Celebrate Scotland's Seas with Us

23 - 27 May 2025

Join us this May to celebrate the wonders of Scotland's seas at our annual Marine Fest. Now in its fifth year, Marine Fest will run from Friday 23rd - Tuesday 27th of May. The full-filled programme includes walks, talks, workshops and an extra special puffin express boat trip!

From citizen science sessions along the beautiful East Lothian coastline, to a family friendly open day, the programme will give people of all ages a taste of the magic of the marine world.

Explore the full programme here and book your tickets via the links below.

The Festival is sponsored by Cirrus Logic

Friday 23 May

Speed Sketching by the Sea from 10:30am
Inspired by our stunning coastal location, you wil learn speed sketching skills with Mark, also known as the Edinburgh Sketcher. From close up studies of shells and plant life to sea views out to Bass Rock, you will create a number of drawings in ink and watercolour. All materials supplied.
Book Now

Live Science Shows from 2pm
Professor Egghead is back with more wacky, interactive fun with our live science show - Alien Invasion. Find out more about what invasive species are and how we can tackle them in this fun, family-friendly event.
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Rockpool Ramble from 5:30pm
Discover the amazing wildlife that can be found in the rockpools of North Berwick. Enjoy a brief talk followed by a guided ramble along the nearby rocky shore.
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Saturday 24 May

Community Day 2025
Join us for our Community Open Day with FREE dropin activities on throughout the day including, birding for beginners, whale and dolphin watches, shoreline explore and science busking. Entry to the Discovery Experience will be FREE all day too!
FREE drop in events ALL DAY!

“Our ‘Community Day’, which will be taking place on Saturday 24th May, is an opportunity to explore the Scottish Seabird Centre for free and dip your toes into a range of inspiring wildlife watching activities. Whether you’re new to nature, or already hooked, everyone is welcome to join us for this event to celebrate our local wildlife and wild places.”

Emily Burton, Senior Conservation Officer, Scottish Seabird Centre

Puffin Express 1pm and 2pm
A 30-minute catamaran boat trip around Craigleith island to learn more the amazing seabird species breeding on the island including almost 10,000 puffins! These special trips are exclusively for Marine Fest!
Book Now

Sunday 25 May

Snorkelling in Scotland Talk from 11:30am
Emma and Gordon Taylor, authors of Snorkelling Britain, join us to talk about their favourite snorkelling sites around Scotland, share their top tips and wildlife highlights when snorkelling in the UK.
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Puffin Express Boat Trip - 2pm
A 30-minute catamaran boat trip around Craigleith island to learn more the amazing seabird species breeding on the island including almost 10,000 puffins! These special trips are exclusively for Marine Fest!
Book Now

Seabird Saunter from 2:30pm
Join your guide Kevin for a mixed terrain shoreline walk with easy chat and a chuckle or two. We’ll look at what made this landscape, its history and why the seabirds need our help.
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Introduction to Rocky Shore Ecology from 5:30pm
Join the Scottish Seabird Centre team for their new “rockpooling for grown-ups” session! Take a more in-depth look into the world of rocky shore ecology, learn how to identify different species, and appreciate the diversity of marine life on our doorstep. Fold out FSC identification chart included with your ticket.
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Monday 26 May

Marine Mini Makes from 10am
Join our family friendly marine inspired mini crafting sessions in the Discovery Experience. Suitable for ages 3+.
Free for members and with Entry to the Discovery Experience

Seabird ID: Beginners from 10am
Join our Conservation Officers for an indoor session identifying the spectacular seabirds that can be spotted around Scotland's coasts in summer. We'll focus on those you’re likely to see locally in and around North Berwick.
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Puffin Express! 12:30pm
Marine Fest Exclusive Boat Trips! On board our custom-built, 55-seat catamaran, enjoy a 30-minute cruise around the island of Craigleith to learn more about the amazing seabird species breeding on the island, including almost 10, 000 puffins!
Book Now

Tuesday 27 May

Marine Mini Makes from 10am
Join our family friendly marine inspired mini crafting sessions in the Discovery Experience. Suitable for ages 3+.
Free for members and with Entry to the Discovery Experience

Wildlife Tour
Join our Conservation Officer for a relaxing 1.5 hour wildlife tour along North Berwick's coast to find out more about the seasonal wildlife that can be spotted in this area of Scotland. Learn more about basic bird ID and cover some of the most iconic species found around the local Scottish coastline.
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Emma and Gordon Taylor

Event Details