Brightlingsea is set to be a busy place over the bank holiday weekend with several events running from Friday to Monday.
First off is the Brightlingsea Food and Drink Festival, featuring 63 vendors who’ll be selling produce both local and international – from craft spirits to artisan cheeses, Korean street food to wood-fired pizzas. Alongside the stalls will be local charities and a stage showcasing a over 30 local musicians and bands.
The event opens on Friday evening, August 23, with a free “Appetiser Night” from 6.30pm featuring local bands The Lost Gooseberries, Vic & The Vapour Rubs and Eeem. There’ll be a bar and some street food vendors on hand. Saturday and Sunday – August 24 & 25 – see the full festival, running 11am on both days, closing at 7pm on Saturday and 5pm on Sunday. Admission is £4, children free.
The Brightlingsea Town Show will take over the community centre and grounds on Monday, August 26 – the 110th edition of the show which includes a range of floral, vegetable, fruit and other exhibits. New this year is a “People’s Choice” photography competition, to be judged by visitors on the day, and there’ll also be a variety of stalls and games. The show opens at 10.30am, with the exhibition hall opening from 12.30pm – admission £1 – and closes at 4pm.
Running alongside the Town Show is the Companion Dog Show, which includes a range of classes for dogs of all kinds. Judging starts at 12.30pm.
Monday also offers the opportunity to explore the Lozenge wildlife area next to the community centre. The “Take a Walk on the Wildside” event is organised by the British Naturalists’ Association and the Cinque Port Liberty of Brightlingsea and will have experts on hand – including local naturalist Roger Tabor – to give information. Spotter sheets will be available for young visitors to help them discover the flora and fauna in the site. Admisson is free and the event runs from 11am to 4pm.
