by Sam Hawcroft
The fourth annual Blue Light Weekend has been hailed a success after thousands of people flocked to Withernsea to enjoy two days of activities on land, sea and in the air.
This year, all the major elements went ahead. Last year’s sea swims and raft race had to be cancelled because of rough seas, but this time the water played according to the script.
The sea swims opened the weekend in traditional fashion, with swimmers taking on the one-mile and half-mile routes in conditions that could hardly have been better. The event has become one of the defining Blue Light Weekend openers and again brought a strong field to the seafront.
Later on Saturday, the raft race returned in all its glorious chaos. Billed as the world’s biggest blue-barrel raft race, it provided the usual mixture of speed, splashing, tactical paddling and outright capsizing.
There was controversy, too. Withernsea Fire Station’s crew crossed the line first, only to be stripped of victory because they had not collected the correct flag. The plot later thickened when it was suggested – entirely in the spirit of raft-race mischief – that the RNLI crew may have hidden the fire flag in the lifeboat station’s toilets.
Perhaps even more controversially, the title was eventually awarded to Blue Light Weekend, whose crew may or may not have benefited from a head start after the last-minute involvement of the editor of this newspaper.
We shall probably leave that one there.
One of the most poignant moments of the weekend came during the sea displays, when crowds gathered on the promenade for a minute’s applause in memory of local man Mark Ratcliffe.
Mark was hailed a hero after his actions in January when he leapt into the freezing waves to try to save Grace and Sarah Keeling. During the tribute, a flotilla of boats including Withernsea RNLI, Humber RNLI, Hornsea Inshore Rescue, police boats and others moved slowly towards the RNLI station as Withernsea lifeboat operations manager Darren Hickey spoke in Mark’s memory.
People lining the promenade then joined in applause, in a moving pause amid the colour, noise and celebration of the weekend.
The Colour Run was again the undoubted highlight of Saturday. Organisers had been astounded by the response, with record numbers signing up and registrations having to be closed before the weekend because of safety limits on the promenade.
The result was one of the biggest, brightest and most joyful sights of the whole event, as participants filled the prom and were covered in colour from head to toe. Every colour station had been loaded with extra powder to meet the huge demand, and the result was the promised colour chaos.
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Another major success was Blue Light Live, the new identity for the music stage in Italian Gardens.
The area built on the success of last year’s music stage, after the gardens emerged as a relaxed, intimate space with its own atmosphere. Some had asked why the event did not simply use the permanent stage in Valley Gardens, but that rather missed the point. Withstock already has its home there and its own feel. Blue Light Live worked because it was different – closer, more relaxed and right in the heart of the seafront activity.
The branded deckchairs, busy food outlets and the striking Jet Bean Coffee bar, based in a converted Cessna, helped make the Italian Gardens one of the most popular areas of the weekend.
Blue Light Live organisers Gary Richardson and Matt Boland pulled together a strong programme across both days, with acts including the much-anticipated return of local favourites the Axenals headlining Saturday night, and leading Madness tribute Badness bringing Sunday to a rousing close.
One of the biggest technical achievements was the live stream on the big screen next to the stage. The feed was also broadcast continuously on YouTube, in local pubs and to viewers much further afield, taking the Blue Light Live atmosphere well beyond the gardens.
Headline sponsor Tiffin Sandwiches also had a major presence across the weekend, bringing its large drinks bar and supporting the event after visiting Withernsea in the build-up.
Members of the Tiffin team were amazed by the size and scope of Blue Light Weekend during a site visit the previous week. Marketing director Richard Cullen was among those getting stuck in during the event itself, working hard across the weekend as the company helped support what has become Withernsea’s biggest annual event.
There were new additions for families this year, too, with Kids’ HQ taking over Belvedere Play Park.
Organised by Jen Lount, the area was created after organisers listened to feedback calling for more activities for children. It brought together workshops, role play, arts and crafts, circus activities, DinoStar, science sessions, bouncy castles, giant games and other attractions.
One of the biggest hits was The Plumber Drummer, who drew crowds both in Kids’ HQ and along the promenade. His energetic performances proved especially popular with younger visitors, who were quickly pulled into the rhythm, noise and fun.
The Military Village, organised by Julie Walker and Dan Welch, was another big draw. Based on the green at the top of Seacroft Road, it brought together Armed Forces displays, vehicles, community groups, charity stalls, food, entertainment and activities across the weekend.
Visitors could explore the return of the Typhoon Simulator, meet Withernsea Army Cadets, Withernsea Scouts, Duke of Edinburgh volunteers, Hull 4 Heroes, the Royal Navy Youth Engagement Team and Tyler Mallen’s museum, which was raising money for Help for Heroes.
The Star Tent provided entertainment throughout the weekend, with vintage vocals, speakers, wartime classics and appearances from Winston Churchill, while stalls, refreshments, merchandise, freebies, gift bags and a quiz added to the atmosphere.
It was busy, but relaxed – exactly the sort of area where families could wander, learn, stop for food and spend time taking in the displays.
HERITAGE: Poet Richard Harries and Withernsea RNLI’s Paul Baker during Saturday’s history walk
Sunday morning brought the World Mascot Championship to its new home in Memorial Gardens. The weather was warm even early in the day, and the mascots were seen drinking water as if it were going out of fashion – understandable given the challenge of competing in furry costumes in the summer heat.
After a series of hilarious games refereed by event co-director Dave Penson and commentated on with suitable irreverence by Cllr Jon Dimberline, Hornsea Inshore Rescue’s HIRBi Bear was declared the winner.
It was a fitting and well-received outcome after the recent events in Hornsea, and another reminder of the close links between the coastal communities and their rescue services.
The air show also returned in a different format, split across both days. Air-show director Dave Walker, known to many as Para Dave, again provided informed and engaging commentary, helping crowds follow what was happening above the seafront.
There were displays from the AeroSuperBatics Wingwalkers, the Starlings Aerobatic Display Team, a Yorkshire-built Slingsby Firefly and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’s Spitfire.
A number of helicopters added further interest across the weekend, with flypasts and passenger rides bringing another dimension to the aviation programme.
The standout moment came at the end of Sunday’s air show, when the Starlings flanked the wing-walkers and flew alongside the promenade. It was a spectacular finale to the flying programme.
On Sunday night, hundreds of people packed Italian Gardens, waving flashing blue sticks and dancing to Badness, as the event built towards its finale. A few drops of rain – yes, actual rain, after weeks of heat! – were barely noticed by the crowd before the fireworks brought Blue Light Weekend 2026 to a close.
It was a fitting end to a weekend that had combined spectacle with community spirit, big attractions with local involvement and moments of fun with moments of reflection.
Behind it all was a huge effort by the Blue Light Weekend committee and an army of volunteers, many of whom had been working for months to bring the event together.
In only a few years, Blue Light Weekend has become Withernsea’s biggest weekend and one of the standout events on the East Yorkshire coast.
The next event has already been pencilled in for Saturday, July 31 and Sunday, August 1, 2027, with planning effectively starting straight away.
But organisers are not slowing down just yet.
Next weekend sees the Blue Light Weekend Kids’ Weekend and Kite Festival on Hull Road playing field, with family activities, an obstacle course, treasure trail and much more – and you can find a trail entry form inside the front cover of this week’s print and online edition.
