Who We Are

The idea for our festival was born in the bay 25 years ago, here on North Devon’s golden coast.

We knew just how lucky we were to live in this spectacular adventure playground, right on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean.

We wondered if Croyde Bay could be the perfect stage for some of the best beach and ocean sports anywhere in the UK. With music and friends and good times into the night. For one weekend each year. Sounds good, right? Thankfully, thousands of you seemed to agree.

WE BELIEVE IN THE GOLDEN COAST

Since then, our golden coast has hosted some of the biggest, baddest ocean sports events in Europe. Surfing will always be our first love. Over the years we’ve hosted the Original Tiki Longboard Classic, SaltRock and O’Neill Pros and the Quiksilver Grom series, with past champions like Igor Harris, Alan Stokes, Sam Lamiroy and Joss Ash testing themselves against the break.

We’ve had everything from super iron men to epic surf ski races too. From crazy MTB to King and Queens of the volleyball court. We’ve brought Olympic and World Champions here to Croyde Bay and beyond, for lung-busting, nerve-shredding races that stretched from Westward Ho! to Woolacombe and back.

SLEEP. BEATS. WAVES. REPEAT.

We’ve partied pretty hard too, with some of the biggest names in music and dance. We’re as likely to be raving in the field on Friday night as ripping in the ocean on Saturday morning.

From Razorlight to Roots Manuva, from MistaJam to Sigala, Kaizer Chiefs to Craig David, Jess Glynne to Ben Howard, Michael Kiwanuka and Bastille, they’ve all graced the main stage right here in the bay. We’ve shone a spotlight on brilliant local artists like Amy Newton and Small Town Jones and witnessed the birth of a few future superstars too (Ed Sheeran we’re looking at you).

KEEP IT LOCAL. PAY IT FORWARD.

In a world of mega-festivals with the same few owners, we’re still independent and proud of it. We think greatness starts at the grassroots. It’s why we’ve welcomed thousands of local school children over the years to our festival each Friday, to discover new sports and experiences, some for the very first time. Maybe you were one of them.

YOU’RE OUR SHORE THING

Over more than two decades there have been highs and lows. Tough years when we couldn’t come together. But through it all, we’ve been supported by you, our Oceanfest family.

Some of you will have come to the first one in 1999, back in the day when you were still young and reckless. These days? Maybe you’re just reckless.

IF YOU’RE FOND OF SAND DUNES AND SALTY AIR

We’re humbled and stoked to still be somewhere everyone can come together for a good time. The young and those-who-used-to-be. The partying teens and the raving dads. The thrill-seekers and the sun-worshippers.

Nearly 25 years later, we’re a little older and perhaps a little wiser. In a world that doesn’t always make sense, we still believe in the golden coast. We still believe in the power of the ocean and music and good times to bring us all together.