Pirates and sea monsters are set to greet the crews of assorted sailing vessels when they tie up at Pembroke Quay next week. The castle town has been chosen as one of the chief 'host ports' of Sea Fair Milford Haven, a bi- annual maritime festival which this year is expected to attract well over 150 traditional sailing vessels from all over Europe. As part of the festival, flotillas of traditional wooden boats, from gigs to 'old gaffers', will be berthing at Pembroke's South Quay between Thursday and Sunday, June 19-22. The crews will discover a hive of activity on the quay which is to be the focus of this year's Pembroke Festival which will have an appropriately nautical theme throughout. This stretches from the opening on Thursday, June 19, which will be signalled by the firing of a maroon, through the parade of sea monster puppets carried by local schoolchildren to the competition for the best-dressed Pembroke pirate. There will be a photographic competition on a watery theme, an exhibition on the maritime history of Pembroke, a model boat sailing competition, sea-shanties on the South Quay and a rehearsed reading of The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by local drama group The East End Flyover Company. The festival, which is organised by Pembroke 21C, also features music in local chapels and pubs, storytelling sessions, guided walks and a visit from India Dance Wales. It will end with a free music event on the South Quay on Sunday, June 22, culminating in a fireworks spectacular from the castle ramparts. For a full timetable of events visit the festival website at http://www.pembroke21c.org">www.pembroke21c.org.
