Having fun at the launch of Aberdeen's Festival of the Sea were Councillor Martin Greig, culture spokesperson for Aberdeen City Council, with Wishart McBride, David Brown, RNLI fundraising volunteers along with Mhairi McBeath, Deemouth Artists Studio, Sarah Boyle, Open Road, Lesley Anne Rose, Open Road Creative Director and with Aberdeen Sports Village mascot ASVIL. Image - Supplied by Aberdeen City Council.
Aberdeen’s rich maritime heritage will be celebrated in a fun-filled new Festival of the Sea in July.
The two-week extravaganza, from July 15 to 28, will boast a host of events and attractions across the city, and herald the arrival of the Tall Ships Race a year later.
The Festival will take place at venues across the city from Aberdeen Art Gallery and Maritime Museum to community spaces in Fittie and Torry, Aberdeen Science Centre, Arts Centre, Sports Village, Beach Ballroom and more.
A free family fun weekend in Union Terrace Gardens on July 20 and 21 and will feature a life-size inflatable whale with a storytelling centre inside alongside comedy performances throughout the weekend, from swashbuckling pirates, a roaming giant parrot and a desert island adventure.
Sea-themed activities for all ages will take place in Aberdeen Art Gallery and Museums, from maritime trails to fun creative sessions and workshops, alongside the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition.
A host of events in Fittie and Torry, coordinated by creative producers Open Road, will celebrate both communities’ close relationship with the sea. Visitors can enjoy exhibitions, film showings, arts, crafts, nature walks, rock pooling, family swimming, photography and more.
The Festival of the Sea – hosted by Aberdeen City Council – was welcomed by Aberdeen Inspired, the city’s Business Improvement District.
Adrian Watson, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired, said: “This will be a welcome addition to the many great festivals in the Granite City this year and one that will appeal to people of all ages, with its mix of family-fun and heritage.
Tall ship Swan will be visiting Aberdeen during the Festival of the Sea next month. Image - Supplied by Port of Aberdeen
“It will also be a marvellous taster for the extravaganza of the Tall Ships Race that will put Aberdeen on the global map when these beautiful vessels drop anchor here in July next year.”
Aberdeen City Council Co-Leader Councillor Ian Yuill said: “The new Festival of the Sea is a fantastic way for the city to come together to celebrate and learn more about how the sea has shaped Aberdeen and our local communities.
"The Festival of the Sea includes great events – and will also begin the countdown to welcoming the Tall Ships Race next year.”
Councillor Martin Greig, culture spokesperson for Aberdeen City Council, said: “Aberdeen is a maritime city so it's only right to mark our continuing relationship to the North Sea through this special programme of events.
“This exciting festival will involve many people in cultural and social activities to celebrate our past and our future links to the sea. It is also a chance to get ready for next year's visit of the Tall Ships. It is important to keep developing this natural connection which has defined our city and region.”
As a prelude to the Tall Ships Race, three tall ships will be visiting the harbour during the Festival of the Sea.
The Swan will sail into South Harbour with her crew spending two weeks taking young people aged 15 to 25 on half-day training sessions in preparation for the 2025 Races.
In addition, the TS Royalist, the Sea Cadets’ flagship, and sailing ship Reaper, visiting from the Scottish Fisheries Museum in Anstruther, will also be available to view from the quayside, with visitors being able to board the Reaper on the July 19 and 20.
To find out more about the Festival of the Sea, visit: Festival of the Sea Aberdeen 2024 | Aberdeen City Council.