From Scarborough's Big Ideas by the Sea to Bridlington Lobster Festival - jam-packed programme for Yorkshire coast revealed

Looking to champion the local businesses that call Yorkshire’s coastline home, as well as promoting its wealth of history and culture, the programme features events the Big Ideas By The Sea, the Bridlington Bay Lobster Festival and a year-long programme of culture workshops: Scarborough Stories.

The Business Improvement District programme includes

Big Ideas by the Sea May 2021

Next year will see the new and unique Big Ideas By The Sea arrive in Scarborough, showcasing the town’s rich history as a port for the trading of goods, artefacts, languages and cultures in Britain for thousands of years.

Exploring this ‘migration of ideas’ the festival will be hosted in some of Scarborough’s most iconic buildings, drawing on the wealth of international and local writers, artists, scientists and historians who will be discussing the big Ideas in their respective fields. Scarborough has famously drawn a host of prolific thinkers and creators to its shores, from William Morris, to Anne Bronte, so you are sure to be within good company for this unique and inspiring cultural event!

Kane Cunningham, co-director said: "We’re delighted to have the support of Yorkshire Coast Business Improvement District to help make this festival a unique and inspiring event. Big Ideas by the Sea is all about creative and innovative thinking on a range of contemporary topics, issues and ideas.

The festival will be a dynamic cultural event that will create exciting participative opportunities for residents and visitors alike. In these uncertain cultural and economic times, this will be more important than ever for Scarborough and the North Yorkshire Coast."

Bridlington Bay Lobster Festival June 19 to 20 2021

Showcasing the region’s mouth-watering seafood Bridlington Bay Lobster Festival will celebrate the area as the largest lobster fishery in Europe, whose delicious catches are exported to Europe, the Far East and the United Arab Emirates! Unbeknownst to some, Bridlington is actually known as the Lobster Capital of Europe, the festival will be free for visitors to enter, and will offer everything from cookery demonstrations, musical entertainment and wildlife presentations from local maritime organisations such as the RNLI.

Spokesperson James Wood said: "Our plans for the Lobster Festival in 2020, celebrating Bridlington Bay as the largest lobster fishery in Europe were unfortunately impacted by Covid-19. However, with support from the Yorkshire Coast BID, we've been able to rearrange the Festival for next year to June 19th and 20th 2021 and will be putting our energies into creating a bigger and better festival showcasing the region's seafood."

Scarborough Stories throughout 2021 and 2022

Arcade, an arts producing company based in Scarborough, will present Scarborough Stories, a programme of inclusive creative workshops throughout 2021 and 2022, including; theatre, music and storytelling, led by world-class artists.

Scarborough Stories will culminate in a weekend of performances, featuring a community cast of local storytellers, taking place in unusual and unique spaces in the town centre. Scarborough Stories is free to take part and open to everyone who wants to share their stories, passions, and ideas.

The project is led by Arcade co-directors Sophie Drury-Bradey and Rach Drew who have produced events in the past for the BBC, Make it York, Transform festival, Battersea Arts Centre and Scarborough Museums Trust.

Rach Drew and Sophie Drury-Bradey said: " We think everyone is creative and that culture belongs to us all, and so we are excited to produce Scarborough Stories and we look forward to inviting everyone from the community to make it with us.

" Scarborough Stories is for anyone who has a story they want to tell or is angry or passionate about an issue or challenge in their life or community. The final performances will offer audiences a new way to experience the high street in the evening, using theatre and storytelling to bring some special spaces alive."

Puffin Festival 2021

The Yorkshire Wildlife Trust has announced it will be bringing back the two-day Puffin Festival to celebrate and raise awareness of Flamborough’s unique wildlife. Taking place at North Landing and the Living Seas Centre, the festival will see a varied programme of events such as guided walks, seashore safaris and wildlife-spotting boat trips, the perfect day out for any nature lover!

Steampunk Festival May 8 and 9, 2021

The Steampunk Filey festival will celebrate all things steampunk alongside diverse entertainment, music, stalls, and burlesque acts. Tea duelling – who can keep a dunked biscuit intact for the longest – is another highlight and in keeping with the movement’s courteous ethos. Events will be spread around the town including the opportunity to explore.

Speaking about the upcoming events Yorkshire Coast Business Improvement chairman Clive Rowe-Evan said about the upcoming event programme: “Our aim is to promote, protect and support The Yorkshire Coast over the next five years and the opportunity to support these fantastic events shows our commitment to doing so.

“With the lockdown restrictions easing and plans for the rest of 2020 and beyond at the forefront of people’s minds we want to focus our efforts on helping local businesses attract new visitors and increase the revenue coming into the local area.

“Supporting new and existing events in the region is crucial to helping us increasing visitors and overnight stays and show tourists exactly what the wonderful Yorkshire Coast has to offer. We’re excited to support all the communities across the Yorkshire Coast and boost the wider economy.”