After a busy opening weekend, The Whitstable Oyster Festival started the week’s proceedings with a visit from TRH The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall. Visiting Kent on official business, the royal couple took the time to visit Whitstable, much to the delight of those who live in this quaint seaside town.

 

TRH The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall arrived at the Harbour Office at 11.05am and, after being greeted by the Lord Lieutenant of Kent, were presented to members of the Whitstable Oyster Festival Association, the production team and local dignitaries.

 

The royal couple enjoyed a performance from Local Samba Band, Samba Pelo Mar, even joining in on the drums at one point! Walking along South Quay, Prince Charles and Camilla met many of the town’s people and even tried an oyster or two at West Welks and The Harbour Garden Cafe.

 

TRH The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall were then escorted to the RNLI Whitstable Lifeboat Station and then onto the Yacht Club where they were presented a posy of flowers and a souvenir Oyster Festival baby t-shirt by Miss Hannah Corcoran (aged 3) from Seasalter. The visit finished at The Forge, before the royal couple made their way to Chatham.

 

The buzz could be felt in the town for hours afterwards and events such as Crabbing and the Punch & Judy shows were well attended. After such excitement, there is still plenty to come for The Whitstable Oyster Festival that visitors will be spoilt for choice throughout the week:

 

There are cooking demonstrations in the harbour from The Community Chef. A local Project, run by Dominic Scannell, that aims to educate, engage and employ young people from all over Kent in the cooking and catering industry. By working with families and young people Dom looks to encourage families to cook together and will be running daily demonstrations in the harbour.

 

There will be creative children’s workshops every morning at the Yacht Club from 10am, as well as story telling on the beach everyday from 12pm. Other fun activities through the week include kite flying, Grotter building and a treasure hunt.

 

Activities for adults include arts & crafts workshops, guided walks, outdoor film screenings and music concerts.  Please see more details below for those activities that sill have places available.

 

The festival will come to a dazzling finish on Friday as the Grotters (built earlier that day) will be lit at dusk and a fireworks display over the sea will see out the week in style.

 

The Whitstable Oyster Festival

Saturday 27th July – Friday 2nd August 2013

 

For more information about The Whitstable Oyster Festival, please contact Anna Sharp:

e) Anna@ASharpPR.com

t) 07801 283 045

 

 

Still to come:

 

Tuesday 30th July

· Festival Kite-Making Workshop, 10am-11.30am, Yacht Club: 7-10 year olds get creative

· Driftwood jewellery making, 10am-1pm, Horsebridge Arts & Community Centre

· Let’s Go Fly a Kite, 2-3.30pm on Tankerton Slopes

· Foraging Whitstable walk, 2pm, The Whitstable Shop

· Christine Walkden Gardens Talk, 4.30pm, Whitstable Castle: the nation’s favourite horticulturalist

· Music in the Square: Samba Pelo Mar, 6.30-7.30pm, Horsebridge Square

 

Wednesday 31st July

· Festival Pirates Workshop, 10am-11.30am, Yacht Club:

· Seaside collage workshop, 10am-1pm, Horsebridge Arts Centre

· Paul Bommer screenprinting workshops, all day, The Print Block

· 11am-1pm, Whitstable Museum & Gallery Events Room: talk with Pauline Scott-Garrett

· Oystercatchers Treasure Hunt, Castle, 2-3.30pm, Whitstable Castle: storm the Castle and find the pirates’ loot

· Flutes and Harps concert, 7.30pm, United Reform Church

· Peter Cushing outdoor film screening, 9pm, Tankerton Slopes: commemorating Whitstable’s most famous actor in the centenary of his birth.

 

Thursday 1st August

 

· Festival At The Seaside Workshop, 10am-11.30am, Yacht Club: 7-10 year olds get creative

· Storytelling with Scandalmongers, 11am, Whitstable Library

· Arts & Craft at the Museum: Stephen Hall pinch pot workshop, 11am-1pm, Whitstable Museum & Gallery Events Room

· Whitstabubble Beach Party, 2-3.30pm, Tankerton Slopes: giant bubbles and party fun

· A Whitstable Postcard walk, 2pm, The Whitstable Shop

· Blessing of the Waters, 6.45pm, Sea Wall/Reeves Beach: traditional festival seashore service

· Music in the Square/Horsebridge: Canterbury Christ Church Gospel Choir, 7.45pm Horsebridge Square

· Ale and Oysters tasting, 8pm, The New Inn: Whitstable’s finest ingredients brought together

· OyOyster Comedy Night featuring Mandy Knight, 8pm, East Quay

 

Friday 2nd August

 

· Festival Carnival Workshop, 10am-11.30am, Yacht Club: 7-10 year olds get creative

· Whitstable's People walk, 11am, Keam’s Yard

· Grotters! Reeves Beach, 3-5pm: oystershell castles

· Nagasaki 3, 9pm, Duke of Cumberland

· Beach Mardi Gras at The Old Neptune, 3-5pm

· Fireworks Finale, 9.45pm, Horsebridge to The Old Neptune: illumination at sea