A ONE-of-a-kind event will return to Whitehaven Harbour this summer – with a unique blend of fun, creativity, and community spirit.

Harbour Fest will be held on Saturday, August 31 and is brimming with live performances, music, arts and crafts, and more.

Presented by Rosehill in collaboration with the Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners, this year’s festival, promises to be an unmissable day and is free to attend.

Daniel Whitehouse, creative director at Rosehill, said: “We are thrilled to join forces with the Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners team to bring back Harbour Fest this year as part of our continuing commitment to providing affordable and accessible events for families of West Cumbria.

“The day will be a testament to our community’s support and participation, filled with fantastic performances, music, and family-friendly activities, all free for the public to enjoy - we hope to see you there.”

Deanne Shallcross, chief executive at Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners, added: “We’re delighted to be partnering with the Rosehill team once again to bring another exciting Harbour Fest to Whitehaven.

“We love being able to showcase our Georgian gem of a harbour and to see it used differently by turning it into what is effectively one big stage!

“The Rosehill team have worked hard to build on the previous fantastic programmes from the past two years and we can’t wait for everyone to experience this year’s amazing entertainment.

“And thanks to funding we continue to present this festival to the public for free. This is really important to us as it tackles some of the key barriers to engagement and we hope it means the majority of people in our community and beyond can definitely attend if they wish.”

Prepare for a theatrical nautical adventure with The Fabularium’s brand-new show, The Crew. Don’t miss Autin Dance Theatre’s Parade - The Giant Wheel, a performance featuring a community cast.

Dance to the unique blend of traditional folk and street dance with Ceilidh Jam. Gary ‘Gacko’ Bridgens will captivate audiences with his storytelling in the fantastic performance Trunks.

Head to Teabreak, relax with a cuppa and immerse yourself in the history and ritual of tea. This diverse and high-quality lineup will keep crowds entertained throughout the day.

As always, there will be craft activities everyone can get involved in and those who attend can make a Mahoosive Fish Heed with Handpicked Productions, join The Ragtag Roadshow and let their imagination run free or experience traditional arts and crafts courtesy of The National Trust and Florence Arts Centre.

Local music organisation Soundwave will also host one of its SHIFT events at the festival. This event will see an array of local musical talent perform at the harbourside hub.

The festival will also present new work from poet Emma McGordon, who has been working with the community to develop a new project called Coffee Cuplets.

McGordon will share her work at the festival, from small snippets with a cup of coffee to work displayed on shop windows on the harbour front.

Harbour Fest celebrates the local community and the unique harbour of Whitehaven. With a wide range of free family arts and crafts activities, everyone, regardless of age, can participate and enjoy.

The event takes place between 11am and 4pm on Saturday, August 31.