Clovelly Herring Festival

November 15, 2020, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Clovelly Herring Festival always falls in November. It’s the time of year when our historic village celebrates the coming of the great “Silver Darlings”, better known as Herring. We celebrate and promote this tasty, nutritious fish whilst supporting sustainable fishing. The village always depended on the harvest of herring, caught in superb condition for a short season off this coast. Records go back over 400 years and in 1749 there were about a hundred herring boats in the port. When fishing was good, 9000 herring could be landed at one time. Those days of massive catches are long gone. These days we have just two herring fishermen, both employing sustainable fishing methods using only drift nets and long lines.

The Maritime historian and writer, Mike Smylie, attends with his “Kipperland” exhibition, which is devoted to the history of all things herring. Mike also turns the herring into delicate-tasting kippers and bloaters in his smokehouse for sale.

Flaxland will provide their exhibitions and demonstrations.  An opportunity to discover how the flax plant is used to make a vast range of goods.

On the quay, kitchens serve a variety of delicious herring specialities along with beer, gin and cider tastings, local food and craft stalls. And throughout the day there will be live music, 
street entertainers, face-painting, art workshop, an exhibition of Clovelly herring fishing, tasters & recipes, and children’s activities.

Standard admission charges include all entertainment.

The Clovelly Herring Festival features in lots of publications and TV programmes  and is one of the best five autumn food festivals

https://www.clovelly.co.uk/events/clovelly-herring-festival-2-2/