Whitehaven Harbour Fest 2024: A Celebration of Community, Creativity, and Sunshine

Give us your views on this years Harbour Fest HERE.

Whitehaven and the surrounding communities came together  en masse on Saturday 31 August for the eagerly anticipated Harbour Fest 2024. The third instalment of the annual event, organised by Rosehill Arts Trust in collaboration with Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners, attracted thousands of visitors who enjoyed a day filled with exceptional community spirit, creativity, and fun. The event turned the harbour into a lively activity centre, drawing crowds from near and far.

The day was blessed with perfect weather, with the sun shining brightly, illuminating Whitehaven’s beautiful harbour in all its glory. The picturesque setting provided the ideal backdrop for a day packed with live performances, music, arts and crafts, and interactive experiences that delighted visitors of all ages.

One of the highlights of Harbour Fest 2024 was an awe-inspiring performance by the award-winning, Autin Dance Theatre. Their promenade show, The Parade, captivated the audience as performers showcased breathtaking acrobatic feats on a 12-foot wheel, their daring stunts made even more thrilling by the speed and energy of the show. Families also had the opportunity to relax and enjoy the premiere of international touring company Fabularium’s new show, The Crew, a performance perfectly suited to the harbour’s coastal setting.

In addition to live performances, the event featured a wide array of community stalls, where local organisations engaged with the public, sharing their causes and connecting with the community. The arts and crafts stalls, run by Ragtag Arts & Community Scrapstore, Florence Arts, and Handpicked Productions, were bustling as families eagerly participated in crafting activities.

The town centre was equally vibrant, hosting a Vintage Car Rally and the TEG Makers’ Market, which added to the day’s festive atmosphere. The streets were filled with the sights and sounds of classic cars, unique handmade goods, and the buzz of community engagement.

Dan Whitehouse, Creative Director & Joint CEO, Rosehill, commented:

“What a day! Harbour Fest 2024 was a resounding success, and we couldn’t be more pleased with the turnout.

“Thousands of people visited the festival on Saturday and experienced the unique and tremendous high-quality performances, community stalls, craft activities, and much more. We received lots of positive feedback about people’s experiences, and seeing the Harbour and town busy and bustling was terrific.

“This year’s festival was our most ambitious to date, so seeing all the hard work come to fruition was fantastic. We want to thank the Harbour Commissioners for being such brilliant festival partners, the funders for supporting us in making it happen, and all the festival staff, community partners, and volunteers who worked tirelessly to ensure the festival ran smoothly. And, of course, a big thank you to all the visitors who came along and made the day what it was.

“Plans are already underway for next year, and we can’t wait to build on the success of this year’s festival to make 2025 even better!”

Deanne Shallcross, CEO, Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners, added:

“We were delighted to once again join forces with Rosehill for another fantastic Harbour Fest.

“The Rosehill team curated an outstanding programme - from roving songsmiths and comical characters entertaining all ages, to live music, enthralling street theatre and the most incredible promenade performance from Autin Dance and their giant wheel. And all for people to watch for free!

“Along with craft workshops for all the family and community stalls offering a range of activities, the harbour was buzzing from start to finish. We loved seeing thousands of people - from locals to visitors - with such huge smiles and enjoying the sunshine.

“We hope the town itself has also benefited, supported by the classic car rally that took place on James Street and the TEG makers’ market on King Street.

“A huge thank you to everyone who partnered with us for this year’s event. Roll on 2025!”

To support planning for Harbour Fest 2025, Rosehill are encouraging people who attended the event to complete a survey via their website by Sunday 15 September.

Jen Garrick, Executive Director & Joint CEO, Rosehill, said:

“Audience feedback is so important to us. We want to know what people think worked, what didn’t, and what they would like to see more of next year to help us ensure the festival programme is developed with, and for, local people. Feedback is also invaluable in helping us to communicate the impact of events like Harbour Fest with funders and sponsors. Their continued support allows us to keep the festival free to all. We would love to have any further feedback from the day so please let us know via our feedback form.”

https://www.illuminate-data.org.uk/survey/qhkmsw