Exmouth Festival is taking a new direction this year, with events spread across three sites.

The festival, running from Friday, July 28 until Monday 31, will see music and entertainment in Manor Gardens, the Strand and Sideshore.

Each of the three sites will have its own flavour. Manor Gardens will be a secure family-friendly area with music, theatre, circus workshops and shows, free art and science workshops, stalls and food and drink stands. Monday will be ‘vintage day’ with music from the 30s, 40s and 50s, dance displays and afternoon tea by Bumble & Bee.

The Strand will host community choirs, drama and dance groups on the Saturday, culminating in a ceilidh, while Sunday will revive the West Country Traditions day with sea shanties and Morris dancing.

Sideshore will be the spot for ‘skate and sounds’, with a solar-powered stage featuring indie, punk, electronica and soul, a pop-up skate ramp with pro-shows throughout the day, drop-in sound workshops in the Boom Bus, crafts from the Creative Cabin and food and drink by Mickeys and Hang Time.

There will also be plenty of things to do, with a range of free workshops and participation events, the Seadog arts trail, an outdoor cinema and other entertainment to be announced nearer the time.

Exmouth Journal: Ruby May Spencer on stage at the Exmouth Festival

Exmouth Town Council said it had decided to hold the festival across three sites because of the rising costs of staging it at the Imperial Recreation Ground. The new format is more flexible and enables the council to access a variety of funding streams, as well as involving the community more in the festival’s planning and delivery.

Organiser Jess Magill said: “The Exmouth Festival has a long history and is much-loved by residents and visitors. We hope everyone will embrace the new format and take the opportunity to discover something new. With three stages of music and so many activities going on, I really think there will be something for everyone. And best of all, we have kept it free for everyone to enjoy.

“We invite you to step out of the ordinary, and into a world of creativity. For the festival weekend Exmouth will be filled with opportunities for discovery, fun and wonder.”

Exmouth Journal: Exmouth Youth Theatre perform at Festival 2022.

More details of the festival’s activities and entertainment will be announced on the Exmouth Festival website and social media (@ExmouthFestival) in the run-up to the event.