19 to 25 August

Seven days of family-friendly fun & frolics ashore & afloat at the (mermaid's) tail end of August. But behind the frivolities there's a serious message, we need to look after our marine environment and the stunning location along the Jurassic Coast that is our home & playground before it's too late.

For 2024, we've called in the big guns of the marine eco world. Seaweed. This unsung hero is a powerhouse able to capture carbon, clean our seas and provide solutions to single-use plastic, food shortages and more, but most people still think of it as that annoying stuff that squelches under your feet and wraps around your ankles when you go swimming in the sea... Our aim is simple. Introduce you to the superpowers of seaweed!

Featuring daily beach cleans, mermaids, pirates, wombles, quizzes, workshops, eco-coasteer, build-a-litter picker, mermaid spa, boatcare eco centre and, of course, the infamous Pirates vs Mermaids floating panto before melding into the boatfolk Big Weekend with live music, wacky races, Portland Paddle Parade and opportunities to get afloat with #boatgen.

 Phew. there's a lot to fit in!