Seafood and Sounds Festival: 12th - 13th September

Seafood & Sounds Festival 2026 | Dorset Events 2026 | Dorset Lifestyle

Dates: Saturday 12 - Sunday 13 September 2026

Location: Poole Quay, Poole Old Town, the High Street and participating venues across Poole

Admission: Free

Seafood & Sounds Festival returns to Poole for a town-wide weekend celebrating the area’s maritime heritage, independent businesses, local seafood and live music.

Created by five local business owners rather than an external events company, the festival was established to encourage visitors to explore Poole Old Town and the Quay, stay longer and support local hospitality and retail businesses. In 2026, the event expands further along the High Street, helping connect the town centre, Dolphin Centre, Old Town and waterfront through music, food and family activities.

Visitors can wander between seafood stalls, artisan markets and performance spaces, with music appearing outside pubs, restaurants, churches and landmarks across the town. Fresh seafood, paella, oysters and special festival dishes will be served around the Quay, while local artists, choirs and bands provide the soundtrack throughout the weekend.

Seafood & Sounds Festival is free to attend, with no general admission ticket required.

Food, drinks, crafts and other products can be purchased directly from participating traders and local businesses. Some evening concerts or separately organised experiences may require individual tickets.

• Free seafood and music festival across Poole
• Live performances at locations throughout the Quay, Old Town and High Street
• Fresh seafood, oysters, paella and festival dishes
• Artisan markets featuring local makers and independent traders
• Colourful opening parade at 11am on Saturday
• Free Oyster Trail through Poole Old Town
• Face painting, crafts and circus workshops
• Free children’s music workshops
• Choirs, acoustic musicians, bands and sea-shanty performers
• Evening entertainment at participating pubs and venues
• Accessible toilets and baby-changing facilities available at selected locations
• Visitors encouraged to travel by bus, train or bicycle where possible

The live programme includes performers such as Poole Me Hearties, The Quayside Choir, State of Undress, The Real Deal, Rock Choir and Captain Crusty & The Pickled Herrings, with music spread across numerous indoor and outdoor locations.

Friday 11th September

St TrOpez Club

• 7.30pm - Bashaviolin - Festival Opening Event

Saturday 12th September

Opening Parade

• 11am - Seafood & Sounds Opening Parade
• Starts outside Slug & Lettuce before travelling through Poole Old Town and finishing on the Quay
• Character meet and greet follows on the Quay, with Elsa, Moana, Rapunzel, Captain America, Wonder Woman and Spider-Man

Outside PI opposite Truly Scrumptious

• 12.15pm - David Mein
• 1.45pm - Poole Me Hearties
• 3.15pm - The Quayside Choir

Outside Custom House

• 11.45am - Gary Roberts
• 12.45pm - Emma Hardy
• 1.45pm - Soul Tides
• 2.45pm - Frayed Strings
• 3.45pm - The Real Deal
• 4.45pm - Ed Fox
• 7.30pm - Kaboodle

Sea Music Sculpture

• 11.30am - Helena Mace
• 1pm - Susie Kimber
• 2.30pm - David Mein

Outside Poole Arms

• 11.45am - Cobra Café
• 12.45pm - State of Undress
• 1.45pm - Emma Hardy
• 2.45pm - The Real Deal
• 3.45pm - Susie Kimber
• 4.30pm - John Springett

The Fish Shambles

• 11.30am - Resonate Choir
• 12.30pm - Helena Mace
• 1.30pm - Gary Roberts
• 2.30pm - State of Undress
• 3.30pm - Soul Tides

St James’ Church

• 11.30am - Kathryn Holt
• 12.30pm - Frayed Strings
• 1.30pm - Cobra Café
• 2.30pm - Vintage Sally
• 3.30pm - Choir Engine

Nusara Thai

• 12pm - Nicole McNally
• 1pm - Simon Lane
• 2pm - Chasing Leaves
• 3pm - Ed Fox

Outside The Brewhouse

• 12pm - BitterSweet Harmony
• 1pm - Purbeck Storm
• 2pm - Ed Fox
• 3pm - Simon Lane
• 4pm - Citrus Singers

Falkland Square

• 12pm - Sound of Soul
• 1pm - The Rev
• 3pm - Poole Me Hearties
• 4pm - Coosticks

Other Saturday Performances

Riptide

• 1pm - DJ Set

Hotel du Vin

• 1pm - Tinderbox
• 3.15pm - Sarah G
• 6pm - Simon Lane

Lighthouse Poole

• 7.45pm - Rave On - The Ultimate 50s & 60s Experience

The Kings Head

• 8pm - Live Music

Slug & Lettuce

• 8pm - DJ

The Harry Paye

• 8pm - Live Music

Bruno Lounge

• 8pm - Live Music

The Angel

• 8pm - Rock & Blues Company

Sunday 13th September

Outside PI opposite Truly Scrumptious

• 11am - The Rev
• 12.30pm - Route 66
• 2pm - State of Undress
• 3pm - Sarah G

Outside Custom House

• 11.15am - State of Undress
• 12.15pm - Archie Ray
• 1.15pm - David Mein
• 2.15pm - Rachel More
• 3.15pm - Phil Dewhurst
• 5.30pm - Gemma Leanne

Sea Music Sculpture

• 11.45am - Rachel More
• 1.15pm - Paul Walker
• 2.45pm - Nory-J

Outside Poole Arms

• 11.15am - Steve Faulkner
• 12.15pm - Carley Varley
• 1.15pm - Phil Dewhurst
• 2.15pm - Captain Crusty & The Pickled Herrings
• 3.15pm - Relight My Choir
• 4.30pm - Live Music

The Fish Shambles

• 11am - Poole Pluckers & Strummers
• 12pm - Paul Walker
• 1pm - Sara Harris
• 2pm - Steve Faulkner
• 3pm - Route 66

St James’ Church

• 1.30pm - Kathryn Holt
• 2.30pm - The SKA Contingent
• 3.30pm - Sing & Grin Choir / Balance Choir

Nusara Thai

• 12pm - Phil Dewhurst
• 1pm - Nory-J
• 2pm - Carley Varley
• 3pm - Gary Roberts

Outside The Brewhouse

• 11am - David Mein
• 12pm - Captain Crusty & The Pickled Herrings
• 1pm - Relight My Choir
• 2pm - Jayne Lewis
• 3pm - Sara Harris
• 4pm - The Rev

Falkland Square

• 11am - Relight My Choir
• 12pm - Lee Rasdall-Dove
• 1pm - Captain Crusty & The Pickled Herrings
• 2pm - Rock Choir
• 3pm - The Rev
• 4pm - Nory-J

Other Sunday Performances

Hotel du Vin

• 1pm - Alex Cook
• 3.15pm - Susie Kimber

Kaspa’s Desserts

• 2pm - Academy Singers

The Foundry Arms

• 3pm - Carly B

The Guildhall Tavern

• 4pm - Tom Clements

The Angel

• Kelly Mancini

St TrOpez Lounge

• 6pm - Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra - Private Event

Lighthouse Poole

• 7.30pm - James B Partridge - Primary School Bangers

The Kings Head

• 8pm - Live Music

Family Activities

Free family entertainment will also run throughout the weekend.

Saturday and Sunday

• 11am-4pm - Oyster Trail through Poole Old Town
• 11am-4pm - Free face painting on the High Street
• 11am-3pm - Free arts and crafts on the High Street
• 11am-3pm - Free circus workshops in Falkland Square
• Children’s carousel, trampolines and games on Poole Quay
• Football activities with Poole Town Football Club at Gather in The Dolphin Centre

Roaming children’s entertainment

• Saturday - 11.30am-4pm
• Sunday - 11am-4pm

Sunday Character Meet & Greet

• 12pm-1pm - Outside Truly Scrumptious
• Meet Ariel, Belle, Tiana, Captain America, Wonder Woman and Spider-Man

Free Music Workshops - Sunday

St James’ Church

• 1pm-2pm - Music Workshop
• 3pm-4pm - Music Workshop

Hosted by The Absolute Music Trust, the free sessions are open to all ages and abilities, with no booking required.

Scaplen’s Community Players

Historical performances will take place in the Upper Hall at Scaplen’s Court on both Saturday and Sunday.

• 1pm - Performance
• 3pm - Performance

Each session includes sea shanties, historical storytelling set in 17th-century Poole and a performance of Mayhem at the Inn.

Programme details are correct at the time of publication and may be subject to change.