This weekend in Whitby is a free, two-day celebration of its fishing history, featuring live music, seafood cookery demonstrations, and the highly anticipated Fisherman Olympics.
The seaside town of Whitby is preparing to host a lively celebration of its rich fishing heritage with the return of the Whitby Fish and Ships festival.
The free two-day event promises a packed schedule of cookery demonstrations, fish craft tips from top local chefs, live music from local bands, and sea balladeers.
Visitors can expect to see a variety of marquees showcasing the expertise of local attractions and businesses, alongside family activities, free craft sessions, and street entertainment.
North Yorkshire Council's executive member for culture, arts, leisure, and housing is Simon Myers:
"It's a celebration of the history of the place. It's a celebration of the community in Whitby and it's a celebration of all the wonderful creative stuff that goes on in the town and the immediate environs. So, you know, there are craft things for kids. There are demonstrations on how to prepare and cook fish, the local bands, craft stalls, everything under the sun, really. And the Olympics, of course, the fisherman's Olympics, which culminates in a tug-of-war between fishermen. So, it's all there over the next couple of days."
One of the main attractions will be the Fish Craft Marquee, sponsored by the Magpie Café. The tent will feature giant displays showcasing species of fish caught off the Yorkshire Coast, allowing visitors to see what the catch looks like before it is processed.
Experts from the industry will be on hand to answer questions, while filleters showcase their preparation skills and compete in chef competitions.
The marquee will also host local fishermen demonstrating the traditional arts of pot sewing and net mending, skills that remain a vital part of day-to-day life in the thriving industry.
Councillor Myers added:
"I think it's a really valuable thing because a lot of people like fish, but they're a bit scared of it. Do you know what I mean? They think it's fiddly and they're not quite sure how to cook it and blah-de-blah. And I think to be able to go and see you know, these experts prepare fantastic dishes out of locally caught fresh as a daisy fish, will give people confidence, they'll go home, they go to their fishmonger and get stuck in. Rather than thinking, 'Oh, I don't know. I don't want to mess it up,'. It's a really valuable resource. It's amazing what they pack in to two days really and the amount of entertainment there for people and the fact that it's free."
Alongside the seafood attractions, the festival will feature a Creative Creatures Marquee offering fun activities for children to design and create, as well as a storytelling corner exploring nautical and maritime themes.
A dedicated Music Marquee will provide toe-tapping performances from local bands, while visitors can browse artisan goods and local produce at stalls situated along Dock End.
Street entertainment will be milling around on foot, offering attendees hearty banter, tall tales, sea shanties, and selfie opportunities.
A major highlight of the weekend will be the Fisherman Olympics, which will see local fishermen competing against each other in their everyday tasks to prove who is superior. The games will conclude with a traditional tug-o-war at the end of the day on Saturday.
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