Families with a taste for adventure will be right at home at Poole’s first annual Seven Seas Festival in May.
The free event has three days and two nights of family-friendly international food, music and culture in partnership with Poole Maritime Festival, bringing a world of seafaring sounds, tastes and traditions to Harbourside Park.
“There’ll be something for everyone no matter what their age with our international menu of great street food producers, incredible beers and ciders and some of the best global sounds around,” says festival director Ben Dyas of Immense Events.
“What’s more it’s all for free!”
The festival site will be split into seven unique areas for a sensory tour of Planet Earth highlighting tastes, styles and sounds from around the world.
• South Pacific. Think I’m A Celebrity… in this outback-style Aussie paradise complete with beach bar, a smokin’ Barbie, slabs of ice-cold beer and even a surfing simulator.
• North Pacific. With the classic jazz and blues sounds of the American south, not to mention the Tex-Mex menus, a finger lickin’ good time is on the cards with smokehouse classics, all-American burgers and chilli that will straighten the hairs on your chest. Look out too for Man v Food eating competitions and an amazing mariachi band.
• Arctic Ocean. As well as showcasing a wealth of wonderful local seafood, the Arctic area will host the Ikle Eskimos giant igloo with free children’s entertainment and activities. A mini ice-skating rink, face painting and children’s rides will keep the kids coming back for more all day long.
• Indian Ocean. Look no further for a place to get your head together on a cool, calming tour through the Asian subcontinent. Expect meditation, yoga and piquant pan-Asian cuisine, as well as acupuncture and exotic crafts.
• South Atlantic. It’s carnival time down South America way with the accent on colour, cocktails and the clamour of the Copacabana, all mixed up with African drums and tribal dancers.
• Caribbean. A laid back vibe comes as standard at the Irie Bar, the perfect place to relax with a rum and stir it up with a little jerk chicken or goat curry.
• North Atlantic. Those who fancy a taste of somewhere closer to home will find all their European favourites here with French wine, cheese and can-can girls, German bratwurst and a Bierkeller Bar, wood-fired pizzas from Italy and Spanish tapas, flamenco and, of course, Sangria by the jug! There’s even room for some Irish rovers and lots of Dorset food, drink and acoustic music talent.
As well as the Seven Seas micro-sites there’s also the Southern Sea VIP hospitality arena where a range of internationally inspired bespoke food and drinks packages are available with waitress service.
At the heart of the festival is the Maritime Event Arena where every aspect of seafaring life in Poole is represented, from the festival’s four partner charities –
RNLI, Julia’s House, Diverse abilities and Greenpeace – to performances by local schools, circus and fire shows and even the odd sea shanty.
And to make sure the Seven Seas Festival strikes a chord with everyone there’s a fairground arena, amazing views from the Poole Harbour BIG Wheel and a full schedule of top tribute acts and crowd-pleasing local bands ready to rock their socks off on the Harry Rocks main music stage.
The Seven Seas Festival truly is the pearl in Poole’s packed summer of fun.
