An all-new festival is set to take place on a Dorset beach.
Seaweed Shenanigans is a festival taking place on Castle Cove Beach, Weymouth on Saturday, April 20 from 12pm-4pm to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the building of the new steps to the beach.
The event organised by the Friends of Castle Cove Beach Charity will see a whole range of quirky, fun and educational events, including information and activities about seagrass, seahorses, eco moorings and the varied uses of seaweed.
Festival organiser Lyndsey Diment said: “Seaweed is something we take for granted, but it really is one of nature’s wonders. It can be used in cooking, as fertiliser, and in beauty products.
“At Castle Cove we are privileged to have magical seagrass beds - the only flowering plants able to live in saltwater. The beds act as a nursery for young fish and seahorses, help to slow climate change, and filter out pollutants - and they need our protection.”
Local experts will be at the event, keen to share their enthusiasm and expertise.
There will be a samba band, a bucket and spade drumming workshop, a choir, games for children and a sand sculpture building competition judged by Weymouth’s Mr Sandman, Mark Anderson – And if you’re lucky you might spot a mermaid.
Festival co-organiser Katie Janota said: “Castle Cove Beach is the perfect place for all ages. It’s free and it’s fun.”
Alongside the seaweed festival, the Friends are organising an art competition for schools in the local area.
Students have been asked to submit a picture, model, collage or any other artwork inspired by seaweed.
Entry closes on March 22 and the artwork will be exhibited in Weymouth Library.
The event and competition are both free and will be funded by a Love Local raffle.
Plenty of local businesses and restaurants have donated prizes, and raffle tickets will be sold at £1 a ticket.
Prizes include restaurant vouchers, a mermaid swimming lesson, a boat trip to Durdle Door, stand up paddle boarding, swim vouchers, sourdough workshop, locally ground coffee, as well as local attraction entry tickets.
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