Hope Cove

Bank holiday weekend at the end of August is the biggest date in the calendar for Hope Cove, when visitors flock to the village for its' annual family fun weekend.

The festivities for this year's Hope Cove Weekend begin on Friday 22nd August, with all the frivolity wrapping up in style on Monday 25th August.

The 2007 event made more than £7000 for local charities, which was a new record. It's become a sort of competition amongst organisers to try and raise the bar every year, so it will be interesting to see if that figure can be topped in 2008.

The square outside the Hope & Anchor Inn is where all the action usually kicks off, with live music beginning on the Friday night. In fact live music is on display every evening and often throughout the day, from Jazz and blues to brass bands and sing-a-long pop songs, and there's even a bit of country dancing for those who want to swing and twirl to their heart's content.

Don't be too startled when people begin dancing on the table tops at four o'clock in the afternoon, singing out of time and out of tune. It's all part and parcel of the Hope Cove experience, and no-one seems to mind at all - in fact many of the bands thrive on audience participation.

The Monday afternoon slot has become synonymous with local legend Gin, who will no doubt whip up a healthy selection of classics to join in with, including about four renditions of 'American Pie', but no one's counting.

Participation is the key word for many during Hope Cove weekend, and there are plenty of events for all the family to take part in. Those who want activity can take part in the swimming races or the much-hyped Jogger's Race up to Bolt Tail and back.

Although it's not a fancy dress event (but there is a separate fancy dress competition if that's your bag), last year two locals ran the whole course dressed as gardeners. Wearing Wellington boots and pushing a wheelbarrow and garden tools up and down the bumpy course, they didn't even come last.

As a traditional fishing village, there are also plenty of events you might typically associate with the seaside. The sandcastle competition is always popular and tends to churn out a few inventive approaches every year; the fishing competition for shore and boat is decided upon with a weigh-in; and the land and sea race always attracts interest as teams of two run and row their way back across Harbour beach to a finish line and rapturous applause.

There's also a friendly competitive edge running quietly through many of the events. Some teams spend hours and days building what they perceive to be the best vessels ever seen for the Raft Race, which is a great spectacle for the observer, particularly as several of the makeshift rafts tend to disintegrate during the race. The tug of war also draws a big crowd, and is a chance for some to show off their muscles, and others to collapse in heaps and laughter after finally giving in to the opposition's mighty strength.

The weekend is all about atmosphere and fun, but that doesn't have to mean activity. Many are quite happy to lounge on the beach in the sun, or park themselves in a good spot near the pub and watch the weekend unfold with increasing merriment. It's holiday weekend, and you can make of it whatever you wish.

There is a treasure hunt that takes place over the whole weekend, jesters and jugglers entertain, and perhaps the spectacle of the weekend is the firework display on the Saturday night. It won't be the biggest or best display you've ever seen, but you can be sure that it will be accompanied by 'oohs' and 'aahs' in all the right places, and the atmosphere is very much alive and kicking. Although not an official event, this is usually followed by a huge beach party and bonfire, taking the party long into the night.

Although there are plenty of holiday cottages which are let in the village, many have already been booked for 2008's Hope Cove Weekend. Availability is always tight during this period, so anyone considering a visit should look into booking places in hotels and Bed & Breakfast accommodation as soon as possible.

The camping sites in nearby Bolberry are also worth checking out if you don't mind a slightly less comfortable nights sleep, but after a few pints of local cider whilst watching the fireworks on the Saturday night this might not be a problem.

If you miss out on accommodation in the village, there should be plenty of places to stay in the nearby area. Hundreds of day visitors flock to the weekend's events, although be prepared for traffic on the narrow roads, and unless you arrive very early in the morning or luck is on your side, you'll have to park in the farmer's field overflow car park.

Sometimes this turns out to be an ingenious tactic – it's not uncommon to see some folk stumbling out of their vehicles at first light after an impromptu night's sleep in the overflow car park. They were just having too good a time to go home.