Oceans of fun this September

The Ocean City Festival is returning to our shores for a twenty-day festival of fun with over 30 events to choose from.

Organised by Plymouth City Council, and sponsored by Ocean BMW, the festival runs from Monday 8 to Sunday 28 September, extended from the popular thirteen day event that took place last year.

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. It 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.

Events will include chef demonstrations, live music, entertainment, aquatic leisure and cultural events 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 and Education.

Deputy Leader of the Council, Peter Smith, said: “I love this festival! It helps us to shout about the fantastic opportunities our city has by being by the sea. Spread over twenty days there is plenty of time to get involved, with events taking place in a range of venues across the city including The Barbican, Sutton Harbour, The Hoe, Plymouth University and the Royal William Yard.”

The Challenger Conference for Marine Science, organised by the Plymouth Marine Science partners on behalf of the Challenger Society for Marine Science, is the first event to take place. Held at Plymouth University this event is aimed at young scientists and those studying or working in the industry with talks taking place over four days covering topics such as the polar oceans in a changing climate.

Film-lovers can enjoy the authentic ‘Plymouth Arts Centre Experience’ with an open air cinema on the green at Royal William Yard from Thursday 11 Saturday 13 September. Starting at 8.30pm each night, enjoy showings of Roman Holiday, Sing-a-long-a-Grease and Dawn of the Planet of Apes.

In addition a month-long international film festival, It’s All About the River, brings an exciting series of new works from BAFTA nominated artists and popular and cult classics to be screened at iconic waterfront locations along the River Tamar From Friday 12 September to Sunday 12 October.

Returning for its fourth year, the Ecover Blue Mile will be joining the festival and setting sail from the Mayflower Steps on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 September. This fun and challenging water race follows the waterfront into Plymouth Sound and finishes in the heart of the bustling Barbican.

The National Marine Aquarium will be opening its doors again to schools for STEMFest. The event, open to both primary and secondary school pupils provides hands-on educational activities including taking part in a mass engineering challenge as well as performing ocean chemistry. The aquarium will also be hosting Aquarium Lates – an adult only evening on Thursday 25 September.

A spectacular celebration of culture, cuisine and commerce will take place at Japan400 Plymouth, organised by Plymouth University and taking place from Friday 26 September to Wednesday 1 October. A Japanese-style matsuri fair and a recreation of the homecoming of the tall ship The Clove in Sutton harbour will highlight Plymouth’s crucial role in the 400-year story of British-Japanese relations.

Plymouth’s Seafood Festival is a main highlight of the events which will see the Barbican and Sutton Harbour come alive with an array of activities and entertainment. Funded by the Plymouth Waterfront Partnership, this event takes place on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 September, the last weekend of the Ocean City Festival. It will include a Quayside Market, Cookery Theatre Programme, Catch of the Day and The Little Nippers Crabbing Contest.

Visits to Plymouth’s historic buildings and landmarks including the Merchant’s House, Elizabethan House and Smeaton’s Tower are among other activities taking place during the twenty days.

More information about the events mentioned, or to download the full programme, visit www.oceancityfestival.co.uk.