This month sees the return of an epic weekend of seaside fun as BeachFest gets underway at Porthcawl - and with Porthcawl RNLI’s RescueFest happening the same weekend - we can’t wait for an action-packed timetable of activities over 21st and 22nd June.
Expect beach sports, surf lifesaving competitions, boat rides, dance and cheer, marine workshops, stalls, entertainment and more! Here’s some highlights of what’s happening over the weekend:
Exhilarating boat rides, SUP and kayaking
Swansea Watersports will be offering visitors the opportunity to have
some fun on the water throughout the whole weekend! With boat rides available from the harbour on both Saturday and Sunday 21st - 22nd June, either strap in for a twenty minute thrill ride around the infamous Tusker Rock on a high-speed RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat), or take a group of family and friends aboard Shee Ann for a fifty minute sea adventure around the breathtaking Nash Sands, just off the beautiful South Wales coast.
New for this year - Swansea Watersports will also be offering 30 minute SUP and Kayak taster sessions with expert guidance from qualified instructors for those who want to get on the water over the weekend! You’ll find them at the slipway next to the Jennings Building. All bookings for Swansea Watersports can be made here.
RescueFest
Alongside BeachFest on Saturday 21st June, Porthcawl RNLI’s popular RescueFest will once again captivate thousands of spectators at Porthcawl.
The exciting family friendly event will feature action-packed demonstrations and displays by the RNLI, emergency services and other organisations.
It’ll also be the pawfect day for dog lovers, with a Newfoundland dog display alongside a host of other entertainment and family fun.
Funds raised at RescueFest will support Porthcawl RNLI – one of the busiest RNLI lifeboat stations in Wales.
Activity Zone and Craft Market at Cosy Corner
Cosy Corner will be home to various activities and entertainment as part of BeachFest and RescueFest over the weekend of 21st and 22nd June. Visitors can get their heart rates going with some fun exercise challenges set out by Double Olympian and Porthcawl Parkrun Event Director, Steve Brace, or if browsing through the craft market is more your thing, there’ll be plenty of stalls set up offering artisan produce with Green Top Markets (10am - 4pm).
Adrenaline-fuelled beach sports
Whether you want to get stuck in with taster sessions or see teams battle it out in epic sporting events, Sandy Bay will be the place to be with plenty of activities to take part in!
As well as seeing Beach Volleyball teams compete as part of the Cardiff Summer Series, beachgoers at BeachFest will have the chance to try their hand (and jumping skills) with ‘have a go’ beach volleyball sessions.
Ospreys in the Community can put you through your paces with fun activities for rugby enthusiasts and Randa will be bringing golf to the beach - encouraging visitors to find out more about getting into the sport, as well as running taster sessions to test your swing!
My Rounders will be on hand to provide taster sessions for the public to join in, and playing games of rounders for those who just want to see how it’s done!
Surf Lifesaving competitions
The Super 6 Surf Racing competition, affiliated to the Surf Lifesaving Association of Wales, comes to Beachfest on Saturday 21st June!
Six teams of super-fit surf lifesavers will battle it out at Sandy Bay with sprinting, ocean swimming, board paddling and ski paddling, before the team with the highest accumulated points will victoriously take away the win!
A Beach Flags knock out heat will also have spectators spurring on the surf lifesavers taking part in a fiercely competitive race to be first to get the flags from the sand - those who miss out on a flag are eliminated; until there is a winner!
The UK Surf Rowing League will be battling it out in their Surboat Summer Series at Porthcawl on Saturday 21st June, where crews will take to the water in an adrenaline fuelled race of team surfing - a fantastic thing to see!
Come and cheer on the athletes throughout these action-packed competitions, being held as part of an epic weekend of activities!
Army Village
The Armed Forces will be visiting BeachFest on Saturday and Sunday 21st -22nd June to host a military village with interesting displays and interactive activities. Will you have what it takes to take on an army assault course?
Sandcastle Competition
As well as running Rockpool Guardian sessions throughout the whole weekend, connecting children and young people to the coast and marine life, Beach Academy will be hosting an exciting Sand Castle Building Competition on Sunday 22nd June. During your time at BeachFest, enjoy a fun-filled afternoon of playing in the sand with your loved ones, crafting your masterpiece of a sandcastle! While there are prizes up for grabs for the most impressive creations - everyone who takes part is a winner with a fantastic day out!
There’s too much fun to mention…
These are just a few of the amazing activities on offer at BeachFest 2025! There’ll be so much more going on, from dance and cheer performances to DJ trucks, street performers and Joy Riders (the good kind)!
For updates as we countdown to the event, please see our Facebook Event Page.
This project is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund
