FISH was the dish of the day in Milford Haven on Saturday, as families from around the county descended on the docks to sample all the town’s Fish Festival had to offer.

Kicking off the festivities was self-confessed ‘sole’ man and X Factor finalist Jay James Picton, who said it was “fantastic” to be performing in his home county.

Entertaining with a mix of hits, including his own nautical-themed “You’re the Sea”, he also signed autographs for the crowd, and was roped into several ‘selfies’ with fans.

The Voice contender Ragsy, Manchester-based act Bones, new community choir the Nantucket Wailers, The Review, Honey Fungus and Unison Dance Group also performed during the day, while away from the main stage, there were sea shanties aplenty from Vagrants Crew, Milford Haven Town Band, Fiddlebox and Pembrokeshire Ukelele Pirates, and a unique performance of Floodtide – which saw the ebb and flow of the tide transposed into music and played live by local musicians.

Chefs Stephen Terry, Jono Voyce, Ellen Picton and Lisa Fearn from Pumpkin Patch passed on their top tips in the live cookery demonstration zone, while younger visitors enjoyed facepainting, balloon modelling, pavement painting, and a craft workshop with Spacetocreate.

But it was the Fish Fantastic marquee that drew in some of the biggest crowds, with everyone eager to snap up Welsh crab and lobster, and tuck into a tasty turbot or mackerel roll.

Meanwhile, Halen Mor restaurant claimed the title of Chowder Trail champions, with their smoked haddock, hake and Pembrokeshire potato chowder with streaky bacon and saffron, topped off with a boiled quail’s egg.

Thanks to help from Milford Haven Junior School pupils, Van Dyk's hairdressers were judged winners of the town window dressing competition, and fish-themed bunting designed by local school children also brightened up the festival site.

A spokesman for the Port of Milford Haven, which was organising the event, said the day had drawn in more than 6,000 visitors, with more than 130 people taking part in the Chowder Trail.

They said they had already received lots of positive feedback from visitors and stallholders alike.

For more pictures, see this week's Milford Mercury, out on Thursday.
 

To view and buy pictures from the day, click here http://www.westerntelegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/milford_fish_festival_2015/0/