Festival of the Sea

Join Us for the Festival of the Sea in Oban!

This summer, Oban is set to welcome the final leg of the Clipper 2023-2024 Round the World Yacht Race with a spectacular 10-day Festival of the Sea programme. From July the 12th, the town will be alive with activities celebrating our maritime heritage, culture, and local produce. Here’s why you won’t want to miss it!

Festival Highlights:

  • Food and Drink Village: Savor the finest local produce from 20 outstanding food businesses. From fresh seafood to artisanal treats, there’s something to delight every palate.
  • Marine Conservation Demonstrations: Learn about the importance of ocean health with interactive demonstrations.
  • Sports Club Taster Sessions: Try your hand at various water-based sports and activities.
  • Gaelic Workshops and Storytelling: Immerse yourself in the rich Gaelic traditions through workshops and captivating stories.
  • Maritime Art and Craft Exhibition: Explore beautiful artworks and crafts inspired by our maritime environment.
  • The Big Tune Concert: Enjoy a fantastic musical celebration at Oban’s Corran Halls.

Cultural Celebrations: The festival will shine a spotlight on our region’s maritime history, Gaelic traditions, music, songs, and literature. Ocean health workshops will educate and engage visitors with activities highlighting our natural environment.

Food and Drink Showcase: Five days dedicated to showcasing the artisanal quality of local food and drink will be an integral part of the Oban visitor experience.

Promoting Adventure Tourism: The event aims to promote Oban and the surrounding area as a premier adventure sports destination in Scotland.

Clipper Race Stopover: The race makes its stopover in Oban starting on July 12. This will be the first time the fleet of 11 70-foot ocean racing yachts will berth in Scotland after a 40,000 nautical mile journey around the globe. The homecoming leg from Washington DC to Oban is set to draw international attention, attracting visitors from far and wide and providing a significant boost to the local economy.

Food From Argyll Members will be in the Food Village over the 10 days!

We’ll have 20 stalls a day offering food and drink to takeaway or take home along with some craft stalls too, including.

  • Highland Fold
  • Colonsay Gin
  • Deer Island Spiced Rum
  • Slainte Sauces
  • Argyll and Bute Cheese
  • Sorcha Bakery
  • Food From Argyll Cafe
  • Northern Light Cakery
  • Fyne Ales
  • Annies Herb Kitchen
  • Isle of Mull Coffee
  • Skipness Smokery
  • Tobermory Fish