Whitby Fish and Ships Festival 2025

Taking place on Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th May, the Whitby Fish and Ships Festival is back for 2025 promising a lively celebration of Whitby’s rich fishing heritage. 

Come along for cooking and fish craft demonstrations by local chefs, toe-tapping live music from local bands and sea balladeers plus family activities galore.

New for this year will be the Fisherman's Olympics – this will see local fisherman will compete against each other in their normal everyday tasks to see which fisherman is superior. It will end with a fantastic game of tug-o-war.

Head down to the Fish Craft Marquee and check out the giant fish display, showcasing species of fish that are caught off our coast. Find out what these fish and shellfish look like before they are processed, and chat to experts from the industry who will answer any of your fishy questions.  

Throughout the day, skilled filleters from Lockers Fish, Sandgate Seafoods and others showcase their skills of filleting and preparation skills, with chef competitions thrown into the mix.

L&W Shellfish will show you how to prepare and pick crab and lobsters, while Paul Gildroy, Head Chef of The Magpie Café, will be showing you just how easy it is to cook different species of fish and shellfish, with tasty samples available to try.

Made in Whitby and Whitby Brewery are giving a stage to incredible local musicians in the Music Marquee, with performances until 11pm on Saturday so you can dance the night away. Bop along to the likes of the Jake Leg Jug Band, the Jack Tars and Tug O War before the Skandals take to the stage. Sunday’s line up includes the Men of Staithes,  Old Time Sailors and Blanty with a couple of slots still to be announced.

In the craft marquee drop-in craft sessions will see kids unleash their inner artist with a little help from Whitby’s library, museums and art gallery. With displays about what is going on in these local attractions, and fun creative activities exploring sailing vessels real and imaginary, you won’t want to miss it.   

A story telling corner will be set up with a programme of maritime themed story sessions across the weekend courtesy of Whitby Library.  

The Captain Cook Memorial Museum will be bringing their knowledge of all things nautical, along with pens and paper to help kids design and create their own 2-dimensional sailing vessels. Colour and create our specially designed origami  “fortune teller”.  Once completed you can use this device to guide you to our fantastic local attractions. You can also learn where the saying ‘a square meal’ came from, what sailors used to eat on their voyages and discover the link between sailors and astronauts!

Pannett Art Galley team will be on hand to inspire young creatives with their designs – will your boat be carrying a pirate on the high seas, a fisherman, or an adventurer like Captain Cook?

Whitby Museum will be bringing their beach finds sand trays – will you uncover fossils? sea glass? How well do you know your beach finds?  

As well as these activities Animated Objects Theatre Company will be returning with their always popular street entertainment - give them a wave, stop for a selfie and prepare for some hearty banter and tall tales.

Fisher Lassie Bidi Iredale will be entertaining festivalgoers with fishing songs from long ago and tales about the fisher lassies that used to work along the east coast.  Whitby Krampus will also be around over the weekend entertaining the crowds.

If you fancy a closer look at the iconic Abbey, residents in YO21 and YO22 postcodes can visit for free over the weekend – simply bring along proof of address to get free entry for the day.

Pre booked ticketholders ( via Whitby RNLI Facebook page ) will be able to tour the new Shannon class all-weather lifeboat, D class inshore lifeboat, and kit room over the Fish and Ships Festival weekend. The lifeboat station will be closed to the general public for the weekend, but the RNLI shop and museum on Pier Road will be open both days and are well worth a visit.

Whitby Lobster Hatchery will be hosting a bucket load of activities, find them next to the Fish Craft Marquee for hands-on activities to keep kids big and small entertained.

Browse the stalls and pick up some artisan spirits, tempting sweet treats and locally made goods, and browse various local exhibitor stands.

If that wasn't enough, there'll be swingboats, face painting and trampolines to add to the fun!

Whitby Fish and Ships Festival
Marina Front Car Park Whitby
Sat 17 May 10am – 4pm (Music Marquee open till 11pm) 
Sun 18 May 10am – 4pm   

https://visitnorthyorkshire.com/events/whitby-fish-ships-festival