ORGANISERS of a popular town festival have announced its lineup for this year’s extra special occasion. The guest list for Harwich International Shanty Festival was revealed, with a focus on the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower setting sail. The festival is set to take place from Friday, October 8 until October 10. The celebrations were postponed in 2020, but now many towns in England, as well as the Netherlands and USA, are planning to commemorate the special date. Pam Fitzgerald, the festival’s director, said she was “very excited” to be in a position to be able to confirm the lineup. “Planning this year’s festival has been challenging due to the uncertainty of the Covid situation,” she said.
The Shanty Festival Treasure Hunt, which took place on Saturday, attracted its highest ever number of participants. Groups of people could be seen meandering around old Harwich, huddling with their maps and questions sheets in a bid to strike gold.
A young treasure hunter enjoying the great weather Information boards, signs on streets and buildings and other features helped them solve the clues in the annual hunt. Speaking on behalf of the treasure hunt, Debbie Jones said: “The wonderful weather helped to make it an enjoyable and fun day out for all, with the thrill of the chase and exercising of the brain cells being just as important as winning.
It comes after Harwich Town Council’s Finance and General Purpose Committee met on Tuesday evening. Harwich’s International Shanty Festival, which has been given the green light for October this year, was awarded £2,550 as it makes its long-awaited return having been cancelled in 2020. Popular floral event Harwich in Bloom was granted £3,000 which will be a boost for all who enjoy the stunning work of florists spread across the town. While Harwich Kindertransport Memorial Project was awarded £1,000 to help keep up the important work of commemorating the town’s crucial role in caring for the evacuated children during World War II.