Save the Date for this year’s iconic Ocean Festival in Scottburgh

Celebrate World Ocean Day (8 June) this year with clean-ups, water sports, live music, entertainment and so much more at Scottburgh’s Ocean Festival running from 6 to 9 June. Embracing this year’s World Ocean Day theme Catalyzing Action for Our Ocean & Climate, the event invites participants to celebrate the ocean while playing their part in saving this precious resource.

“We are very excited to be back with our second edition of the Ocean Festival and are looking forward to celebrating the day with a series of festivals around the world,” said Russel Symcox, Ocean Festival Founder. “Following on last year’s success, we will be bringing back all the popular elements of the festival and have some exciting new additions. We encourage everyone to save the date now!”

Deborah Ludick Manager, Acting CEO of the South Coast Tourism & Investment Enterprise (SCTIE), the official tourism and economic development arm of the KZN South Coast which is lending support to the event, said they were happy to welcome the Ocean Festival back to the region.

“Tourism is the heartbeat of the local economy and this hinges, in a large part, on our amazing natural assets and the conservation of these. We are delighted that the second annual Ocean Festival will be held on our shores, highlighting the region’s incredible beaches, world-class dive sites, and many outdoor adventures while simultaneously supporting ocean conservation. We encourage visitors to participate in what is set to be a memorable ocean-based event, and take advantage of the many incredible tourism offerings found along the KZN South Coast.”

The Ocean Festival celebrates World Ocean Day through:

1.  Engagement: Encouraging a human connection with the ocean through fun outdoor events and activities.

2.   Education: Talks about ocean health and raising awareness about its conservation.

3.  Economics: Supporting ocean economies and local business in coastal towns by boosting tourism through the Ocean Festival events.

Ocean Festival events

Attendees to this year’s Ocean Festival can look forward to several engaging outdoor events and activities suited to all ages. The festival will start with an Ocean Education session for schools presented by SAAMBR (South African Association for Marine Biological Research) on Thursday, 6 June. Other activities throughout the weekend will include:

✓     Beach clean-up at Scottburgh Main Beach

✓     School education workshop presented by SAAMBR

✓     Ocean conservation science and research presentations

✓     Aliwal Shoal scuba diving reef clean-up

✓     Mahlongwa River paddle and clean-up

✓     Exclusive film screening at Premier Hotel Cutty Sark

✓     Ocean Festival Surf Pro surfing contest at Scottburgh Main Beach

✓     Live music and entertainment evening

✓     Aliwal Shoal Surfski Challenge

✓     Ocean Carnival Lifesaving event with Scottburgh Lifesaving Club

✓     Made for More adaptive surf therapy session

✓     Sunrise Beach yoga & movement

✓     Ocean-inspired outdoor mural art

Please check @theoceanfestival on Instagram and Facebook, and www.oceanfestival.co.za website for the most updated Ocean Festival programme details. Contact Barry Lewin on Barry@sasurfski.africa for more on the Aliwal Shoal Surfski Challenge.