Lizard Sea Shanty Festival Returns with Pirate Theme in September 2025

The Lizard Peninsula will be brimming with sailor songs, pirate hats, and community spirit this September as the Lizard Sea Shanty Festival returns for its third year. The free event takes place from Friday 5th to Saturday 6th September 2025 and promises 18 hours of live performances, hearty food, and plenty of “Arrr”s at mainland Britain’s southernmost tip.

Two Days of Music and Maritime Mischief

The festivities kick off on Friday at 6pm, with the newly introduced Lizard Crier opening proceedings at 5.50pm before the first performance at 6pm. The Friday night line-up features:

• 6.00–6.30pm Mullion School Choir

• 6.45–7.15pm Tim Hague

• 7.30–8.15pm ACappella Moonshine

• 8.30–9.15pm Baldricks Plan

• 9.30–10.30pm The Oggymen

• 10.45–11.59pm The Rough Cuts

Saturday starts at 11am, with LAFTA (Lizard Arts, Film & Theatre Association) officially opening the day’s events at noon. Performances include:

• 12.30–1.00pm Culdrose Military Wives

• 1.15–2.00pm Odds ‘N’ Sods

• 2.00pm Pirate Parade led by Pilchard the Pirate and his mighty drum

• 2.30–3.00pm Landewednack Primary

• 3.15–4.00pm Whippletree

• 4.15–4.45pm Month’s Advance

• 5.00–5.45pm Sudden Squall

• 6.00–6.45pm Cadgwith Singers

• 7.00–7.30pm The Nankersey Male Choir

• 7.45–8.15pm Loose Cannons

• 8.30–9.30pm Lemonaires – Men of Cornwall

• 9.45–10.45pm The Press Gang

• 11.00–11.59pm Will Keating & Friends

Food, Drink and Family Fun

Festivalgoers can enjoy an outside bar, a raffle and tombola, and stalls including the RNLI shop. The RNLI crew will be serving gourmet burgers at Friday’s BBQ, while Saturday will feature a hog roast cooked by The Top House chefs.

Families can join the fun at the Kids Pirate Parade, and little ones will get the chance to meet Stormy Stan, the RNLI mascot. Local legend Betty Stogs will also be making a special appearance.

Accessible and for a Good Cause

The festival will continue to be accessible, with improvements guided by Access Cornwall. Proceeds will support The Lizard RNLI Lifeboat Station, The Lizard Community Fund, and Landewednack School.

An outreach programme will also take sea shanties and Cornish maritime heritage into schools and residential homes across the peninsula later this year.

Organisers’ Message

Organiser Tina Searle said:

“This festival is all about community, heritage, and having a fantastic time together. The pirate theme will bring even more colour and fun – so polish your boots, grab your tricorn hat, and come and join the crew.”

For the full schedule and more details, visit www.thelizardseashantyfestival.co.uk