Seafood and Sounds Festival: 12th - 13th September 2027

Seafood & Sounds Festival 2027 | Dorset Events 2027 | Dorset Lifestyle

Poole's waterfront will come alive with seafood, music and community spirit on 11–12 September 2027, as the popular Seafood & Sounds Festival returns for another weekend celebrating the town's maritime heritage.

Set around Poole Quay, Old Town and the surrounding High Street, the free festival brings together local musicians, independent businesses, seafood traders and families for a celebration of everything that makes Poole special.

Rather than taking place in one enclosed festival site, Seafood & Sounds encourages visitors to explore the town, moving between historic streets, waterfront restaurants, independent shops and outdoor performance spaces.

From the sound of local bands and sea shanties to the smell of freshly prepared seafood, the event offers an opportunity to enjoy Poole's harbour atmosphere while discovering its food, music and creative communities.

The festival was established by five local business owners, who wanted to encourage more people to visit Poole Old Town, support independent traders and celebrate the area's coastal identity.

Since then, Seafood & Sounds has grown into a popular community event, bringing together residents, visitors, performers and businesses.

The organisers have already confirmed the festival's return in September 2027, although the full music line-up, activity schedule and participating locations are still to be announced.

Seafood Stalls on Poole Quay

The waterfront has traditionally been one of the main places to enjoy the festival's food offering.

With views across Poole Harbour, visitors can browse seafood stalls, sample freshly prepared dishes and enjoy the atmosphere of the Quay.

Local Restaurants and Food Demonstrations

Previous festivals have also featured special menus, food demonstrations and culinary activities, giving visitors opportunities to learn more about local ingredients and food preparation.

Live Music Across Poole

Live music is the other major attraction at Seafood & Sounds, with previous festivals featuring an extensive programme of musicians, bands and choirs across Poole.

Rather than concentrating all the entertainment on one main stage, performances take place at different locations throughout the town.

This creates a lively atmosphere, allowing visitors to discover new performers while exploring independent shops, pubs, restaurants and historic streets.

Local Bands, Choirs and Acoustic Music

Previous programmes have included:

• Acoustic singers and musicians

• Local rock, pop and folk bands

• Community choirs

• Sea-shanty performers

• Jazz and blues artists

• Traditional and contemporary music

• Evening entertainment at participating pubs and restaurants

In 2026, performances took place at locations including Custom House, Poole Arms, St James' Church, the Fish Shambles, Falkland Square and the Sea Music Sculpture.

These examples give an idea of the festival's varied musical atmosphere.

The official 2027 artist line-up and performance times have not yet been announced.

Check the latest Seafood & Sounds music programme

Artisan Markets and Independent Shopping

Seafood & Sounds is also an opportunity to discover Poole's independent businesses and creative community, with artisan markets forming an important part of previous festivals.

Rather than gathering every stall in one place, the festival has previously featured markets spread throughout the town.

Visitors can browse handmade gifts, jewellery, artwork, crafts and products created by local makers.

The market also encourages visitors to explore Poole's historic shopping streets, discover independent businesses and support local traders.

In 2026, the festival expanded its activities further along the High Street towards Falkland Square and the Dolphin Centre.

Details of the 2027 artisan market, participating traders and stall locations will be published by the organisers.

Family Activities and Entertainment

Seafood & Sounds has traditionally offered a wide range of free activities for children and families, making it an enjoyable weekend for visitors of different ages.

Previous programmes have included:

• Colourful opening parades

• Character meet-and-greets

• Children's arts and crafts

• Face painting

• Circus workshops

• Music workshops

• Interactive town trails

• Roaming entertainers

• Family-friendly performances

With activities spread across the town centre, families can combine entertainment with time exploring Poole Quay, Old Town and the waterfront.

The Seafood & Sounds Opening Parade

One of the festival's most colourful traditions is its opening parade, bringing music, costumes and community groups together to celebrate the start of the weekend.

Previous parades have travelled through Poole Old Town before arriving at the Quay, featuring local performers, entertainers and families.

The event has included seafood-inspired costumes, colourful characters and opportunities for children to join in the celebrations.

The parade provides a lively introduction to the festival and helps bring the town's community spirit to life.

Visitors should check the official programme for announcements.

Explore Poole with the Oyster Trail

The Oyster Trail has been a popular family activity at previous Seafood & Sounds Festivals, encouraging visitors to explore the historic streets of Poole Old Town.

Families can follow a route between participating locations, searching for clues and discovering more about the area along the way.

Previous trails have been free to enjoy, with activity sheets available from festival information points and participating businesses.

The trail offers a lovely way to combine sightseeing with a family-friendly challenge.

Celebrating Poole's Maritime Heritage

Seafood & Sounds is more than a food and music festival, with Poole's maritime heritage providing inspiration for the event.

The town has a long history of fishing, shipbuilding and harbour trade, with the Quay and Old Town reflecting centuries of coastal life.

The festival brings this heritage into a modern celebration, combining seafood, music, history and independent businesses.

Previous programmes have featured historical storytelling, traditional music and sea shanties, creating opportunities for visitors to discover more about Poole's past.

The combination of historic surroundings and community entertainment is part of what makes Seafood & Sounds different from a conventional music festival.

Planning Your Visit to Seafood & Sounds Festival 2027

Getting to Poole

Seafood & Sounds takes place in central Poole, with the Quay, Old Town and High Street all within walking distance of one another.

Poole railway station is approximately a 15-20-minute walk from the waterfront, making train travel a convenient option for many visitors.

Local buses also serve Poole town centre, with connections from Bournemouth, Christchurch and surrounding areas.

Parking

Several public car parks are available around Poole town centre.

Options include:

• Quay Visitors Multi-Storey Car Park

• Quayside Car Park

• Other public car parks around the High Street and Dolphin Centre

Parking restrictions, charges and availability vary, particularly during major events.

Visitors should check current information before travelling.

Accessibility and Facilities

Previous festivals have provided information about accessible toilets, baby-changing facilities and public amenities around the town centre.

As the event takes place across several locations, accessibility may differ between individual venues and historic streets.

Visitors with specific accessibility requirements should check the organiser's latest information and event map before attending.

View the festival's visitor information

Seafood & Sounds Festival 2027 - Latest Updates

Seafood & Sounds Festival is officially confirmed for Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 September 2027.

The free festival will once again celebrate Poole's maritime heritage, local seafood, live music and community spirit.

Visitors can look forward to another opportunity to explore the historic Old Town, enjoy the waterfront atmosphere and support local independent businesses.

The full programme, including musicians, food traders, family activities, parade arrangements and performance times, will be announced closer to the event.

For the latest information, visit the official festival website.

Official website: Seafood & Sounds Festival

Music programme: View line-up announcements

Visitor information: Parking and facilities

Facebook: Seafood & Sounds Festival

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