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Heritage Harbour Festival 2024

The maritime-themed festival returns for a second year with tours, boat trips, films, workshops, music and more.

Leigh Curtis

Exeter Custom House is hosting a maritime-themed festival celebrating the city’s maritime history and Heritage Harbour status on Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 June at Exeter Quay.

Returning for a second year, the two-day event will take place at Exeter Custom House and Transit Shed, Haven Banks Outdoor Education Centre, Topsham Brewery, Piazza Terracina and across the quay and canal basin.

The festival begins on Saturday 8 June with activities celebrating the 200th anniversary of the RNLI. The day also includes Red Coat historic quayside tours, a trip on the River Exe with theatre company Burn the Curtain and a flotilla of vessels from the Steamboat Association of Great Britain.

There will be films with nautical themes including Finding Nemo and The African Queen, an exhibition of illustrations of the harbour and a chance to visit Cricklepit Mill.

Exeter Custom House Exeter Custom House

On Sunday 9 June the festival programme begins with the Lord Mayor’s arrival by steamboat to Piazza Terracina, where there will also be a maritime-themed market, a ride-on steam railway and live music.

The day includes tours of 100-year old sailing smack Britannia, a willow-making workshop and talks by the South West Maritime History Society.

Heritage Harbour Festival Saturday 8 Sunday 9 June 2024 Exeter Quay

Heritage Harbours is a joint initiative between the Maritime Heritage Trust, National Historic Ships, Historic England and local groups across the country.

It helps safeguard and preserve historic buildings, quays and shipyards in coastal and inland sites.

Friends of Exeter Ship Canal was instrumental in gaining Heritage Harbour status for Exeter’s canal, basin and quay. It is one of only twelve such designations.

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This year’s Heritage Harbour Festival takes place from 11am-10.30pm on Saturday 8 June and from 11am-4pm on Sunday 9 June 2024 at Exeter Quay.

All events are free to attend except the Red Coat historic quayside tours.

For more information visit the Exeter Custom House website.

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