The festival started in 1985 and draws reference from voracious and longstanding traditions of the area including the Blessing of the Waters and the Landing of the Oysters. Most notably the festival is based on the service of thanksgiving held by local fisherman that took place around the feast day of St. James Compostella, a tradition dating back to Norman times.
The Festival has grown from a community celebration to a massive event, which sees 80,000 people from all across the UK and the world descend upon the seaside town for 10 days of quality food and live performances. The child friendly festival hosts two weekends of live music and stand-up comedy evenings, live music at the Beach, and a busking area at Deadman’s Corner, plus events ranging from a vivid street parade to the challenging (and undeniably entertaining) mud tug of war, outdoor cinema screenings, Harbour Food Fair and a fireworks finale.
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Whitstable Oyster Festival 2016festival details
