Lyme Regis - Culture

Culture

The town has a number of annual events, including the 'Lyme Regis Carnival and Regatta', the Lyme Regis Fossil Festival (in conjunction with the London Natural History Museum) and Mary Anning Day. The traditional conger cuddling event takes place during Lifeboat Week. The carnival and regatta is an event which takes place over a whole week, during August and is organised by a committee of local volunteers. All proceeds from the week will be given to local good causes – especially those supporting the young and the old. The week-long summer programme includes yacht and dinghy racing, power boat rides, parades, open air performances in the shelters, sand based games such as egg catching, events such as the golf ball derby and rubber duck races on the River Lym, carnival procession and fireworks. The Lyme Regis Gig Club regatta also takes place during Carnival Week.

Lyme Regis has a recent history of record breaking attempts, 410 people singing Frère Jacques and largest sand ammonite.

The bonfire night spectacular includes torchlight procession, bonfire on the beach and a firework display. The Christmas Tree Festival has over 30 trees decorated by local organisations in Lyme Regis Baptist Church. An Easter bonnet parade takes place each year in the town on Easter Sunday. A May Day fete has stalls and entertainment from different Lyme groups. Thanks Giving Day has been held since Parliament decreed at the end of the English Civil War that there should be a day of celebration and prayer in Lyme to commemorate the end of the unsuccessful siege of Lyme by the Royalist forces, which was one of the longest sieges of the Civil War. It is celebrated in Lyme by dressing in clothes of the period and parading through the streets. Lyme Regis Football club was formed in 1885 and celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2010. To mark the event Ex-West Ham, Everton and England striker Tony Cottee was made club patron. The club, known as 'the Seasiders', is situated on at the Davey Fort Ground on Charmouth Road and has three senior teams and five junior teams. The senior teams play in the Perry Street & District League.