Oban's First Festival of the Sea
Oban's first Festival of the Sea successfully celebrated the beauty, diversity, power and productivity of the sea that surrounds Oban and Lorn. The Festival aimed to amaze and inspire visitors and locals alike whilst raising awareness of how we might care for our fantastic marine environment.The numbers are still to be crunched, but the feeling is that the festival organisers can given themselve a pat on the back for a job well done.
The festival highlighted the importance of the sea to our local economy - it explored how the sea has influenced our history and heritage, and how it is still inspiring artistic works today. Organised by world-renowned science centre - The Scottish Association of Marine Science - not surprisingly some of the events related to how ocean currents affect our climate and the vegetation on land.
The community were involved right from the inception with local primary school children studying the sea. They then produced colourful friezes, three-dimensional models and fantastic costumes of sea creatures, and invented dances, poems and presentations on marine themes. Their displays and performances opened the event on the 21st May.
Details of all the events that took place are on the SAMS website www.marinesciencefestival.com where you can also download the full festival programme. As soon as we have details of 2011 we will let you know.
The Oban Passport (seafood promotion) was also launched during the festival with an 'oyster and whisky' reception at Calmac's ferry terminal in Oban on Friday 21st May. The Oban Passport highlights selected restaurants in and around Oban who focus on serving fresh, local seafood and shellfish. Many are award winners, some have prestigious AA Red Rosettes, others can offer free moorings, accommodation, children's menus and stunning coastal views. When you eat out in any of these restaurants (or visit Oban Distillery, Inverawe Country Park and Fisheries or the Sealife Centre) you can get your passport stamped and stamps mean prizes! The more stamps the better the prize on offer in the Hogmanay Prize draw with a top prize of a week's family holiday in Oban and Lorn with complimentary meals out and tickets to attractions and free trips with activity providers.
Since its launch on the 21st May hundreds of visitors have registered their passports online at the dedicated passport website www.obanpassport.org.uk