Dorset Seafood Festival, 4-5 July 2026

 Starts in two days and free to attend:

­ Two days to go. See you on the waterfront.   Dear Seafood Festival Friends,   The Dorset Seafood Festival is nearly here, and we couldn't be more excited to welcome you back to Weymouth waterfront. This year is a special one. After years away, the festival returns to where it all began, free to attend and better than ever. Over 70 stallholders, live chef demos, two days of music, the finest fresh seafood and some very good drinks. Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th July. We cannot wait to see you there.   GETTING HERE ­ South Western Railway ­ South Western Railway runs regular services into Weymouth from across the South West. Leave the car at home and arrive stress-free. ­ See ­ Park and Ride ­ Driving? Use the park and ride. It keeps traffic moving and means you can enjoy the weekend without worrying about parking. ­ You ­ On foot ­ Already in Weymouth? Lucky you! The festival is right on the waterfront, so just follow the crowds and the smell of fresh seafood. Cheers! ­ There ­ ON THE DAY ­ It's looking like a beautiful weekend. We'd recommend bringing sunscreen and keeping water handy throughout the day, especially if you're planning to make a full day of it. With temperatures expected to reach 24 to 25 degrees, it's worth leaving your dog at home during the hottest part of the day. If you do want to bring them along, Saturday runs until 7pm, so a later visit when it's cooler is much kinder on four-legged friends. ­ The Fishermen's Mission SUPPORT A GREAT CAUSE ­ The Fishermen's Mission is the official charity of the Dorset Seafood Festival, and over the years the festival has raised over £100,000 for the organisation. This weekend, every penny raised goes directly to supporting active and retired fishermen and their families. There are plenty of ways to get involved. Visit the Fishermen's Mission stand, bid on something at Duncan Lucas' daily fish auction, or keep an eye out for Albert, their much-loved mascot, who'll be roaming the festival all weekend collecting donations. It all adds up. ­ The Fish Mish FUN FOR LITTLE FISH Weymouth has been a seaside family favourite for generations, and the festival is no different. There's plenty to keep younger visitors busy alongside all the food, music and harbour atmosphere. Diamond Faces (Face Painting) (Stand 1) Dorset's number one face painting artists, with residencies at many of the region's top family attractions and holiday parks. Whether you fancy a lobster, a crab or something altogether more creative, the Diamond Faces team are on hand throughout the weekend to add a splash of colour. Friends At Broadmayne School (FABS) (Stand 76) FABS brings a hands on, ocean themed kids craft stall to the festival - paint scallop shells, make fish ornaments and more. Activities are available to purchase, with all proceeds supporting Broadmayne First School. Come and get creative with us! Crabbing on the Harbour Crabbing is one of the great British seaside traditions, and Weymouth Harbour is a brilliant spot for it. It's not part of the official festival programme, but if you're making a day of it, grab a line and give it a go. Look out for the crabbing recycling bins along the harbour, which are there to remind everyone of the Crabbing Code: Use a bait bag, not a hook Maximum 3 crabs per bucket, and return any crabs that are fighting Replace the sea water every 10 minutes and keep your bucket in the shade Return crabs to the sea gently Take all kit and litter with you when you're done, or use the recycling bins The festival runs across five named zones: Shoreline along the esplanade, The Deck around the Pavilion, The Galley for the chef demonstrations, The Landing for Coastal Vibes harbour cruises, and Harbour Quarter stretching toward town. All connected, all on the waterfront. With thanks to Dorset Council, Hall & Woodhouse, Louis Pommery England, Weird Fish, South Western Rail, Coastal Vibes, Rockfish, Precision Engineering CNC, Dorset Food & Drink. Dorset Seafood Festival 4th and 5th July 2026 Weymouth Harbour and Esplanade Free to attend Dorset Seafood Festivals LTD

 Today is the final deadline:

Deadline: July 1, 2026 North Street Book Prize Final Judge: Jendi Reiter We're into the last 3 days to enter your self-published or hybrid-published book into this year's contest from Winning Writers. The grand prize winner will receive $10,000 in cash. Choose from nine categories: Mainstream/Literary Fiction Genre Fiction Creative Nonfiction & Memoir Inspirational/Self-Help (new!) Poetry Children’s Picture Book Middle Grade Graphic Novel & Memoir Art Book $23,500 will be awarded in all, and the top ten winners will receive additional benefits to help market their books. Books published on all self-publishing and hybrid-publishing platforms are eligible. Any year of publication is eligible. Entry fee: $95 per book, with free gifts for everyone who enters. All entrants who submit online via Submittable can choose to receive a brief commentary from one of the judges (5-10 sentences) at no extra charge. Winning Writers is a partner member of the Alliance of Independent Authors, and this contest is recommended by Reedsy. Click to learn more about our contest. SUBMIT HERE   Let Us Help We try to make the entry process as simple as we can, but questions happen. You might not be sure if your book is eligible. You might be unfamiliar with Submittable. Maybe a password you need has 'fallen into the void'. We want to help. Winning Writers has spent several years developing superior customer service under managing editor Annie Mydla. Our goal is to give you fast, efficient responses within two business days. When a refund is called for, it's issued within days, not weeks. So email your questions to info@winningwriters.com. You can also call us. As long as you reach out by our July 1 contest deadline, we'll include your entry in this year's contest, even if it takes a few extra days to complete.  SUBMIT HERE Prefer to enter by mail? You may mail your entry and $95 fee to Winning Writers, Attn: North Street Book Prize, 351 Pleasant Street Suite B PMB 222, Northampton, MA 01060-3998, USA. Please postmark your entry by July 1. Please note that feedback will only be provided for entries submitted online, and not those entries submitted by mail. If you would like us to return your book at the conclusion of the contest, please request this at the time of your entry and enclose an extra $10 for postage and handling.

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