A FEAST of culture and huge crowds descend on Bournemouth at opening weekend of Arts by the Sea Festival.

The sun shone on over around 100,000 visitors to Bournemouth over the first two days of the 7th Arts by the Sea Festival.

Bumper crowds enjoyed an eclectic mix of free entertainment in The Square, The Lower and Central Gardens, The Bandstand, The Pier, The Seafront and the resort’s magnificent Victorian Town Hall.

Headlining the Festival on both nights was Hydromania by Avanti Display a breathtaking extravaganza incorporating drumming, opera, pyrotechnics, dance, mime and illuminated water jets. The thousands of people gathered in front of the Town Hall and into the Central Gardens gasped in wonder. Festival goers also marvelled at the kaleidoscopic Umbrella Project , a participatory parade that spanned the Square to the Beach, an awe-inspiring array of light Installations ,The Cockatoo Cocktail Art Bar, street art, giant puppets , film screenings, workshops, museum open days urban dance and a dizzying selection of live music.

This year’s Festival theme is Plastic Beach and Arts by the Sea 2017 is highlighting the issue of marine pollution through this idea. Visitors were thoroughly entertained but also informed by the performances, and left the event inspired by what we can all do to help the environment.

The Festival continues through this week with a wealth of award winning talent showing at The Shelley Theatre, Pavilion Dance, The Arts University and Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum plus more astonishing family friendly outdoor art on Saturday 21st October. Closing proceedings is Sense of Unity by Dundu and Worldbeaters Music, an act that brings together enormous strutting puppets and a frenzied percussion group in an enchanting , participatory parade through town.

The Arts by the Sea Festival is funded by Bournemouth Borough Council and Arts Council England and works with a host of local partners, artists and organizations as well as regional, national and international talent.