Sea Fest Event Info

FAQs

Sidmouth Sea Fest is held in the beautiful Connaught Gardens. Please note that some of our usual access routes have changed this year, so planning your journey in advance is a great help!

On Foot & Coastal Access

Important Notice: The Millennium Walkway and Jacob’s Ladder are currently closed for safety reasons by East Devon District Council.

  • You cannot access the gardens by climbing Jacob’s Ladder this year.

  • If you are coming from the town or seafront on foot, you will need to walk up via Peak Hill. Please take extra care and enjoy the view on your way up.

By Bus (Marine & Green Choice!)

Taking the bus is a fantastic way to support our “Marine & Green” ethos. The nearest stop is Sidmouth Triangle, which is a pleasant 15-minute walk to the gardens via the seafront.

  • From Exeter: Take the 9 or 9A.

  • From Seaton: Take the 9A.

  • From Ottery St Mary: Take the 44 or 44A.

  • From Exmouth: Take the 157 (via Budleigh Salterton).

By Bike

We encourage our local community to cycle! You will find Sheffield Bike Stands located at Manor Road Car Park where you can securely lock up your bike.  Sidmouth Cycling Campaign have produced two maps with cycle routes and bike stands in Sidmouth – keep scrolling down on this page to view.

By Car

If you are travelling by car, please try to car share or arrange to be dropped off, as the local car parks will be very busy.

  • Parking: Located at Manor Road Car Park (EX10 8RR), which is just a two-minute walk from the gardens.

  • Alternative Parking: Bedford Lawn Car Park (EX10 8NP) is also available further along the Esplanade.

  • Public Notice: Please do not park in the designated Sea Fest production spaces—these are strictly reserved for our crew, traders, and artists to ensure the festival runs smoothly.

Thank you for helping us keep Sidmouth moving and our festival “Marine and Green” by walking, cycling, or sharing a ride!

 

 

Whether you are joining us for our ticketed party or the free community day, here are the times to set your compass by:

Friday 15th May: Sea Fest Party Night

  • Time: 4:00 pm – 11:00 pm

  • Details: This is a ticketed event featuring live music, DJs, delicious local food, and our licensed bars.

  • Support the Festival: Every ticket sold for Friday night is a vital contribution that directly helps us fund and keep our Saturday community day free for everyone!

Saturday 16th May: Sea Fest Free Family Fun Day

  • Time: 10:00 am – 11:30 pm

  • Details: A full day of free coastal celebration for all ages, running from the morning through to the late evening.

A Note for our Guests

We are incredibly lucky to call the stunning Connaught Gardens our home. While the gardens are a grand public space, we do have some neighbours nearby, and we want to remain a welcome part of the local landscape.

Please be respectful of those living in the area by leaving the site quietly and quickly when we finish each night. Your cooperation helps us ensure Sea Fest can continue to flourish in this beautiful venue!

Connaught Gardens is a beautiful, historic setting for Sea Fest, and we want everyone to enjoy the festivities. While the gardens offer plenty of areas to discover, please keep the following in mind regarding accessibility:

  • Accessible Zones: The main festival hubs—including the Sea Fest Arena, The Boat Yard, and Creativity on the Coast—are fully accessible to everyone.

  • Navigating the Gardens: Due to the historic hard landscaping and tiers of the gardens (owned by EDDC), there are some raised areas with steps that are not fully accessible.

  • Seating & Mobility: We have a dedicated seated space at the Oasis Cafe in the Clocktower Gardens, specifically designed for those with mobility difficulties to rest and enjoy the atmosphere.

  • A Moment of Calm: If you need a break from the excitement, visit our Quiet Wellbeing Area hosted by the Wellbeing Health Action Team (WHAT)—the perfect spot for a chill-out and some headspace. Find them just at the entrance to the Gardens by the Boatyard.

Here to Help: Our Volunteer Stewards will be stationed throughout the site. Look for the friendly faces in the crew vests—they are there to welcome you, provide directions, and offer any support needed to make your visit comfortable.

Where can I park?

If you are driving to Sea Fest, there are two main public car parks just a short stroll from the action at Connaught Gardens.

  • Manor Road Car Park (EX10 8RR): This is the closest public car park and is where official Sea Fest parking is located. It is managed by East Devon District Council. Once you’ve parked, the festival entrance is just a two-minute walk across the road.

  • Bedford Lawn Car Park (EX10 8NP): This is a privately managed car park located just along the Esplanade—a great alternative with a lovely coastal walk to the gardens.

Marine & Green Travel

In the spirit of being Marine & Green, we encourage all our visitors to consider the environment when planning their journey. To help us reduce our collective carbon footprint and keep Sidmouth’s air clean, please consider:

  • Walking or Cycling: If you’re local, enjoy the fresh sea air on your way in!

  • Public Transport: Take the bus and skip the parking hunt entirely.

  • Lift Sharing: If you are driving, try to fill your seats with friends or family.

Important Parking Notes

  • Payment: Parking can be purchased on arrival at the machines or via the apps listed on-site. Please check the signage in each car park as they are run by different operators.

  • Crew Spaces: We kindly ask that you do not park in the designated Sea Fest production spaces. These are strictly reserved for our crew, traders, and artists to ensure the festival runs safely and smoothly.

Thank you for your cooperation in helping us keep the local traffic flowing and our coastline green!

The answer depends on which day you are joining us!

Sea Fest is a not-for-profit community celebration. We use a non-commercial “crowdfunded” model, where ticket sales from our party night directly fund our free community activities.

  • Friday 15th May (Party Night): YES, you need a ticket. This is our vital fundraising evening! We keep ticket prices low to remain accessible, but every sale is crucial to covering our production, site, and marketing costs. By buying your ticket early, you are helping ensure the festival can happen.

  • Saturday 16th May (Free Family Day): NO ticket needed. From 10:00 am to 11:30 pm, the gardens are open to everyone for free! Enjoy a full day of music, creativity, and coastal celebration without needing a booking.

Why your support matters

The economic climate for live music and independent festivals is challenging. When you buy a Friday ticket or visit our bars, you are directly supporting:

  • Grassroots Music: We provide a platform for local bands and a pathway for young talent to learn their craft through our Sea Spot/Rising Stars programme.

  • Free Creativity: Revenue helps us keep the Creativity on the Coast area free for young people to explore their artistic side.

  • Local Charities: We host a variety of local groups, helping them raise funds and awareness.

How you can help:

  1. Buy your Friday tickets early to help us plan with confidence.

  2. Support our bars (The Prawn Cocktail Bar and Sea Fest Can Bar).

  3. Enter the Sea Fest Raffle for a chance to win while giving back.

Thank you for being the wind in our sails and helping us keep this community tradition alive!  Book your ticket below…

Sea Fest’26 Party Tickets

The short answer: Only Service Dogs are permitted.

While we love our four-legged friends, Sidmouth Sea Fest is a dog-free event (with the exception of Guide and Assistance dogs). This policy applies to the entire festival site, including the Sea Fest Arena, the Bar and Stage areas, the Craft and Community Trail, Creativity on the Coast, and The Boat Yard.

Why the “No Paws” policy? In line with many festivals, we’ve made this decision for a few key reasons:

  • The Venue: Connaught Gardens is a beautiful but compact site.

  • Safety & Comfort: Because we are a multi-generational festival—with activities for everyone from the very young to the very old—the site can become quite crowded and noisy.

  • Marine & Green: It helps us keep the gardens clean and comfortable for all guests.

We truly appreciate your understanding in helping us keep the festival safe and accessible for all our human visitors!

We are happy to accept both! Having a mix of both is the best way to ensure your day at Sea Fest sails along smoothly.

  • Card Payments: Most of our food and drink traders, as well as the Sea Fest merchandise stall, are set up for card payments. Using your card really helps our independent vendors and the bar team keep queues moving quickly.

  • Cash is King for the Little Things: While cards are great, cash is a fantastic backup and is often preferred for the “small things that make a big difference.” Please consider bringing some cash for:

    • Donations to our wonderful local charities and community groups.

    • Fundraising activities hosted by local grassroots organizations.

    • The Sea Fest Raffle—your chance to win great prizes while supporting the event!

  • Sea Fest Tees: You can grab your official festival merch using either cash or card.

Top Tip: While we embrace technology, coastal signal can occasionally be a bit “misty,” so having some cash in your pocket ensures you won’t miss out on any of the fun!

The short answer is no, but for a very good reason!

To keep Sea Fest a safe, sustainable, and free-to-enter event, we do not permit alcohol to be brought into our festival site at Connaught Gardens. Here is why your support at our bars makes a world of difference:

  • Supporting the Festival: As a community event, we rely on the income from our two licensed bars—The Prawn Cocktail Bar and the Sea Fest Can Bar. Every drink purchased helps us cover the costs of production, site safety, and marketing.

  • Investing in the Future: Revenue from our bars directly funds our Creativity on the Coast area and our Sea Spot/Rising Stars programme, which provides a platform for grassroots music talent and young creatives.

  • Marine & Green Safety: Keeping outside alcohol off-site helps us manage glass-free zones. This ensures no broken glass ends up in our beautiful gardens or near the shore, keeping the venue clean and safe for everyone.

A Note on Responsible Drinking: We are a multi-generational family festival and want everyone to have a fantastic time. Please remember to drink responsibly. Our bar staff are required by law to check IDs for anyone who looks under 25 (Challenge 25 legislation) and reserve the right to refuse service to ensure the safety and enjoyment of all our guests.

Thank you for supporting the festival and helping us keep Sea Fest sailing!

Volunteer with Sea Fest
We welcome people to join our volunteer team to help with stewarding, runners, site set up and take down.

Donate A Raffle Prize
Perhaps sea themed, locally made or an experiential gift voucher – this helps us to raise funds to cover costs, donated prizes can be picked up in advance.

Help spread the word!
Tell your friends and family, share our posts, let us know if you can put up a poster for us.

Become a sponsor
Please see our Supporters page – and contact us to become a sponsor.

Please email to let us know how you would like to get involved.

Contact
Past Events Partners Book Friday Night Tickets