New attractions added and bookings open for Gosport Marine Festival
by Susannah Hart 29 Jul 2021 14:18 BST
4 September 2021
Gosport Marine Festival © Gosport Marine Festival
Visitors to the Gosport Marine Festival will be able to enjoy two new exciting attractions at this free fun, family-friendly event along Gosport's waterfront on Saturday 4th September 2021.
Highlighting challenges for the marine environment, Circo Rum Ba Ba women's theatre troupe is bringing its enormous inflatable Sperm Whale.
Intrepid young adventurers will find themselves in the depths of the bubbling, kelp-swirling ocean where they meet an 'aquabatic' diver who will lead them through the journey of the life of an ancient Leatherback Turtle.
Using exquisite puppets, comedy and music, Circo Rum Ba Ba will tell the tale of sea creatures and their battle to survive in an ocean full of rubbish. The audience will help to save the Turtle and the Whale from a deluge of plastic, while travelling from the Indian Ocean to a beautiful coral reef.
With six free sessions throughout the day, each with a capacity of 50 people, there's plenty of opportunity to be entertained by this marvellous show.
Swelling the line-up of boats to explore at the festival is a Border Force Coastal Patrol Vessel. This joins the historic Steam Pinnace 199 and HMS Medusa in offering tours, while accessible boats, Wetwheels and Spirit of Scott Bader, will be offering short voyages for disabled participants.
There are over 600 free on water sessions available at this brilliant community festival, with the day centring on Haslar Marina, in Trinity Church and on the surrounding green, in the Millennium TimeSpace and at the Cockle Pond.
Most activities require pre-booking online, with the bookings being on a first come first served basis, although stand-by entrants to each activity will be taken in the case of no-shows.
"We advise booking the activities online as soon as possible as the water-based activities are always very popular," says Barry Easton-Corke, Gosport Marine Festival chairman. "Even though the sessions run throughout the day, places are limited, so if you want to get out on the water, get online and book your slot now."
The booking system is now open. Visit the Gosport Marine Festival event web page for more information or book directly here.
The bustling TimeSpace amphitheatre (near Trinity Church) will also feature an electric programme of entertainment including music and dancing. On Trinity Green there will be displays by maritime organisations, while inside the church Little Shipmates will provide seafaring activities upstairs for children too young to go afloat. There really is something for everyone.
The confirmed activities include:
- Sailing and kayaking in Haslar Marina for 12+ year olds
- Sailing, paddleboarding and kayaking for 6 - 11-year-olds at the Cockle Pond
- Short voyages for disabled people aboard the Wetwheels and Spirit of Scott Bader accessible boats
- Tours of a Border Force Coastal Patrol Vessel
- Exploration into the belly of Circo Rum Ba Ba's enormous inflatable Sperm Whale
- Children's model yacht building
- Food and drink by Hampshire producers
- Live entertainment all day by local performers
- An Inspiration Zone, bringing together local marine companies offering careers advice to young people wanting to work in the marine industry
Organised by Portsmouth Harbour Marine in partnership with Gosport Borough Council, the event is supported by the Andrew Simpson Foundation, boatfolk, the owners of Haslar Marina, Hampshire County Council, Wates Residential, Gosport Hospital Radio, MAA, British Marine Trades Association, ASDA, Seldén Mast, Lee-on-the-Solent and Stokes Bay Sailing Clubs, Gosport Sea Cadets, Gosport Scouts, Victoria Quay, Regional City Airports (Solent Airport), SubSea Craft and Premier Gosport Marina.