Whitstable Oyster Festival - Art, Heritage, Family, Food and Drink.

2010 Events by Day

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2010 Festival Fringe – pre Festival Events

Plenty to do before …

If you are in Whitstable the night before the Festival here’s a few ideas of things to do. Anytime from noon onwards you can visit the Whitstable Brewery Beer Festival on East Quay. Open from noon right through to 3.00am, the East Quay has cask beers, all day barbecue and live music in the evening with Hullaballoo.

At the other end of town, Deco 5 in Oxford Street is serving up rhythm & Blues with a touch of soul and jazz from 8.30pm onwards with ‘Standard 5 at Deco 5’. Entry to Deco 5 is free as is entry to live music at the Duke of Cumberland Hotel. The ‘Dukes’ is easily found in the centre of town (High Street) and music begins at 9pm.

Saturday 24th July

The first day of the Festival sets the tone for the week, with something for every taste and age. Whitstable’s streets, beaches and spaces come alive with performers, artists and exhibitors playing to the crowds, bringing old traditions up to date and offering entertainment of all kinds.

Sunday 25th July

Sunday is a day to think seaside. See the Sea Sunday service and parade, Ladies of the Waves running amok in the crowds, wandering shanty singers, the infamous oyster eating competition and the even more infamous Mud Tug.

Monday 26th July

Whitstable shows its literate side. Canterbury’s’ Poet Laureate and the Laureate squad are in town, Alice is in Wonderland, Reading gardens appear everywhere, children jump into the library pavement and writer Tom Hart Dyke comes to the Horsebridge.

Tuesday 27th July

A gentle day to enjoy the more traditional things in life. Visit Whitstable Museum’s Seaside exhibition. Watch Punch and Judy, review 100 years of Whitstable history in rare archive footage and stroll along the coast in the company of wildlife experts.

Wednesday 28th July

Turn apathy into energy and try something new today. During the day you can fly a kite, join one of the themed walks or get creative in one of the many arts workshops on offer, At night, sit back and let yourself be entertained. Best of all, do a bit of everything.

Thursday 29th July

Heritage highlights are juxtaposed with very modern interests and pastimes. At Reeves Beach, traditions and customs unique to Whitstable’s history are recreated. Elsewhere, an astrodome, skateboarding competition and a young band night are all about today.

Friday 30th July

Friday means fun so the last day of the Festival day is all about joining in and having a good time. Today is a crab catching, drum banging, clay glopping, circus juggling, laugh inducing, music mellowing sort of day. Oh, and there’s a Festival Finale event too. Be ready to make a Whitstable Wish.

… and immediately after the Oyster Festival

Immediately after the Oyster Festival, Whitstable Regatta comes to town! The enormously popular annual event will be on Tankerton Slopes and in Tankerton Bay for Saturday 31st July & 1st August, and is full of Whitstable favourites.

This year the Regatta includes a fair ground, a re enactment group, circus skills, Punch & Judy, vintage motor bikes and the ‘Almost Crufts Dog Show’, There will be Yacht Racing in the Bay, craft and charity stalls, and a flying display by a World War 2 Spitfire all topped off with a spectacular firework display off shore on Saturday night.

2010 marks the 217th Anniversary for Whitstable Regatta so expect something very special. The Regatta is organised by Whitstable & Herne Bay Lions Club. Contact 01227 274313

You can also Escape to Create at the Horsebridge Arts Centre, between 2pm and 4.30pm, indulge in a creative taster workshop or take in some free hot paced latin jazz with Fletch at Deco 5 (8.30pm).

If you should need an excuse for re-visiting Whitstable during the summer and beyond then here’s three further reasons:

7th August 5pm - Whitstable Carnival.
Now in its 113th year a revitalised Whitstable Carnival threads its way from Tankerton through to the High Street and beyond. Find a spot along the route to enjoy the colour and sound of an old favourite event. website

14th August 10am - Harbour Day.
The world’s first railway connected port invites you to share in its celebrations. This popular annual event coincides with the Whitstable Smack and Barge race, so whichever way you look there’s a view that brings you face to face with our coastal heritage.

Anytime - The third reason is just Whitstable. It has an appeal that takes you back a decade or two when life ran at a slower pace, yet it always feels different as the beach side view changes by the hour, the day and the season. Its specialist shops defy the blandness and conformity of modern shopping centres and the food is, as you would expect, amongst the freshest and tastiest you can experience.

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