Puffin Festival returns after two years
Amble Puffin Festival is returning after a two year hibernation. The quirky festival in the Friendliest Port is poised to welcome visitors and locals for fun, activities and of course, the famous Coquet Island puffins.
Aerial dancing from Bare Toed Dancers will take place on Sun 5 June
The main festival takes place on Sat 4 and Sun 5 June, with many fringe events during the half term holiday.
Visitors to the festival will see the usual crafts, talks, walks, children’s amusements, stalls, workshops, and live music, but this year boasts the addition of worldwide performers including stilt walkers, aerial dancers and cheeky giant seagulls to entertain the crowds.
Anna Williams, of Amble Events Committee said “This year we’ve invited a host of amazing entertainers, to make up for the two years we’ve been out due to the pandemic, and to help promote Amble’s new bird sculpture trail, which is due to begin construction very soon.”
Neighbourhood Watch stilt walkers will perform on Sat 4 June
There’ll be music from the fabulous Meze Mundo band, Caribbean Crew Steel Band, and Auckland Shanty Singers, tribal dancing from Tribe Zuza and sword dancing from Amble Sword.
Craft activities, storytelling, and workshops are available throughout the festival and fringe festival – check the website to reserve your slot. And as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, Amble Town Council are providing a roller skating rink during the main festival.
Also this year there will be the opportunity to find out more about the upcoming bird sculpture trail, known as ‘the Bord Waalk’, a new walking trail featuring public sculptures inspired by the bird life found around the Amble coast.
The Giant Seagulls will be performing on Sunday 5 June
Organisers are also hoping to celebrate the arrival of a brand new resident on Coquet Island during the festival. And it will all be streamed live via the RSPB’s own puffin cams.
“We’ve been let in on a little secret,” said Anna. “According to the wardens on the island, a puffling is due to hatch during the festival itself!”
“We’re very fortunate that on Saturday [4 June] lunchtime, Paul Morrison from the RSPB will be on hand to chat to the public about the puffins, while we show the live feed in the Town Square. It would be amazing if the puffling made his or her debut right there at the festival.”
Will the puffling hatch while we watch?
To see all the events and activities during the main festival and the fringe festival, see Amble Puffin Festival’s website.
To see the live feed from Coquet Island, including puffins and roseate terns: (you’ll need to scroll down the page a little)
