Festival of the Sea 2024

Harbour Film Screening
Song of the Sea (cert PG)
Torry St Fittick’s Parish Church, 39 Walker Road, Aberdeen, AB11 8DL
Doors 2.30pm. Film starts 3pm
An Irish youth discovers that his mute sister is a selkie who must find her voice and free supernatural creatures from the spell of a Celtic goddess.

Free – turn up on the day or book a space here.

Harbour Film Screening
Launch (cert U)
Torry St Fittick’s Parish Church, 39 Walker Road, Aberdeen, AB11 8DL
Doors 6.30pm. Film starts 7pm
Launch! On The Sea With Scotland’s Lifeboats dives into archive film and video of RNLI crews, with an immersive soundtrack from some of the UK’s best contemporary musicians. Directed by award-winning curator Shona Thomson, the film is created from rarely seen footage of Scotland’s lifeboat communities including a glimpse of Aberdeen.

Free, with all donations to RLNI – turn up on the day or book a ticket here.

Greyhope Mornings: Talking Tall Ships with John Corall
Greyhope Bay Centre, Torry Battery, Greyhope Road
10am-12noon
Embark on a captivating journey through maritime history with John Corall as he shares the allure and adventure of Tall Ships. Discover their origins, construction, and the daring tales of those who sailed them.

Free, but ticketed – pre-book here.

Family drop-in arts, crafts and activities
Tullos Community Centre, Girdlesness Road, Tullos, AB11 8FJ
10am-12noon
Join artists Elaine and Mhairi for a relaxed art session where you’ll have the chance to experiment with a range of different art materials (paints, pastels, clay etc.) No experience necessary and no pressure to create a finished outcome. The main focus of the session will be on enjoying the company of others, having a chat and trying out different art materials and techniques. Family Learning are also on hand with a host of fun activities for children.
Suitable for all ages, but children must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

Free, drop in – no pre-booking required

Family drop-in arts, crafts and activities
Fittie Community Hall, New Pier Road, Fittie, AB11 5DR
10:30am-12:30pm
Use domestic packaging, old magazines, pens + pencils to make our own dream shed inspired by the colourful, characterful shed of Fittie, or learn the beautiful Japanese art of origami to make a boat or a fish. Attach your boat or fish to a piece of driftwood to make a mini sculpture. Family Learning are also on hand with a host of fun activities for children. 

Suitable for all ages, but children must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
Free, drop in – no pre-booking required

Harbour Voices Choir Summer Concert
Fittie Community Hall, New Pier Road, Fittie, AB11 5DR
Doors 7.15pm
Event 7.30pm – 8pm
Join us in the Fittie Community Hall for the Harbour Voices Community Choir Summer Concert, where we showcase what we have been working on this year.  From traditional Scottish songs to sea shanties from around the globe, this sea-themed performance is not to be missed! 

Pay What You Feel (£5 recommended) – reserve your space here or turn up on the day.

Guided Coastal Discovery
Greyhope Bay Centre, Torry Battery, Greyhope Road
2pm – 3.30pm & 4pm – 5.30pm
Join us as we explore the amazing beaches that surround the Greyhope Bay Centre. During this short, guided beach walk, we’ll discover what has been washed up on the shore by the crashing Aberdeen waves. We’ll also spend some time identifying your finds and learning more about the creatures that call our coast home. What will you find?

£5 Adult, £3 Child – book a ticket here.

Watercolours of Fittie and the Sea
Fittie Community Hall, New Pier Road, Fittie, AB11 5DR
6pm – 9pm
Explore simple watercolour techniques with artist Emma Wilson, then go on to create your own work inspired by the Fittie Sheds or sea views. Loosen your artistic muscles and find inspiration and confidence through the art of watercolour painting. All materials will be provided. The session will begin with a short walk around Fittie (weather permitting!). You may wish to bring your own phone or camera to take pictures, or use the reference images on hand at the community hall. 

£15 – book a ticket here.

Torry Battery Tour
Greyhope Bay Centre, Torry Battery, Greyhope Road
10am – 12noon
Explore the coastal battery with the Greyhope Bay team as they share stories about its rich history and heritage, while taking the time to do some dolphin spotting too!

£5 Adult, £3 Child – book a ticket here.

Harbour Film Night
Girls Can’t Surf (cert 12)
Fittie Community Hall, New Pier Road, Fittie, AB11 5DR
Doors 6.30pm
Film start 7pm
A group of renegade women surfers challenges the male-dominated professional surfing world for the shared goal of equality and change. The screening will be followed by a discussion with the Wavy Wahines Aberdeen’s Women’s surf group.

£10 full price, £5 concessions – turn up on the day or book a ticket here.

Coastal Photography Meet-up
Greyhope Bay Centre, Torry Battery, Greyhope Road
9am – 11am
Whether you’re just starting out or you are a seasoned pro, join our casual and friendly meet-up which is open to all. We aim to encourage more people to try photography, learn about the natural world, and build a community of photographers and nature enthusiasts. You don’t need any fancy equipment – your phone camera is all you need to get started! 

Free, but ticketed – pre-book here.

Fittie Arts, Crafts and Heritage Fair
Fittie Community Hall, New Pier Road, Fittie, AB11 5DR
10am – 4pm
Discover unique handmade treasures created by local artisans. From driftwood boats to needlefelted creations and sea-themed jewellery as well as a RNLI fundraising stall. Learn more about Fittie and explore a walking tour of the village. Refreshments available. 

Free, drop in – no pre-booking required

Mindful Nature Journalling
Greyhope Bay Centre, Torry Battery, Greyhope Road
2pm – 4pm
Join Fiona Hall from Camban Studio at the Greyhope Bay Centre for this relaxing workshop, as we create space to slow down and explore how we can better understand the places around us through mindful journalling.

£15 – book a ticket here.

Power of the Sea with Pushing Out the Boat
Fittie Community Hall, New Pier Road, Fittie, AB11 5DR
7pm – 9pm
Immerse yourself in a sea of talent at The Power of the Sea: Pushing Out the Boat’s sea-themed reading showcase. Join us as singer Alastair Eddie sets the stage, followed by poetry and prose readings spanning a whole range of emotions from our magazine contributors. 

£5 – turn up on the day or book a ticket here.

Music Theory for Beginners
Fittie Community Hall, New Pier Road, Fittie, AB11 5DR
2pm – 4.30pm
This workshop is for all those who love playing music but have never had the opportunity to read music. Aimed at adults with a passion for singing and playing instruments, this beginner-friendly workshop will teach you the basics of music theory. It’s never too late to learn! 

£5 – turn up on the day or book a ticket here.

Evening Coastal Discovery for Adults
Greyhope Bay Centre, Torry Battery, Greyhope Road
7pm – 8.30pm
Join us on this summer evening as we explore the amazing rock pools that surround the Greyhope Bay Centre. During this adults-only session, we’ll discover some of the fascinating creatures that live there and spend some time identifying your finds. All equipment will be provided, all you need to bring is your child-like sense of wonder (and some sensible shoes!). Please note that while this activity is suitable for “big kids” (age 16+), we will be exploring some big boy rock pools and the route to these is often very rocky and uneven.

£5 – book a ticket here.

Seashore Sun Printing
Greyhope Bay Centre, Torry Battery, Greyhope Road
11am – 2pm
Discover the treasures hidden around our coastline and capture their intricate beauty while making your own cyanotype prints. Using sunlight and specially prepared paper, create your own stunning, one-of-a-kind artworks inspired by seashells, seaweed, and other natural finds. Please note that this outdoor activity is sunshine dependent – please check the weather forecast and our socials before heading out.

Free, but ticketed – pre-book here.

Fittie Inspired Zero Waste Stitch Art
Fittie Community Hall, New Pier Road, Fittie, AB11 5DR
6pm – 9pm
Enjoy a relaxed, zero-waste stitch art class, using found objects and colourful scraps to create a piece of decorative textile art for your home. Participants are guided through the process by Aubin of Aubin Jewellery and Laura of Fernweh UK, as we draw upon the historical village of Fittie for inspiration. 

£15 – book a ticket here.

Greyhope Mornings: Rachel’s Rockpool Survival
Greyhope Bay Centre, Torry Battery, Greyhope Road
10am – 12pm
Join Greyhope Bay’s Engagement and Learning Officer, Rachel, for a family-friendly coffee morning. Rachel will give you a taster of her new outreach workshop where you’ll learn all about how animals survive in rock pools in Scotland. You’ll then get to design your own rock pool animal and test how well your creature survives in our rock pool survival game! Suitable for kids and big kids alike!

Free, but ticketed – pre-book here.

Boat Form Workshop
Greyhope Bay Centre, Torry Battery, Greyhope Road
1pm – 5pm
Uncover Aberdeen’s stunning coastline and use locally sourced willow to create a beautiful boat form with local basket maker Helen Jackson, the artist behind the shoal installation at Fish Shop Ballater.

£15 – book a ticket here.

Sea Shanty Singing Workshop
Greyhope Community Hub, Tullos Circle, Torry, AB11 8HD
6.30pm – 8pm
Learn how to sing popular sea shanties and songs from across the globe. Led by Sarah, the leader of the Harbour Voices Choir, all adults are welcome to join this beginner-friendly workshop. If you like singing the Wellerman in the shower, then this workshop is for you. Refreshments are provided. 

Free, but ticketed – pre-book here.

Seaweed Printing on Textiles
Fittie Community Hall, New Pier Road, Fittie, AB11 5DR
10am – 12noon
Join textile designer Helen for a morning of textile printing using pressed seaweed and pigment inks. You’ll be shown how to transfer mono-prints of seaweed collected from Aberdeen’s harbourside communities on to fabric to create interesting designs. We will be using textile pigment inks which are permanent on fabric so please wear old clothes or bring an apron. Materials will be provided including fabric to print on to, but participants are welcome to bring a plain (light coloured) t-shirt or tote bag to print on to.

Suitable for Adults and children over 5 years old.
£15 – book a ticket here.

Harbour Voices Singing Workshop with Christine Kydd
Fittie Community Hall, New Pier Road, Fittie, AB11 5DR
6.30pm – 8pm
Sail the seven seas without leaving Aberdeen. Learn and sing a range of repertoire including traditional Scottish songs and sea shanties from across the globe with vetran folk singer Christine Kydd. Singing is good for the heart, mind and soul and the Harbour Voices Community Choir offers a warm welcome to singers of all ability levels. 

Free, drop in – no pre-booking required

Guided Coastal Discovery
Greyhope Bay Centre, Torry Battery, Greyhope Road
10am – 11.30am & 12pm – 1.30pm
Join us as we explore the amazing beaches that surround the Greyhope Bay Centre. During this short, guided beach walk, we’ll discover what has been washed up on the shore by the crashing Aberdeen waves. We’ll also spend some time identifying your finds and learning more about the creatures that call our coast home. What will you find?

£5 Adult, £3 Child – book a ticket here.

Family-friendly Art and Music Morning
Greyhope Community Hub, Tullos Circle, Torry, AB11 8HD
10am – 12.30pm
Let your creativity flow freely as we help you turn a piece of blank paper into your very own piece of music! Showcase your artistic flair by drawing and designing a graphic score in this family-friendly, fun workshop. Together we will transform our creations into original music using our voices and a range of exciting instruments. Ages 7+ welcome. Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult. 

Free, drop in – no pre-booking required

Writing Creatively about the Sea
Fittie Community Hall, New Pier Road, Fittie, AB11 5DR
6.30pm – 9pm
Dive deeper into your own creativity with Pushing Out the Boat’s writing workshop for new and established writers, hosted by Aberdeen writer Shane Strachan. Benefit from Shane’s knowledge and experience writing about coasts and seas in both prose and poetry. 

£10 – book a ticket here.

Family-friendly Art and Music Morning
Fittie Community Hall, New Pier Road, Fittie, AB11 5DR
10am – 12.30pm
Let your creativity flow freely as we help you turn a piece of blank paper into your very own piece of music! Showcase your artistic flair by drawing and designing a graphic score in this family-friendly, fun workshop. Together we will transform our creations into original music using our voices and a range of exciting instruments. Ages 7+ welcome. Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult. 

Free, drop in – no pre-booking required

Harbour Film Night
It’ll Never Work
Fittie Community Hall, New Pier Road, Fittie, AB11 5DR
Doors 6.30pm
Film starts 7pm
Fisherman Hans Unkles wants a different way of doing things. With a band of fellow eco-aware fishermen, he will take apart his old boat and refit it with cutting-edge electronic tech. This documentary film follows Hans building, learning, making mistakes, chopping and welding a path to an easier way of fishing. With stories, opinions, support (and the occasional unhelpful comment) from old and young generations of fishermen, discover the pros and cons of an electric world pioneered by these men. 

The screening will be followed by a Q&A with Hans Unkles.
£10 full price, £5 concessions – turn up on the day or book a ticket here.

Family Sea-themed Storytelling
Greyhope Community Hub, Tullos Circle, Torry, AB11 8HD
10am, 11am, 12noon
Scottish Storyteller Andy Cannon has been entertaining children and families for over 25 years. Join Andy in one of his special Festival of the Sea storytelling sessions as he weaves fantastical and magical tales of the sea. 

Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult. 
Free, drop in – no pre-booking required

Fittie Environmental Fair
Fittie Community Hall, New Pier Road, Fittie, AB11 5DR
10am-4pm
A Fittie Fair with an environmental focus. Stalls include upcycled furniture, Tropic Skincare, hand crafted home interior accessories, and eco friendly household products. Aberdeen Science Centre and Family Learning will both be providing fun family activities 

Free, drop in – no pre-booking required

An evening of Scottish Folk Music with Christine Kydd and the Harbour Voices community choir
Fittie Community Hall, New Pier Road, Fittie, AB11 5DR
7pm-9pm
Embark on a musical journey around Scotland’s North-East with award-winning Scottish singer Christine Kydd. Christine will be joined by members of the Harbour Voices Community Choir.

£10 Full price, £5 Concession – book a ticket here.

Guided Coastal Discovery
Greyhope Bay Centre, Torry Battery, Greyhope Road
11am – 12.30pm
Join us as we explore the amazing beaches that surround the Greyhope Bay Centre. During this short, guided beach walk, we’ll discover what has been washed up on the shore by the crashing Aberdeen waves. We’ll also spend some time identifying your finds and learning more about the creatures that call our coast home. What will you find?

£5 Adult, £3 Child – book a ticket here.

Bob Knight at the Fittie Bar
Fittie Bar,  18 Wellington Street, AB11 5BT
7pm – 8.30pm
End the festival on a high at the Fittie Bar with a free evening of Scottish folk songs from the North-East with Bob Knight. Bob, a traditional Scottish singer and songwriter from Aberdeen, is festival favourite. 

Free, drop in – no pre-booking required

Torry Heritage & Memories Exhibition 
Greyhope Community Hub, Tullos Circle, Torry, AB11 8HD
Fri 26 – 10:00am -3pm
Sat 27 – 10:00am-1pm
The history and heritage of Torry is intertwined with Aberdeen Harbour. Torry Heritage Group 2019 and the Torry Heritage and Memories Society have joined forces to create and exhibition celebrating the community’s rich history. 

Free, drop in – no pre-booking required

Workshop Weekender
Deemouth Artist Studios, Deemouth Business Centre, South Esplanade East, Torry. AB11 9PB
Deemouth Artists Studio presents their first ever Workshop Weekender. Explore a vibrant array of creative practices led by our talented residents. Sessions range from two-hour explorations to full-day intensives. Whether you’re keen to try a new craft or hone your existing skills, there’s something for everyone. Browse their diverse line up of workshops below and book your spot today.

Find out more information here

Adult Dance Classes
Greyhope Community Hub, Tullos Circle, Torry, AB11 8HD
Mondays – 01 July, 08 July, 15 July, 22 July, 18:00-19:30
Join Citymoves Dance Tutors for a dance class that combines the best parts of our dance fitness and dance variety classes, with a splash of different dance styles in each session. We have created a Monday night dance class to help you shake of any ‘Case of the Mondays’ and energise you to make the best of your week!

Youth Dance Classes
Greyhope Community Hub, Tullos Circle, Torry, AB11 8HD
Wednesdays – 03 July, 10 July, 17 July, 24 July, 18:00-19:30
Modelled after our popular STRIVE Community Youth Dance Classes, we will have a terrific time sharing the joy of dance with Tory Youth this summer. We bring the fun and work with local young people to provide creative activities and positive destinations that nurture their creativity and encourage self- expression to build self-esteem and confidence. These Classes are Appropriate for young people aged 10-17 years old.

Mature Dance Classes
Greyhope Community Hub, Tullos Circle, Torry, AB11 8HD
Thursdays – 04 July, 11 July, 18 July, 25 July, 10:00-11:30
We invite adults 60+ to join us for a dance class that sets you up for a day of joy. This class will feature engaging movement material that is easily achieved by all. It will be powered by the best dance music from the 1960s to today.

To book any of these classes, please email citymoves@citymoves.org.uk