Charlestown Harbour will welcome visiting vessels, live music and a packed programme of activities over the August Bank Holiday weekend as it launches the first ever Skipper Festival on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th August. Best of all entry is completely free.

The new two-day festival, supported by Skipper Rum will celebrate summer on the Cornish coast, bringing together boats, music, food and drink, traditional skills, watersports and family activities in and around Charlestown’s historic harbour. 

Visiting vessels are being invited to sail into Charlestown and stay for the weekend, taking advantage of the late-August spring tides and the harbour’s newly installed lock gate. Organisers hope to fill the harbour with a colourful mix of boats and crews, with classic and traditional vessels particularly welcome. 

On shore, there will be live music from midday until 8pm on both days, with six acts performing across the weekend: The Wave Machine, Light in the Dark and The Claze on Saturday, followed by Scenic Route, End of the Line Blues and Tregony Teachers on Sunday. 

Festival-goers will also be invited to help paint a large sail as a collaborative mural for the harbour, while the Cornish Blacksmiths Collective will fire up their pop-up forge for live demonstrations each afternoon. 

Charlestown Watersports will be running activities including paddleboarding and water polo, and stalls and activities around the harbour will include the RNLI, NCI Charlestown, Classic Sailing and Cornwall Wildlife Trust. 

Younger visitors can follow the Little Skippers Trail around the harbour in search of hidden treasure, while the harbour’s independent traders will be open throughout the weekend with food and drink. Smugglers on the Knuckle will become home to the Skipper Rum Bar, serving cocktails alongside the live music. 

Alex Bakhurst, the new General Manager at Charlestown Harbour, said:

“The idea behind The Skipper Festival is to fill the harbour with boats and people and make the most of a late-summer weekend by the sea. 

“Charlestown is at its best when it’s a working, living harbour, so we’re looking forward to welcoming visiting crews alongside local families and visitors for a relaxed weekend of music, activities and good company. 

“We’d particularly love to hear from any boat owners who might still like to join us for the weekend.” 

The festival comes during an important year for Charlestown Harbour following major investment in its lock gate, enabling the historic inner harbour to once again retain water and welcome visiting vessels. 

Boat owners interested in taking part can register their interest by emailing info@charlestownharbour.com 

For the latest programme and festival information, visit our Event page.