Visitors and locals alike have taken part in a series of events and activities to celebrate Aberdeen’s maritime heritage and future.
Festival of the Sea was a two-week celebration that took place from 15-28 July that explored Aberdeen’s relationship with the sea and coastline through a wide range of events across the city.
Councillor Martin Greig, culture spokesperson for Aberdeen City Council, said: “Aberdeen’s first Festival of the Sea has been a fantastic addition to our summer events programme, with something being available to suit all tastes and ages.”
The Festival included Stories of the Sea, a free family fun weekend in Union Terrace Gardens, where attendees enjoyed a life size inflatable whale with a storytelling centre inside and a one-man desert island comedy performance featuring a giant lobster.
A host of events took place across the city, including in Fittie and Torry, coordinated by creative producers Open Road, celebrating both communities’ close connections to the sea, with events that included film screenings, arts and crafts and coastline discovery tours.
Lesley Anne Rose, Creative Director of Open Road said: “The community programme of the Festival of the Sea 2024 delivered over 40 events across the harbourside communities of Fittie and Torry including many free family activities. We welcomed hundreds into the heart of these communities to celebrate and showcase Aberdeen’s rich maritime history, its present-day relationship with the sea and the passion and creativity of local artists.”
Aberdeen Art Gallery and Museums had a range of sea-themed activities take place throughout the two-week festival that included children’s activities and lunchtime talks, alongside the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition, which will continue to run until October.
Three Tall Ships also docked in Aberdeen’s Harbour during the two-week Festival to mark one year until the Tall Ships race arrives.
The Reaper, visiting from the Scottish Fisheries Museum in Anstruther, was available to board, whilst the TS Royalist, the Sea Cadet’s’ flagship, could be viewed from the quayside.
Joan Paton, Chairwoman of the Scottish Fisheries Museum Boats Club, said: “We all had a terrific time in Aberdeen and were quite overwhelmed by the support from the numerous organisers and all those who visited throughout our 3 day stay!”
In preparation for the Tall Ships Race in 2025, the tall ship Swan also docked in Aberdeen, with her crew taking potential trainees aged 15-25 on taster day sail training sessions.
The Tall Ship Races will drop anchor in Aberdeen from 19-22 July 2025. For more information, visit the Tall Ships Aberdeen website.