Looe Festival of the Sea

About

On Sunday from 10 am until 8 pm, at venues across Looe, a varied programme of marine related activities and music will entertain the crowds in a wonderful family day, combining education and culture with traditional sea side fun. The Looe Music Festival organisers have lined up musicians, bands and choirs to add to the festive atmosphere.

The first event was held on 1st May 2016 and a sample of some of the festival activities included

• Death defying RLNI helicopter display over the beach 
• Family rock pooling (Looe Marine Conservation Group)
• Beach clean (Marine Conservation Society)
• Chef demos and sea food tasting (Cornwall Good Seafood Guide and Old Sail Loft plus other chefs)
• Fishing trips to catch sustainable fish (organised by Cornwall Wildlife Trust)
• Crabbing competition, 'show and tell' (Marine Biological Association & Cornwall Wildlife Trust)
• Boat trips to see the grey seals with experts on board (from Cornwall Seal Group)
• Marine wildlife and conservation talks
• 'Pop Up' Art and Photography exhibition throughout the town
• Plastic arts project
• And music & dance with live bands, sea shanties, & choirs (organised by Looe Music Festival)

An air sea helicopter rescue display marking 150 years of the Looe Lifeboat , music and dance will draw visitors to a variety of locations across East and West Looe, while educational objectives will be addressed through the presence of many participating marine organisations with stalls along the East Looe quayside and seafront.

The festival themes for 2016 were:

Safety at seaSustainable Cornish seafoodReducing pollution Taking care of our marine environment and wildlife

The festival, spearheaded by Looe Marine Conservation Group and the RNLI, is receiving significant support from Cornwall Wildlife Trust, Looe Tourist Office, the Looe Music Festival organisers and Looe Litfest, Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership, Looe Harbour Commission, East Looe Town Trust, Looe Town Council and councillors. Banners and posters promoting the festival will shortly be appearing on the GWR network promoting travel by train on the Looe Valley Line to get to Looe. Many community organisations and societies are also joining in with marine themed activities/events including an plastic art project and photography display.

Marine organisations attending in 2016 included:

Looe Marine Conservation GroupCornwall Wildlife TrustNational Marine AquariumBritish Divers Marine Life RescueCornwall Seal GroupMarine Conservation SocietyKeep Britain TidySurfers Against SewageLooe Bathing Water Quality PartnershipEnvironment AgencyFathoms FreeFishermens MissionMarine Biological AssociationSouth West Coast Path

Entry to the event is FREE!