New for 2010: Festival of the Sea to celebrate Argyll
published this on 10:31 am, Thursday, 17th December, 2009Business| Events| Gaelic| History| Major Events| Marine Environment| News| Sporting Activities| Tourism activities | Comments (rss) | Respond | Ping |
| May 21, 2010 | to | May 31, 2010 |
With the threshold of the year not yet quite crossed and the sink of January approaching fast, it’s good for the spirits to have a new initiative announced now.
Oban is to host a major new 10 day event, celebrating ‘Argyll’s dazzling marine environment’ and inviting everyone to come and join the adventure.
The Festival of the Sea will run from 21st – 31st May.
Is it led by the inspirational Scottish Association of Marine Science (SAMS) at Dunstaffnage for Oban and its surrounding villages.
It focuses on the thing that binds Argyll together across its vast mainland and island territory. It offers a range of exciting and novel experiences and special access, all designed to connect us newly to the sea that:
- keeps us together
- should again be our roads network
- feeds us
- supports a wide spectrum of recreational activities and businesses
- will provide our best energy source sustainably into the future.
This community festival embraces anything and everything to do with the sea and our expressions of our relationship with it – from marine science, to art, drama, wildlife, history, cuisine, dance, language …
Already in the emerging programme are:
- Open Days run by SAMS (in many ways Argyll’s event of the year on its own)
- Northern Lighthouse Board
- Oban Lifeboat
- Oban Marina
- Historic ships & research vessels coming in
- a full educational programme for schools
- wildlife walks
- heritage displays
- a lunchtime lecture series
- Lismore historical shipping event
- kayaking
- a seafood festival
- gaelic workshops and ceilidh
- Calmac Colonsay lecture cruise…
The organisers hope to have the full programme on the Festival website by the end of February and, suddenly, with this on the horizon, the loss of light at this time of the year seems less deadening.
The call of our sea, of knowledge of our sea, of getting in to it, on it, around it and across it and of learning how best to respect and protect its vast resources gets the circulation going in anticipation.
This is a whiff of oxygen – ozone – that demonstrates again that Argyll is incessantly developing and has a fabulous suite of resources to support that. Roll on 21st May.
The trial area tourist authority – Argyll and the Isles – should enjoy getting involved now and marketing this event for all its worth – and that’s a great deal.
May is usually a great time to be in Argyll – good weather, no midges, great light – and this new festival pulls together so many of our unique attractions at every level. It sweeps from our past with the Lords of the Isles to our present with marine leisure and wildlife activities of every conceivable kind.
Let’s see the colour of VisitScotland’s money making a difference for Argyll on this one.
The event is funded by the Scottish Government, LEADER and SAMS – further information and suggestions to Helen McNeill on 01631 559430.
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January 12th, 2010 at 3:06 pm
Are you thinking of having any storytelling? I only ask because a professional storytller/writer/musician with a specific interest in the Corryvreckan and Kilmartin Glen I could maybe make myself available. I also lecture on Scottish history and folklore and though the website is currently under refurbishment I am about to have my 21st book Published (A New History of the Picts) and have appeared at all sorts of Festivals over the years
January 12th, 2010 at 3:33 pm
Stuart – We’ll draw this to the attention of the festival organisers. Would you like them to have your email address?
March 30th, 2010 at 7:09 pm
Rockfield Primary really enjoyed the SAMS workshops last week. We are all very excited about the Festival of the Sea and look forward to taking part in such a wonderful adventure!