THE annual Minehead Bay Festival, which last year attracted more than 5,000 visitors, is returning for its fourth year on August 30 with a dynamic mix of music, food, art, and family activities described by the organisers as ‘truly amazing’.

This year’s solar-powered main stage, sponsored with a £2,500 grant from Minehead Town Council, will feature top live music acts including Rory McLeod, Kid Hyena, LunaBarge, The Metatrons, and The Breaks.

Also returning, sponsored by Saltrock, is the UK’s number one trials bike rider Andrei Burton.

His seafront stunt shows wowed crowds last year, and this time he is also giving a talk in the circus area about his journey into trial biking.

The festival will also feature live street art from Charlie McFarley, Teddy Baden, and Alison Jacobs, as well as live performances from the popular Higher Beings Circus.

The circus area will be kicked off at 12 noon with a special performance from the Minehead Ukulele Group, while the busking stage showcases local musicians including Jeeves Biscotti, Sarah Hayward, Nigel Moore, and Super Sugar.

There will be a variety of street food to try and fully licensed bars, sponsored by Sandford Orchards, serving local drinks, including Sandford Orchards’ range of award-winning ciders made with traditional apples and fresh-pressed juice.

A spokesperson said many of this year’s innovations came from feedback surveys completed by last year’s visitors.

For instance, new for this year’s festival is an area on the beach where visitors can take part in seashore safaris, beach art, and Tai Chi, as well as samba dancing and Wild Wellies Forest School, an Exmoor-based educational organisation providing family activities focused on nature and sustainability.

A wellbeing tent will feature gong baths, yoga, breathwork sessions, mindfulness, and meditation.

Artists from Watchet’s East Quay arts centre will also run workshops throughout the day.

Organisers say they expect 5,000 to 6,000 people to attend this year’s event, helping to boost visitor numbers to the town and providing opportunities for local artists, musicians, and creatives.

Event manager Zara Aitken said: “We have put together a truly amazing programme of activities.

“From circus acts and live music to biking stunts, street food, and art, there is something for everybody.”

Agreeing to financially support this year’s festival, town councillors praised the event for ‘bringing the community together, boosting local pride, and showcasing the vibrant spirit of the town’.

Councillors said the festival delivered free, high-quality arts, culture, and entertainment for the public on Minehead seafront.

Run by local charity Minehead and Coast Development Trust, with funding from the National Lottery Community Fund, the festival runs from 12 noon to 6 pm.

It was launched in 2022 with funding from Hinkley Point C’s mitigation fund and the coastal communities fund, aiming to be ‘a space where everybody can get involved, discover new things, and make amazing memories together’.

News of this year’s festival programme has been welcomed by dozens of online supporters who said they would be travelling from as far afield as Birmingham, Bristol, and Cardiff to attend.