Set sail to the Foyle Maritime Festival for seafaring fun

Derry~Londonderry’s waterfront will be overflowing with maritime-themed events and activities when the Foyle Maritime Festival returns.

A four-day program of events, from Tall Ships, on-water activities, circus and maritime market to music, animation and comedy will run from 27–30 June in the walled city.

The theme of this year’s Foyle Maritime Festival is Beyond Blue acknowledging the power and the poetry of the rivers, seas and oceans. It’s also a call for people to see things from a different perspective and find new ways to meet the needs of society without causing further harm to these incredible natural assets. One of the ways of doing this is through increasing sustainability and so the festival will be plastic free.

A range of animation, installations, workshops and performances, influenced by this theme, will take place over the four days of the festival.

Some 150,000 visitors are expected to enjoy the nautical extravaganza which will be spread out over five festival zones.

Highlights will include free tours of six tall ships, including the awesome Phoenix, and two navy ships. There will also be a thrilling display of high-adrenaline wakeboarding as well as opportunities to try taster sessions of a range of water-based activities such as canoeing, stand-up paddling and sailing.

Shoreside there will be acrobatics and silliness in the circus Carnival of Colors, a vintage funfair, a maritime market to browse and a food village serving up delicious food with a focus on local sourcing for sustainability. DJ music will add to the party atmosphere.

A big wheel will dominate the Boardwalk zone and each evening an enchanting, dreamlike aerial display will be performed by two illuminated sea creatures.

The Bay is the festival center point and the location of the Anchor Stage which will present a packed programmed of live music and comedy performances over the four days. More entertainment will be live on the Starboard Stage in the festival bar while DJ sets on PIER 24 will provide the backbeat to the festival.

The festival will come to a close on Saturday evening with the showcase event Beyond Blue. A unique choral event entitled ‘A Dusk Chorus’ will start the show when choirs and folk groups sing together along the banks of the Foyle. As dusk descends the quays will transform into a vibrant theatrical riverscape with specially lit Tall Ships anchoring out in the river creating a stunning backdrop for a dazzling light and fire show.

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