Sea dips, paddleboarding, gig rowing and a surf lifesaving demo, free on Weymouth Beach from 10am to 3pm. The windsurfing Worlds fan zone runs the same day.

Weymouth Water Fest returns this Saturday, 12 September, with free water sports tasters, live music and a beach full of local clubs. It runs from 10am to 3pm on Weymouth Beach, in front of the Beach Office.

Weymouth Town Council, which funds the event, describes it as a free community day for families and residents. The aim is to build confidence in the water through taster sessions, workshops and information stands, in what the council calls a relaxed, no pressure environment. This is the festival’s third year.

The confirmed activities are:

  • a Dip and Donut sea dip with Beach Babes Weymouth
  • paddleboarding with Adventure 4 All
  • gig rowing sessions with Kabincraft Adventures
  • dancing and a sea dip with Splash Dance
  • a beach demonstration by Weymouth Surf Lifesaving Club

The town council says the Beach Access Project team will also be at the event. In a new addition this year, Ocean Visions Photography is bringing a virtual reality headset so visitors can explore local underwater worlds.

Stalls and music

Information stalls come from the Weymouth and Portland Marine Litter Project, The Climate Hub, RNLI Weymouth Lifeboat and the Water Safety Team, Weymouth Museum, Weymouth Swimming Pool, Weymouth and Portland Octopush Club and Dorset Seaside Silver.

Entertainment runs through the day from Weymouth Community Choir, Lewis Snarey, Eva Grant, Double Keys and sea shanty group Dorset Wrecks. Dave Goulden from Air Radio comperes.

Two free events, one seafront

Water Fest lands on the busiest Saturday of Weymouth’s sporting September. The iQFOiL World Championships fan zone runs the same day on the harbourside outside Weymouth Pavilion, from 10am to 6pm. The RYA’s event pages list the medal racing live on a big screen from midday, plus free sailing and windsurfing taster sessions of its own.

Both are on Weymouth’s seafront, so it is realistic to do both in an afternoon.

Date and time panel: on Saturday 12 September, Weymouth Water Fest runs on Weymouth Beach 10am to 3pm and the iQFOiL Worlds Fan Zone runs outside Weymouth Pavilion 10am to 6pm
Graphic by The Dorset Post

What it means for you

  • Everything at Water Fest is free. Some activity sessions in previous years have been bookable on the day, so arrive early for the popular ones.
  • Bring swim kit if you fancy the sea dips or paddleboarding; the clubs running sessions are the ones named above.
  • Expect a busy seafront. The windsurfing Worlds conclude the same day, and the Esplanade’s overnight closures for resurfacing do not start until 28 September, so daytime access is unaffected.
  • More ideas for the weekend are on our things to do in Dorset page.

Sources