wasn’t a difficult decision to continue our partnership with the Festival as main sponsor.

“On the back the success of last year’s event we are pleased to be working with the team at Plymouth City Council and reinforcing the mutual ‘Ocean’ brand.”

On behalf of the Council and its partners – Plymouth University, the National Marine Aquarium, Plymouth Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, the Marine Biological Association, Sir Alister Hardy Foundation for Ocean Science, Sport Environment, the Barbican Theatre, Sutton Harbour, Plymouth Waterfront Partnership, Plymouth City Centre Company, the Culture Board and Destination Plymouth – welcome aboard!

If you have an event that will link with the ocean theme of the festival please contact Joshua Bunch, email:  joshua.bunch@plymouth.gov.uk

Further details will follow on our website:  www.visitplymouth.co.uk/oceancityfestival