Regatta Community Day

COMMUNITY DAY
As The Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta begins another exciting week of celebrations, we’re delighted to introduce something a little different. Our new Community Day is a chance to celebrate the people, organisations, wildlife and volunteer spirit that make Dartmouth such a special place to live and visit.

Taking place in the Royal Avenue Gardens on Saturday 22 August 2026, this free event will bring together a remarkable range of local groups, charities, festivals and environmental organisations. Whether you’re a long-time resident, a regular visitor or discovering Dartmouth for the first time, there will be something to inspire, entertain and inform.

Best of all, everything is completely free to attend. There is no charge for visitors, exhibitors or stallholders, and thanks to the generous support of Dartmouth Community Chest, free tea, coffee, cake and juice will also be available throughout the day. So leave your wallet at home and come and enjoy everything on offer.

One of the highlights of the day will be the opportunity to meet many of the community organisations and festival teams that work tirelessly throughout the year to help make Dartmouth such a vibrant town. From the Dartmouth Food Festival, Steam Railway Festival and Candlelit Dartmouth to numerous local charities and volunteer groups, you’ll be able to learn more about the events and initiatives that enrich our community. If you’ve ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes, now is your chance to ask questions, meet the volunteers who make it all happen, and perhaps even discover opportunities to get involved yourself.

Alongside our community showcase, we’re proud to present BeWild@Regatta, delivered in partnership with BeWild and its network of local businesses and organisations. Together, they are helping to bring nature back to the heart of our communities, and this special Regatta event will give visitors the chance to discover how they can play a part.

You’ll be able to learn about the impact of plastics on our coastline with Till the Coast is Clear, make your own Considerate Crabbing line, and find out which plants can help transform gardens, planters and window boxes into valuable habitats for butterflies, bees and other wildlife. It’s a wonderful opportunity to discover the rich biodiversity that surrounds us and the many local projects working to protect and enhance it.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to meet organisations including the Dartmouth Green Partnership, English Heritage, Dartmouth Sea Cadets, Dartmouth Visitor Centre and South West Wildlife, all of whom play an important role in supporting and celebrating our local environment and heritage.

And if all that wasn’t enough, there will be plenty of entertainment throughout the day. Regatta favourite Professor Bumble will be joining us with his ever-popular stage shows and circus workshop, guaranteed to delight younger visitors and families alike. Animal HQ will be on site all day, giving brave guests the chance to get up close to some fascinating creatures, including hissing cockroaches and snakes, both during stage appearances and in their mobile exhibition.

To round off the day, children can dance the evening away at our free Children’s Disco, running from 5.00pm until 8.00pm.

Regatta Community Day is all about celebrating what makes Dartmouth unique: its people, its environment, its creativity and its generosity. We hope you’ll join us for a day of discovery, fun and community spirit as we begin another memorable Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta.