Organisers are hoping this year’s Whitstable Harbour Day will float your boat in what is promised to be “one of the best maritime festivals in recent years”.

Crowds of 10,000 are expected to flock to the event this Saturday - followed by the Carnival celebrations in the evening.

Harbour Day, managed by the harbour community and Whitstable Maritime, celebrates the town’s connections to the sea.

A packed programme of activities and events will run from 10.30am until 5pm, with over 50 stalls and six hours of live entertainment.

Boat building will return this year where people can construct a coracle - a small, rounded boat.

Craft on display will range from a Bronze Age replica boat to a modern racing dinghy.

Vessels to moor at the harbour include a 250ft coaster trading vessel, the Margate All Weather Lifeboat, several Thames barges, a Thames ambulance and - of special interest - a 1949 lifeboat which saved over 140 lives.

Local groups will be encouraging visitors to help protect people and wildlife from pollution.

Harbour Day organiser Gordon Vincent said: “Harbour Day 2019 promises to be one of the best maritime festivals in recent years.

“There is something for every member of the family to enjoy - and all for free.

“This is a real community event celebrating Whitstable’s connections with the sea.”

The 122nd Whitstable Carnival procession will kick-off at 5.30pm from Pier Avenue - passing through Tankerton Circus, Tower Parade, The Duke of Cumberland and finishing at the East Kent at 6.30pm.

Entries for the Carnival should assemble in Pier Avenue and Northwood Road from 2pm onwards and last entries are accepted on the day until 4.30pm.

Organisers say it is not too late to volunteer and should assemble by the Carnival Office at 3.15pm at the corner of Pier Avenue and Northwood Road.

The star feature of this year’s Carnival is a model of the historic locomotive Invicta - which arrived in the town 189 years ago.

There will be a Children’s Activity Trail by local businesses full of free events - including mask making, face painting and a design your own umbrella competition.

The future of the 121-year-old Whitstable Carnival had been in doubt since October last year when its entire committee announced plans to retire, and made an appeal for new organisers.

But writer Chris Stone announced he would take it on and formed a new committee.

He said: “It has been hard work. It almost looked like it might collapse when the old committee retired. But we have brought our enthusiasm into it.”

Visitors this year are being told to put donations in buckets and not throw them at the parade.

Read more: All the latest news from Whitstable

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