Thousands of people ate, drank, danced and sang at the first Taste of the Sea festival in Maryport this weekend.
This was the first Taste Cumbria event that has been held in the town and organisers said the first day was an outstanding success.
From sea shanties from the Port Sunlight Sea Dogs on Shipping Brow, to a producers’ market in Senhouse Street and a hot food court on the harbourside, and a beer and rum shack courtesy of Maryport Round Table, there was lots going on.
The Vici Demo Truck, loaned by Maryport-based seafood specialist Vici UK & Ireland, hosted demonstrations of dishes that included easy sushi, microwaveable meringues and cocktails.
Traders in the producers’ market were reporting brisk trade with some selling out of their pies and cakes.
Many community organisations were also represented including Maryport Inshore Rescue, the Girl Guides and Cumbria Wildlife Trust who were promoting sustainable fish and seafood, complete with tasters of lobster, sea bass and langoustines, all caught locally.
A ferris wheel towered over the rides in the children’s fairground, with additional entertainment courtesy of Taste Cumbria favourites Rainbow Jelly Productions and street theatre – complete with a real live mermaid – from the Fairly Famous Family.
Elsewhere in town, The Settlement at Castle Hill, Maryport Maritime Museum and Senhouse Roman Museum got involved with art and photography exhibitions, and demonstrations of Roman cookery.
The Taste Cumbria events are organised by Allerdale Borough Council.
Its destination manager Graham Kennedy said: “What a brilliant first day! It was fantastic to see so many people out in the sunshine, shopping and eating and drinking in the local businesses, as well as on the festival stalls.
“We had visitors in the Vici Demo Truck audience who said they were from Yorkshire, Lancashire and Manchester, sitting alongside lots of locals. We want events like this to showcase just how special Maryport and Allerdale are so people will keep on coming back.”
Taste of the Sea continues tomorrow in Maryport.
Maryport’s Taste of the Sea event will be followed by the Taste Cumbria festival in Cockermouth on September 25 and 26 then the Taste Cumbria Christmas Festival on December 11 and 12.
This year’s events will be smaller than usual to ensure visitor numbers are manageable, but there will still be plenty of activities taking place – all of them planned carefully with the latest COVID guidance.
