IT'S Southend Maritime Festival this weekend and it promises to be two fun-filled days.

The event is organised by Southend Council to celebrate the maritime heritage of the borough. 

Funding for has been provided by the Coastal Communities Fund, to which the Council made a successful bid in 2013 to improve the Southend Seafront Economy and raise the profile of the history and culture of the area. The Echo is the official media partner. 

The all-new festival features live music including X Factor star Jake Quickenden and Southend's own Fishwives Choir, a Southend Bake Off with celebrity chef Cathryn Dresser, opportunities to try your hand at rowing, sand castle-making and sculptures, history talks, bouncy castles and much more.

We've put together a list of what is on and where over the weekend so you can see everything on offer. 

Click here for the top 10 highlights of this weekend's seaside fun

And hear what X Factor's Jake Quickenden had to say ahead of his headline performance

EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND

Zone 1- The Three Shells Beach

The Three Shells Beach - 6th & 7th June - 11am - 6pm

Sand Sculpture Artist Mark Anderson

Live Sand Sculpting and Sandcastle workshop

Zone 2- Adventure Island Promenade to the Pier

Seafront Promenade - 6th & 7th June - 11am - 6pm

Walk about fun entertainment throughout the weekend

Adventure Island - 6th and 7th June

Pirate weekend with Captain Backwash, including real pirates and loads of swashbuckling fun! Plus on Sunday from 3.45pm a chance to meet and have your pictures taken with X Factor star Jake Quickenden

Zone 3 – Pier Piazza

Art on the railings - 6th & 7th June - 11am - 6pm

Local celebrated and amateur artists will be displaying, selling and actually working on masterpieces live for the public to observe.

Kids Craft Workshop Fun - 6th & 7th June - 11am - 6pm

Join local arts and craft experts in a maritime themed crafts workshop. From Pirate masks to seashell collages - lots of fun for the whole family!

Live Entertainment - 6th and 7th June - 11am - 6pm

Enjoy live music from local and celebrated Choral groups , poetry and of course what seaside festival wouldn’t be complete without a classic Punch and Judy Show!

Zone A – Pier Bowling Alley Area

Food and Drink Market - 6th and 7th June - 11am - 6pm

Enjoy a wonderful selection of artisan food suppliers from Gourmet Brownies to Funky Popcorn - a treat for all foodies!*

*Free entry, however normal pier fees apply to travel to end of Pier.

Tea Dance with The Jive School 6th and 7th June - 11am - 5pm

Join the team of talented dancers from The Jive School for a toe tapping traditional Tea Dance. What tea dance wouldn’t be complete without tea and scones!

Zone B – Old Pier Head

Catering Stands - 6th & 7th June - 11am - 6pm 

Enjoy yummy food from local traders.

Deck Games Area - 6th & 7th June - 11am - 6pm 

Fun for all the family with our Deck Games Area- from Hopscotch, to giant connect 4, giant snakes and ladders, space hoppers and more - all absolutely free!

Live Entertainment Area - 6th & 7th June

Enjoy live music from some amazing local bands

Zone 5 - Feelgoods Restaurant- Marine Square

Speed Boat Trips - 6th & 7th June

Speed boat trips from the Prince of Wales Jetty during high tide

Face Painting - 6th & 7th June 12 - 5pm 

  • The Endeavour - Dunkirk Cockle Bawley will be anchored next to the Prince of Wales Jetty

Zone 6 - City Beach

Shanty Bandstand 6th & 7th June - 11am - 6pm

A weekend of Shanty Music from acclaimed international artistes

Zone 7 & 8- Jubilee Beach to Sealife

Bouncy Castle Fun - 6th & 7th June 11am - 6pm 

Enjoy an array of bouncy castles on Jubilee Beach. Great fun for all the family

Lower Thames Rowing Club - 6th & 7th 11am - 6pm 

The rowing team will be displaying a selection of their boats and offering taster sessions

Model Yachting Association - 6th and 7th June 11am - 6pm 

Enjoy a display in the estuary at High Tide each day

Essex Kite Surfing display - 6th and 7th June

Essex Kitesurfing School will be putting on a display at high tide each day.

Boogie Beach Stage - 6th & 7th June 11am - 6pm

 

SATURDAY 6th JUNE

Zone 3 – Pier Piazza (Pier Hill)

11.30am Starlight Productions

12.00 Maritime Poetry

12.30 Punch and Judy

13.00 Maritime Poetry

13.30 Punch and Judy

14.00 Basildon Academy

14.15 Maritime Poetry

14.30 Starlight Productions

15.00 Leigh Orpheus Male Vocal Choir

15.30 Maritime Poetry

16.00 Leigh Orpheus Male Vocal Choir 

16.30 Four and Twenty Blackbirds

17.00 Punch and Judy

Zone B – Old Pier Head

13.00 Claires Jazz Trio

14.30 Reverb

13.30 St Thomas Moore School

14.15 St Thomas Moore School

Zone C - The Royal Pavilion

12.00-12.45 Wilf Lower, Estuary Tales

13.00 -13.30 Clare Hunt, Nautical History through Art

14.00 -14.30 Angela Middleton, The London Wreck Project

15.00 Rafal Zahorski, The Bembridge

Zone 6 - City Beach

11.30am Hoy Shanty

12.00 Short Drag Roger

12.30 Nanne & Anke

13.00 Vagrants Crew

13.30 Friggit

14.00 Hoy Shanty

14.30 Short Drag Roger

15.00 Nanne & Anke

15.30 Vagrants Crew

16.00 Friggit

16.30 Grand Reunion

Zone 7 & 8 - Jubilee Beach to Sealife

11.00am Boogie Beach

11.30am Mini Methods

12.00 Absolute Arts

12.15 Jelly Tots

13.00 Basildon Upper Academy P.Arts

13.15 Boogie Beach

13.30 Shoebury Dynamix

14.00 Absolute Arts

14.15 Ellusive Dance

14.30 Absolute Arts

14.45 Princess Parties
15.15 Boogie Beach Club

15.30 wiggles

15.45 Boogie Beach Club

16.15 Partyman Pirate Show

17.00 Funky Voices

SUNDAY 7th JUNE

Zone 3 – Pier Piazza (Pier Hill)

11.30am Starlight

12.00 Punch and Judy

13.00 Little Theatre Company

13.30 The Show Choir

14.00 Maritime Poetry

14.30 Punch and Judy

15.00 Southend Vox

15.30 Starlight

16.00 Punch and Judy

17.00 Maritime Poetry

17.30 Southend Vox

Zone A – Pier Bowling Alley Area

The Southend Bake Off - 7th June - 12.30pm with judging at 2pm

Local budding bakers are invited to submit their creations to our bake off area from 12.30pm. Cathryn Dresser from the Great British Bake Off will be judging.

Cathryn Dresser Book Singing - 7th June at 3pm

Cathryn Dresser will joined by the team from Waterstones who are selling her book Lets Bake – meet her and get your copy signed.

Zone B – Old Pier Head

13.30 The Grandees

14.30 Bravissimo

15.30 Bravissimo

Steve Ellis Dive Team- The London Wreck Project Sunday 7th June - 3pm 

Catch a glimpse of Steve Ellis and his team in action diving for memorabilia from the London Wreck.

Zone 6 - City Beach

11.30am Nanne & Anke

12.00 Vagrants Crew

12.30 New Scorpian Band

13.00 Friggit

13.30 Fishwives Choir

14.00 Sentimental Journey

14.30 Nanne & Anke

15.00 Vagrants Crew

15.30 Fishwives Choir

16.00 Friggit

16.30 New Scorpian Band

17.00 Sentimental Journey

Zone 7 & 8 - Jubilee Beach to Sealife

11.00am Lee Sargaent

11.30am Hudson Acoustic

12.00 Owen Williams

12.30 Molly and Luke

13.00 Lydia Kitto

13.30 Dane Glasby

14.00 Nathan Abbott

14.30 Marcus Rose

15.00 Jake Quickendan

15.30 Taylor

16.30 Avenue

17.00 We are People

17.30 Tallowah

RESTAURANTS

Sands Restaurant - 6th & 7th June 

A Maritime Special ‘Seafood Board’ with a delicious selection of locally sourced fish

Bourgee Restuarant - 6th & 7th June

Maritime Specials:

  • Lobster lollies, coconut lime dipping sauce
  • Lobster bites, caramelised onions, garlic butter, grilled cheese
  • Bourgee Lobster - 550g whole split Lobster in cheese sauce, shallots & woodland mushrooms

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