For three days and two nights from 19 to 21 May 2017 a world of flavour and sound is on offer in Harbourside Park with some of the region’s finest producers showcasing a wealth of international food as part of Poole Maritime Festival. And to get the ball rolling the amazing 35-metre high Poole Harbour BIG Wheel is set to open on Friday 28 April offering rides seven days a week for four weeks alongside our contemporary outside bar The HarBar, a converted shipping container, in Harbourside Park.
“The Seven Seas Festival offers a genuinely unique and creative way for the people of Poole and visitors alike to get to know more about our wonderful town,” says festival director Ben Dyas. “We can’t wait to see the sensational views from the Poole Harbour BIG Wheel and with a world of food and music to enjoy in the main festival it’s going to be a weekend to remember.”
The festival’s seven microsites are based on the seven seas with the food, drink and culture of that region. Among the many tasty treats in store are:
North Pacific – Good times come as standard with a rolling jazz and blues stage, mariachi bands and lashings of bourbon and beer to wash down some mighty fine soul food staples from Dorset’s own Chicken & Blues, as well as spicy Mexican street food from Cantina el Burrito.
Indian Ocean – The best in Thai tapas from Bournemouth’s Koh Lounge meets yoga, exotic crafts and great curries as well as Chinese medicine, acupuncture and Zen meditation in this feast for the mind, body and soul.
South Atlantic – Hosted by Enrique Perez of Bournemouth-based Salsa Explosion, it’s all about colour as the sights, sounds and flavours of Rio de Janeiro’s carnival come to Poole. Samba classes, drum bands, tribal dancers and street foods with a dash of African safari rhythm thrown in for good measure.
North Atlantic/Caribbean – With the Irie Bar serving up the best in rum, beer and coconut water as Afro*disiac radio dishes up chilled grooves from the pirate ship stage, this is the place to stir it up.
North Atlantic/Europe – There’s acoustic sets from the best local bands and loads of thrills and frills from the can-can dancers, a full range of Mediterranean food from Bournemouth’s Lolas Restaurant and British classics from Golden Pig Roasts – just the ticket, we say!
Arctic – This is where you’ll find demonstrations from the Sea To Shore Seafood Company, all the way from Alaska. There’s also local ice cream, a mini ice rink, igloo and the Ikle Eskimos arena where our youngest revellers can let off steam while Mum and Dad catch a breather or check out Simon Chainey’s circus skills workshops.
Southern Sea – Our VIP hospitality area where bespoke food and drinks packages are available with waitress service – where better to entertain delegates or clients?
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 in another first for Poole, Circo Rum Ba Ba invite all comers to shed their shoes and squeeze into its life-size, 18-metre inflatable sperm whale! Inside they’ll find children’s stories to buckle their swashes or a range of curiosities including mermaids’ purses and an arm wrestling octopus. Meanwhile, over on the Harry Rocks main stage a glittering array of top tribute acts to the likes of Madness, Ed Sheeran, Queen and Bob Marley, as well as top local bands, not to mention a main bar stocked with more than 30 regional ales and ciders.
