Events

Events & Street theatre

Treasure Hunt Results

Published on by Festival Team

Congratulations to all the winners:

Hazel Prosser, Adam Rudland, Alex Sandquest joint first children

The Mayflowers 1st Adults 19/20
Andy & Maggie Schooler 2nd 18/20,
Peter & Sheila Davis plus Cath Offord and the Alexanders all joint 3rd

And thanks to the generosity of everyone taking part we have raised £250 for Shanty Festival funds! Thank you!

Adult Questions:

  1. What are the fruits of the labour of Carter & Company?  Apples (tile picture in doorway)
  2. Where do maritime traders and seafarers live next door to each other? Two cottages in Currents Lane (Chandlers & Mariners)
  3. Place of imprisonment for newlyweds? Bridewell House
  4. What sort of a mark might you make if you phone 01255 556006? Tattoo (phone number for tattoo parlour)
  5. Selling beer for 101 minutes? Foresters (Alehouse between 1800 – 1940)
  6. He commanded a dolphin? Matthew Flyn (packet boat Dolphin, House opposite St. Nicks)
  7. Edit got woodcraft in Kings Head Street? Driftwood Cottage
  8. A disciplinary boot? The Wellie Stern
  9. He met his end MDLV. William Bamford (burnt at stake in 1555)
  10. Where is the Chieftain 600? Drain Cover Angelgate
  11. A seat for cheerful talkers? Happy to Chat Bench
  12. #smells singular?   #AROMAONE (graffiti on garage doors)
  13. A scarlet box from Kirkintilloch? Telephone Box
  14. What is it UR missing at Harwich Town Station? Your Advert
  15. Furthest extent of the municipality as the sun sets? Outer Part of Town Westward
  16. A Holm baker’s dozen? 13 Holm Oaks
  17. An island only in 2D? Traffic Island at end of George Street (has 2 D’s written in concrete)
  18. A dwelling for 3? Trinity House
  19. In which direction is Turkey Island from Poor Cottage? Due East
  20. This building was officially an equally bisected orb in the 18th Century Now Thai Up at the Quay (formally(!) Half Moon Public House)

Childrens Answers

  1. Lambards (lobster on window)
  2. Swan Inn (Dutch Flag)
  3. West Street Bake House (doormat)
  4. Chinese Takeaway (top window)
  5. No. 2 Kings Head Street 
  6. No. 2b Kings Head Street 
  7. HHA Crest (Angelgate)
  8. St. Helen’s Green (garden gnome)
  9. Harwich Town Station Platform
  10. Trinity Village, Southwark (on Trinity House boards)
  11. Visitor Centre (on Mayflower model ship)
  12. Painted door in Eastgate Street/Castlegate Street)

Christmas Treasure Hunt 2023

Published on by Festival Team

We will be running a Treasure Hunt again this year on 30th December at the Alma Inn. Start the challenge anytime between 12.00 and 13.00 and return by 15.00 latest ready for prize giving at 16.00.

This will be a mixture of cryptic clues for adults and picture clues for children. Lizzie is pictured holding the 2021 children’s clues.

£5 per adult or £12 per family (max 2 adults)

For info the very popular Murder Mystery held last year may well take place in February half term or Easter 2024, but time has run out for this year. So make a note in your diaries and we hope to see as many of you as possible on 30th December. 

 

Coronation Capers

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On Sunday 7th May 2023, a day after the King’s Coronation, the Harwich Shanty Festival committee gracefully put on Coronation Capers.

The day was very much an inclusive May Day festival and was opened by the Harwich Town Crier before a May Dance commenced.

A variety of musicians and dancers then made their way around the town of Harwich, calling at the Alma, Globe, New Bell & Stingray.

Some of the groups had also played on Ha’Penny Pier separately during the afternoon but they came together for a finale.

Coronation Capers on Harwich Green 2023

A Celebration of the Coronation of King Charles III

Programme for May 7th 2023

Harwich Green

1330-1430

Welcome by Harwich Town Crier

May Song – Staines Morris

National Anthem

Maypole Dances

Circassian Circle for everyone

May Song – Hail, Hail the First of May

Salute to King Charles

Farewell by Harwich Town Crier

1430-1630 Celebratory Music & Song around Historic Harwich

1700 Ha’Penny Pier Grand Finale All Groups

Updated: Christmas Murder Mystery

Published on by Festival Team

Thanks to everyone who braved the somewhat inclement weather on 30th December and turned out for our Murder Mystery event. Pictured are some of the teams taking part and the winning team, the Taylors who completed the challenge in an astounding 43 minutes, receiving their prize at the Alma.

A good time was had by all and we raised over £100 towards the 2023 Shanty Festival. We shall definitely run the event again next Christmas,

If you didn’t manage to attend but would like to make a donation of £5 then please click the button below (you don’t need a PayPal account)

[wpecpp name=”Fundraiser Donation ” price=”5″ align=”left”]

Summer Shanties On The Pier

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We were last able to hold our popular Summer Shanty sessions back in 2019, but have re-instated them for 2022!

May 15th was Hoy Boy (video “Randy Dandy Oh”)

June 12th Hoy Boy (Video “Sally Brown”) 

July 10th Hoolies from Wivenhoe 

August 14th ShantyFolk from Lavenham

September 11th Mick Verrier & Friends  This event has been cancelled following the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

 

Back in 2019 the season was kicked off by a combo of Naze & Harwich shanty crews:

POSTPONED

Unfortunately we have had to take the decision to postpone our Murder Mystery event. Apologies for the short notice but we have been watching the situation closely and felt we had no choice. Watch out for a revised date when it’s a better time to hold the event.

 

Save the Day & Solve the Crime!

On 28th of December we invite all amateur sleuths to solve our mystery – someone was killed but who was it, where was it and which weapon was used?

We’ll be hiding the clues around Historic Harwich – when you find the three correct clues you should take your answers straight to the adjudicators in the Alma. Please replace all clues for the next unsuspecting sleuth! PLUS there are spot prizes for children & adults, keep these and exchange them at the Alma for your prize.

How to find the clues … you will need the What 3 Words app on your phone or mobile device.

Click for more information about What 3 Words

For Android devices, download & install from the Play Store

iPhone users should head to the App Store

To test the app, go to the following:  ///nuzzling.barmaid.stays

Sleuths should arrive the at Alma Inn from midday onwards but you won’t be released to find the clues until 1pm, so everyone has a fair chance! We’ll give you a list of What 3 Words locations and you need to check them – in any order you wish! Return to the Alma immediately if you have found the winning clue to claim your top prize! Evidence is required!

Save time on the day by buying your tickets in advance:

Adults are £5 each Not currently available
Family tickets £10
(1 or 2 Adults plus up to 4 children)		 Not currently available

Please note that the family ticket only applies to single or paired adults (plus up to 4 accompanying children). Any further adults must hold a separate ticket.

If you’ve never heard of What 3 Words then a simple explanation is needed!

The idea is that every 3m square (almost 10ft in old money!) has been allocated a set of words. This can pin the location of a place, or a person, down to a street corner or a particular bench along Harwich Quay. It is in use by the emergency services and by vehicle rescue operators, so if you regularly travel then it could literally be a life-saver! The app is free to install but will use some of your data allowance when you open it unless you’re on a wifi connection.

Most buildings have multiple What 3 Words squares so sometimes a very appropriate set of words can be found – can you find ///ending.spelled.attention ?

Download our flier

 

The Treasure Hunt will be held on 17th April.