‘We put an ad online, and it just went mad’: New festival marks return of big events at coastal park

A new end-of-summer festival is set to host more than 100 stalls and activities – marking the return of big events at a beauty spot.

For decades, Barton’s Point Coastal Park was at the centre of the Isle of Sheppey’s social calendar, with thousands flocking to enjoy music, watersports and entertainment there.

The biggest draw was an annual festival organised by the Sheppey Pirates, which included water fights, raft races and sword fighting and was axed in 2018 after getting too big to handle.

The park, between Minster and Sheerness, has seen little action lately apart from canoe hire and the annual visit from Santus Circus.

Now organisers of the first Rotary Summer Spectacular hope it will draw crowds back to the Marine Parade site.

A small team, including the Minster club’s chairman Simon Mulchinock and vice-chairman David Watson, has been planning the free event since April - and they’ve been bowled over by the response.

Mr Watson, a retired chartered surveyor and asset manager, expected between 20 and 30 community groups and businesses to take part.

But he has been inundated with people wanting to set up stalls.

The 75-year-old, from Minster, said: “In the past there was the Donkey Derby at Barton’s Point, and the masons also held events here. But they haven’t been here for some time.

"We wanted to bring the community together, and we thought, let’s have a go at Barton’s Point as there’s the model railway, the Sea Cadets and other community groups there.

“We put an ad online, and it just went mad. It grew and grew, and now we have more than 100 stalls from activities, businesses and charitable groups all signed up.

“Ward’s estate agents even gave us 30 ‘for sale’ boards advertising the event.

“We knocked on doors of Islanders to ask if we could put them in their front gardens. I was expecting to be told ‘no’, but all of them said ‘yes’ and got behind us.”

The event, taking place from noon to 6pm on Sunday, August 30, will have live music, paddleboarding, boat trips, a dog show, crazy golf, a Nerf gun obstacle course, a wrestling show and pony rides.

Visitors will also have plenty of food options, including cakes and ice creams, a barbecue, Caribbean street food, pizza and a hot dog and burger van.

To wash that down, there will be a cider tent, a gin bar, and a visit from the Air of the Dog inflatable pub, as well as at The Boathouse Cafe.

Altogether, the festival has cost £8,000 to put on, but Mr Watson sees it as a way of promoting Island community groups.

“Even if we don’t break even, that’s fine because we normally spend that money supporting groups anyway,” he said.

“By holding this event, all the community groups get to promote themselves, businesses get a chance to make some money, and it all builds community spirit.

“It’s going to be an amazing day, and I hope lots of people turn out.”

To view all the stalls and activities, click here.

The event comes as Swale council announced how it wants the park’s future to look.

The authority had been looking at introducing an inflatable aqua park and glamping pods, but this was scuppered last July after an ecological report found the area was a “rare habitat” and home to a “rich array” of invertebrates and nesting birds.

An aqua park would potentially disrupt the fragile ecosystem, and so the council is instead trying to achieve Green Flag status at the park by boosting its educational credentials instead.

Last month, it announced it wanted to continue hosting popular events like fairs and circuses, but with careful planning so they do not disturb nature.