Last updated 15:56, Wednesday, 07 May 2008

ENTERTAINMENT throughout the summer will mark the 300th anniversary, with the highlight being the live Status Quo concert at Whitehaven rugby ground on Saturday, August 2.

The world’s biggest-selling band is being brought to Cumbria by the Whitehaven Maritime Festival committee to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the Royal Act for Whitehaven Harbour.

Tickets are £30 /£40 each.

On Friday, June 20 (6pm) there will be the “Opening of the Gift” from the large container which has sat on the harbour at the Bulwark Quay since June 2007 when it arrived in style as part of a 20-truck convoy of Eddie Stobart haulage lorries. Inside is a gift to the town as a thank-you from the Maritime Festival organisers to the community.

On Thursday, June 19 for three days the popular Continental Market will once again return to town, and on Saturday, June 21 26 town criers from all over the country arrive for a national Town Crier convention. It is intended for the event to take place outdoors, in St Nicholas Gardens, together with a Georgian fair and market.

On Saturday, July 5 is Whitehaven carnival (organised by Whitehaven Lions) will take place and on July 13 at 3pm this year’s Sea Sunday open-air service will be held on the harbour and dedicated to the tercentenary. The service will be attended by the Mayor of Whitehaven, Coun Keith Hitchen, the Sea Cadets and Whitehaven Town Band. As usual, a collection on behalf of the Mission to Seafarers will be taken.