Head down to Southampton Docks during Sunday & Monday on bank holiday weekend for Southampton Maritime Festival, which promises a wealth of family-friendly events and displays to celebrate the city’s maritime heritage.
The festival takes place over the bank holiday weekend on Sunday 5 and Monday, May 6 at the Ocean Cruise Terminal. It celebrates the city’s “proud maritime heritage”, and promises a range of attractions that hark back to the 1940s.
As well as a selection of historic vessels, there will be numerous displays and demonstrations, including a Lancaster bomber fly over.
A highlight will be the arrival of the Steam Tug Challenge as she returns to Southampton, fresh from her recent Heritage Lottery Funded refit. Challenge, a veteran of the Second World War, will be accompanied by a flotilla of Dunkirk Little Ships.
Colourful maritime stories
His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent, patron of the Dunkirk Little Ships Restoration Trust, will attend, and heritage buses will provide a park and ride service to the docks from the city centre, while the SS Shieldhall will offer cruises up and down Southampton Water.
Amongst the displays will be Second World War re-enactors, vintage Rolls Royce cars, and the Historical Diving Society demonstrating ‘hard hat’ or ‘standard’ diving gear.
Organisers say visitors will be able to try their hand at controlling remotely operated vehicles, see the ‘pufferspheres’ from the National Oceanography Centre, and learn more about Southampton’s historic trams. They can explore the various exhibits and stalls of heritage organisations and traders or take a pit stop at one of many eateries while enjoying the live music and entertainment. The fleet of historic vessels will be moored alongside the terminal, waiting to tell their colourful stories.
Tickets
Under 18s: Free
Over 18s: £5 in advance (cash and cards), £6 on the gate (cash and card on the gate).
Opening Times
Sunday 5th May - 11am - 8pm.
Monday 6th May - 10am - 6pm