'Salt Fest' aims to celebrate Devon's connection to the sea - and encourage better protection of it
Two days of events take place this weekend
Campaigners behind this weekend's Sideshore Salt Fest hope it inspires people to both make better use of the water and also help protect it.
The two-day Exmouth-based festival celebrates Devon as being 'the only county in England with two distinct coastlines' and the water's 'health and wellbeing benefits'.
Bernie Rhodes, Activity and Project Manager at the not-for-profit Sideshore Community Interest Company, said: "We have so much going on, on this coastline.
"There's lots of really good community groups and lots of really good organisations that link people to the sea - this is an opportunity for us all to come together and celebrate it.
"We feel that if you are celebrating the sea, and you are in it and you are enjoying it, then you are more likely also to protect it in the future."
What is happening?
On Saturday activities kick-off at 7.30am with a community dip, followed by an ocean themed Parkrun at 9am. The rest of the day will include children’s (under 18s) Swim England Open Water Awards, Beach Flags – a Surf Lifesaving sport for Nippers and Juniors (youth) – demonstrations by Exmouth Beach Rescue Club youth, and a fancy-dress raft race.
On Sunday morning, the Sideshore Swim and Sprint Aquathlon, with lengths of 3,000m, 1,500m or 750m, officiated by Sportiva Events, is taking place, with an Open Water Coaching course in the afternoon, run by Swim Devon.
The community dip, run, and demonstrations are all free, while the water activities are bookable via the event website - with entry fees going towards running the event.