Fantastic free Midsummer fish festival in Hastings this weekend

On Saturday and Sunday the first ever Midsummer Fish Fest will be held at The Stade Open Space, Old Town, and will feature a selection of stalls selling local produce and seasonal fish. The free event hopes to build on the success of last year’s Herring Fair and is funded by the European Fisheries Fund through the Fisheries Local Action Group (FLAG), to promote the Hastings fishing fleet.

The two-day event will feature live music and performances to mark the start of the summer season of Stade Saturdays.

Councillor Peter Chowney said: “This new, two-day free fish festival, funded by Hastings Fisheries Local Action Group (FLAG) and built on the success of the Herring Festivals, is a great way to start this season’s Stade Saturdays programme. There will be demonstrations from local chefs and fishermen, wine tasting, net making, children’s activities, a photographic exhibition and a lantern procession followed by fireworks. There will also be a packed music schedule including Louis Aguilar and the Crocodile Tears, the first musical act of the Stade Saturdays programme.”

As well as enjoying the produce, wine and music visitors can also watch the fishermen showcase their net making and filleting skills in the main marquee and can also see the handiwork of those involved in the Follow the Herring project. The Hastings-based charity Craftimation Factory has been involved in knitting a life-sized fish and chip shop, complete with tiles and sea creatures and part of its work will be on display during the weekend. The Hastings Fishermen’s Protection Society stalls will also form part of the weekend’s fun and there will be a pre-festival event on Friday evening with ‘Hastings Catch Supper Club’ held at Webbe’s at the Jerwood Café. For full details of Stade Saturday events visit: www.hastings.gov.uk/stadesaturdays.