If you’re a fan of vintage fashion, music, cars, crafts or the 1920s – 1970s’ lifestyle in general, the annual Shake and Stir Vintage Festival is the event for you. Southbourne’s popular vintage music, dance, food and drink festival takes over the town’s businesses, the village green and beautiful Fisherman’s Walk for a whole weekend, making room for stalls, entertainment and competitions to get everyone in the festival spirit.
Classic community spirit
Celebrating its seventh year in 2018, this striking, completely free, family event brings together talented vintage musicians, classic cars, motorbikes and bicycles and combines retro entertainment with a mouth-watering mix of local food and drink.
In the run-up to the main weekend, various local businesses will throw open their doors in a series of warm-up events and party nights. The 2017 event kicked off with a special Friday night party night at the Cliff House Hotel. It was free to come along and guests enjoyed vintage entertainment by vocal harmony trio The Bluestockings and a hog roast bar with shake and stir-themed cocktails.
Vintage celebrations
The Saturday and Sunday always sees two packed days of fun and entertainment across several festival sites including the bandstand at Fisherman’s Walk, a stage at Southbourne Grove and along the high street too. Various acts often on the weekend line-up include Bourne to Swing, Jitterbug Jive, Rip it Up and The Land Girls, with local dance schools and choirs adding to the community festival vibe.
If you’ve got a penchant for the past, why don’t you grab your vintage garb (not compulsory – but certainly encouraged!) and swing, jump, jive, rock and roll down to Southbourne? You never know, you might just become the next Shake and Stir Vintage King or Queen!
