Devon

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/Opening-event-parade-6-1000x667.jpg" alt="Exmouth Festival " class="wp-image-76566" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/Opening-event-parade-6-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/Opening-event-parade-6-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/Opening-event-parade-6-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/Opening-event-parade-6.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Credit Exmouth Festival / Emily Appleton Photography </figcaption></figure>



Exmouth to Earthlings! Time to don your glittery hotpants and head beachwards:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.exmouthfestival.co.uk/">Exmouth Festival</a>&nbsp;(Thurs 10 &#8211; 13 Jul) is back for its 29th year, and it&#8217;s gonna be a riot! And pretty much FREE! A raucous yet family-friendly mix of music, theatre, circus, fitness and local scoff and quaff, it&#8217;s a wonderful excuse for a weekend of eating, drinking and letting your hair down on the East Devon coast.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/Silent-Disco.jpg" alt="Silent Disco at Exmouth Festival " class="wp-image-76637" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/Silent-Disco.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/Silent-Disco-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/Silent-Disco-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/Silent-Disco-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Credit Exmouth Festival / Emily Appleton Photography </figcaption></figure>



This year&#8217;s theme is Stories from the Sea, and some jigging is obligatory thanks to the Exmouth Shanty Men who have turned interviews with the locals into tunes and who will be on song with the school children at the festival.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="972" height="558" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/scribes.jpg" alt="The Scribes " class="wp-image-76625" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/scribes.jpg 972w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/scribes-800x459.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/scribes-768x441.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 972px) 100vw, 972px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Scribes </figcaption></figure>



And it&#8217;s not just the shanties, the line-up of live music is huge, from the Exmouth Night Jam Band to The Scribes and loads more. Sit back and be entertained or get hands-on at one of the many workshops, including mosaics, seascape painting and tie-dye &#8211; it&#8217;s up to you. 



Take a look at the full <a href="https://www.exmouthfestival.co.uk/schedule/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">festival schedule</a> to make sure you don&#8217;t miss a thing (or download their ace free app from Play Store/Apple). Here&#8217;s our highlights:



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-banging-beats">1/ Banging beats</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/Cable-Street-Collective-Press-Shot-Tristan-Kennedy-scaled-1.jpg" alt="Cable Street Collective " class="wp-image-76628" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/Cable-Street-Collective-Press-Shot-Tristan-Kennedy-scaled-1.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/Cable-Street-Collective-Press-Shot-Tristan-Kennedy-scaled-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/Cable-Street-Collective-Press-Shot-Tristan-Kennedy-scaled-1-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/Cable-Street-Collective-Press-Shot-Tristan-Kennedy-scaled-1-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



Exmouth&#8217;s got talent! What a line-up, with music ranging from rap, choirs and dance music to folk, indie, soul and country, there really is something for everyone. And it’s all free! Confirmed acts include Samantics, Negra Santa, Cable Street Collective, The Scribes, First Time Flyers, Souled and many more still to be announced.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-theatre-in-a-whale">2/ Theatre in a whale </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1232" height="693" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/the-whale.jpg" alt="The Whale Circo Rum Ba Ba " class="wp-image-76629" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/the-whale.jpg 1232w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/the-whale-800x450.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/the-whale-1000x563.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/the-whale-768x432.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1232px) 100vw, 1232px" /></figure>



The kids&#8217; entertainment is so good, it&#8217;s making us wish we were kids! It&#8217;s not just Ben the Juggler and Fiery Jack, or the chance to make instruments from junk (hello Drum Devon), we adore The Imaginarium and their legendary flea circus. And who wants to climb into a whale with Circo Rum Ba Ba? Yes, an 18m inflatable whale with, get this!, a tiny theatre inside! 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-pups-win-prizes">3/ Pups win prizes </h2>



Apparently the pooches wanted in on the act so &#8211; brand new and by popular demand *woof* &#8211; Exe Equestrian are holding a Dog Show on Saturday morning, so bring your best boys and gorgeous girls for judging. There are lots of categories, including Greedy Guts for fastest eater and even Fancy Dress, plus an agility course and a Best in Show for all the winners.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-4-disco-and-dance">4/ Disco and dance </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/Avtar-20.jpg" alt="dance at Exmouth Festival " class="wp-image-76631" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/Avtar-20.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/Avtar-20-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/Avtar-20-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/Avtar-20-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Credit Exmouth Festival / Emily Appleton Photography </figcaption></figure>



Never mind the kitchen disco, get yourself out there for some tuneless singalong at the Friday night Silent Disco! Throw some Bollywood shapes with Avtar&#8217;s Indian Dance workshop, where you can try bhangra and folk dance; have a go at the mindful martial art of Quigong; get down to the Stand ceilidh, and, calling women and girls of all ages: Chhaya Dance Collective want you for their flash mob style performance on The Strand. Go show &#8217;em how it&#8217;s done, ladies.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-5-the-awesome-four-of-swords">5/ The awesome Four of Swords</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/Four-of-Swords-9.jpg" alt="Four of Swords" class="wp-image-76622" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/Four-of-Swords-9.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/Four-of-Swords-9-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/Four-of-Swords-9-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/Four-of-Swords-9-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Credit Exmouth Festival / Emily Appleton Photography </figcaption></figure>



We love the sound of the specially written beach play, The Hermit, written and performed by the amazing (if slightly scary) local theatre group, Four of Swords. Working with Drum Devon and local performers, it&#8217;s going to one big incredible spectacle performed on Exmouth beach, with a giant shell artwork created by the local kids central to the play.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-6-a-chance-to-try-laughter-yoga">6/ A chance to try laughter yoga</h2>



Fancy it? Head to the new Words and Workshops tent in Manor Gardens to have a feel-good giggle with Laughter Yoga, why not. You can also sing your heart out with the Climate Choir, listen to tween author Becca Rogers on her book The Girl with Gills, and find out all about eels and inter-species communication. Quite a heady mix for your dinner party anecdotes, you have to agree! 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-7-all-the-delicious-eats">7/ All the delicious eats</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/bar-2.jpg" alt="the bar at Exmouth Festival " class="wp-image-76633" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/bar-2.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/bar-2-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/bar-2-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/bar-2-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Credit Exmouth Festival / Emily Appleton Photography </figcaption></figure>



Ditch the apron for the weekend thanks to a whole range of fabulous curated food stalls, all with vegan and veggie options, plus tacos, falafels, fresh pasta, Indian, Thai, pizza, fries, crepes, ice cream, burgers and oodles more. Plus, bars on every site run by local businesses and offering delicious refreshments.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-8-it-s-arty-and-you-can-have-a-go-too">8/ It&#8217;s arty &#8211; and you can have a go too</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/exmouth-art.jpg" alt="Exmouth Festival Creative Cabin Potty and Clod Angie Seaway " class="wp-image-76767" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/exmouth-art.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/exmouth-art-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/exmouth-art-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/exmouth-art-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/exmouth-art-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Exmouth Festival Creative Cabin / Potty and Clod / Angie Seaway</figcaption></figure>



After a piece of local art? The festival includes an Art Trail with 10 group shows at hubs across the town. Or if you fancy unleashing your own artistic flourish, here&#8217;s your chance. Help create a ‘Portrait of a Town’ with local support charity Open Door; there&#8217;s poster making on the Pelican press with Thelma Hulbert Museum, plus mosaic making, fish painting, pottery decorating and the opportunity to create your own seascape masterpiece with artist Angie Seaway. Perfect for creative kids and adults alike. 



Don&#8217;t miss it! <a href="https://www.exmouthfestival.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Exmouth Festival</a>, Fri 10 &#8211; Sun 13 July, all around the town including The Strand, Manor Gardens Sideshore and more.



Images by Emily Appleton except where stated.

8 reasons we’re off to Exmouth Festival this July

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