Swansea is set to celebrate its rich maritime heritage this summer as the Swansea Sea Festival sails into the city on 8-9 August.
It’s bringing a packed programme of free entertainment, family activities, heritage experiences and live performances to the city’s waterfront.
Taking place across Museum Park, Swansea Marina and the National Waterfront Museum, the festival will showcase the people, stories and industries that have shaped Swansea’s unique relationship with the sea.
Visitors to the festival, organised in partnership by Swansea Council and the National Waterfront Museum, can enjoy live music, sea shanties, heritage displays, workshops, storytelling, harbour experiences and a variety of hands-on activities for all ages.
Cllr Andrew Williams, Cabinet Member for Development at Swansea Council, said: “Swansea Sea Festival is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate our city’s maritime heritage while enjoying a fun-filled weekend on our beautiful waterfront. It marks Swansea’s journey from a medieval quayside and thriving docklands serving the copper industry to the vibrant waterfront destination it is today.
“Through interactive exhibits and engaging activities, exploring the area’s rich history and natural environment, people will be able to discover the stories, people, and places behind Swansea’s maritime past and present.
“We look forward to welcoming everyone to the festival with plenty of live music and family entertainment, creating a great feelgood atmosphere which I’m sure both residents and visitors will enjoy.”
Swansea Sea Festival will offer people a packed programme of maritime-themed displays, demonstrations and family-friendly activities celebrating the city’s rich relationship with the sea.
Visitors can enjoy exciting water-based attractions including free boat trips around Swansea Marina, live rescue demonstrations from the Maritime Volunteer Service and Royal Naval Reserve, and displays from the RNLI, Swansea Council’s Water Safety Team, and the Steam Boat Trust.
There will also be opportunities to learn about maritime heritage through traditional sailmaking demonstrations, ship figurehead carving, and the preservation of historic vessels.
Alongside the maritime activities, the festival will feature a wide range of entertainment and interactive experiences for all ages. Highlights include a magical Mermaid Lagoon, a pirate ship with walkabout pirate characters, giant ocean-themed inflatable sculptures, sea-themed face painting, the towering Stilted Fisherman, and hands-on arts and crafts from the Lifelong Learning Team.
Over at the Amphitheatre and Museum Garden, visitors can enjoy a packed programme of live music throughout the day. For evening entertainment, explore neighbouring venues featured on the Stroller Programme, or sit back and enjoy traditional folk and sea shanty performances aboard the Copper Jack as it cruises along the river.
There will also be opportunities to explore the Beach Academy’s seashell collection and discover local makers at the Crafters Cove. Activities will also be delivered by partners including Swansea Museum, the National Waterfront Museum, Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, the Dylan Thomas Centre, Mission Gallery and The Environment Centre.
Dr Nicole Deufel, Head of the National Waterfront Museum, said: “It is wonderful to see the Swansea Sea Festival come to life in the city’s Maritime Quarter. As the National Waterfront Museum goes on a journey to become Wales’s Museum of the Sea, we’re delighted to celebrate the roots of our dockside Warehouse Gallery in the beautifully legible historic harbour environment of Swansea.
“I warmly invite visitors to the Swansea Sea Festival and enjoy the activities the partners in the quarter put on. Do make sure to also visit our fantastic displays of the treasures from the Ann Francis shipwreck or the figurehead of the Terra Nova, the ship that took Captain Robert Falcon Scott on his final expedition to the Antarctic in 1910. Swansea and Wales have a rich maritime heritage, and this festival is a brilliant showcase for it.”
With live demonstrations, educational exhibits, family activities and colourful characters throughout the weekend, Swansea Sea Festival promises something for everyone.
Swansea Sea Festival is free to attend and is expected to attract thousands of visitors to the city’s Maritime Quarter, helping to showcase Swansea as a leading cultural and visitor destination.
For more information and the latest programme updates, visit the Swansea Sea Festival page on visitswanseabay.com.
