Yarmouth Old Gaffers Festival

A weekend of family entertainment in the picturesque and historical town of Yarmouth. Old Gaffers race in The Solent on Saturday, free musical entertainment, children's fun fair, craft and food stalls, veteran and classic vehicle display, RNLI & Air Sea Rescue display.

Whats on in 2012

• This year's festival will reflect and be partially themed around the 60 years of The Queens Reign, with The Queen lookalike (Mary Reynolds) performing the opening ceremony and having a grand parade around the town. 
• Live Music, The Marquee on the quay and  the town Square will be the places to be with many of the regular acts performing such as Derek Sandy, Voxpop, Caribbean Melody Steel Band, The Slipshod Singers, La Banda Martinez, Fidgety Feet and street entertainers Vince and Richard. For the first time there will be appearing Boogie Woogie Pianos and the Island’s modern jive dance group called Team LeRoc.
• On Friday and Saturday evenings there will be dancing in The Marquee, on The Quay, to live bands. The popular DJ Rob da Bank, of Bestival fame, along with Sombrero Sound System will be presenting the amazing Cuban Brothers, Skinny Lister (an extremely hot new Folk Indie Band) and a musical comedy act Abandoman on Friday evening. During  the evening there will be prizes awarded for the best dressed King and best dressed Queen.   On Saturday the live music will be provided by three tribute bands, Queen B, Abbas Angels and ‘Rod Stewart’. 
• Spectacular Classic and Gaff-rigged Boats in the Harbour
• The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee is going to be celebrated over the Festival weekend
• Exciting Racing for Gaff-rigged Boats within sight of the shore
• Visiting Classic Vehicles
• International market stalls with a huge variety of interesting and unusual products for sale, food stalls and Craft Marquee
• Colourful Flower Festival and the Children’s Fun Fair will be situated on The Green.
• Air Sea Rescue demonstration with the RNLI Lifeboat.
• The Park and Ride scheme will operate as in past years with parking at Bouldnor. Cars can also be parked in the Festival Car Park in Yarmouth at £5 per car per day
• Dancing to live bands on Friday and Saturday evenings.Tickets will be £8 each and it is hoped that they will be available in advance from Easter at Wightlink booking offices in Yarmouth & Lymington and at the Southern Vectis Bus Kiosk in Yarmouth (no accompanied person under the age of 16 years. Children 12 years and under f.o.c.).
  

Photos by kind permission of Roger Cox.