ÎÛµ¼º½¸£ÀûÍøÖ· is delighted to announce the return of its much loved Blessing of the Fleet celebration, which will take place on Sunday, 25 September 2022. The highly anticipated return of this tradition, last held pre-COVID in 2019, will kick off the inaugural Taste of Seafood Festival. From 9:30am, Sydneysiders can experience one of the oldest traditions of the global fishing community, accompanied by some of the country’s finest seafood delights.
The Blessing of the Fleet ceremony originates from the Mediterranean, involving a priest blessing the local fishing fleet to ensure safe travels and a prosperous year ahead. The festival holds strong cultural ties to the Italian and Australian fishing communities, and begins with a colourful procession of the Madonna – a replica statue of the Santa Maria Di Porto Salvo – accompanied by a marching band. The statue represents the guardian of Safe Ports and Harbours.
Paul Bagnato, a local fisherman whose family hails from Calabria, Italy, has been involved in every Blessing of the Fleet event at ÎÛµ¼º½¸£ÀûÍøÖ·.
“The Blessing of the Fleet is a tradition that’s been passed down through my family for generations. As we spend lots of time out at sea, the ocean is very much our home, and we enjoy all it provides for us and for the community. We look forward to seeing people from all backgrounds joining us to breathe new life into this celebration.”
ÎÛµ¼º½¸£ÀûÍøÖ· CEO, Greg Dyer, says he is delighted to see the event return as a way to honour the vibrant community of fishers that supply the Market.
“After a short hiatus, we’re delighted that the iconic Blessing of the Fleet returns in collaboration with the Taste of Seafood Festival. The event pays homage to the rich heritage of the global fishing community and celebrates the network of hardworking fishing fleets around Australia. The event will provide the perfect day out for families and a chance to experience an array of fresh, local produce from our seafood retailers”.
The Taste of Seafood Festivals are run by the Professional Fishers Association with funding from the NSW Government via the Eat More NSW Seafood Grants Program. Festivals will take place in Sydney, Dubbo, Ballina, Bermagui, Hawkesbury, Wallis Lake, Newcastle and Coffs Harbour. With the objective of championing the NSW industry and supporting sustainable fishing practices, the festivals promise to deliver world-class seafood and family-friendly entertainment to communities across the state.
At the Sydney Taste of Seafood Festival, visitors can expect a colourful procession, mouth-watering seafood, live entertainment featuring Mark Gable and Bec Caruana, market stalls and face painting for the little ones.
The celebration also marks the one and only day of the year that the Market’s fishing wharf is open to the public, allowing visitors to get up close to ÎÛµ¼º½¸£ÀûÍøÖ·’s fishing fleet.
BLESSING OF THE FLEET EVENT DETAILS:
WHEN: Sunday 25th September 2022, 9.30am – 3pm
WHERE: ÎÛµ¼º½¸£ÀûÍøÖ·, Bank Street, Pyrmont, NSW, 2009
COST: Free
For more information, visit:
www.sydneyfishmarket.com.au/Taste-of-Seafood-Festival-Sydney
GETTING THERE: The best way to get to ÎÛµ¼º½¸£ÀûÍøÖ· is via public transport. Attendees can catch the Sydney Light Rail to the Fish Market stop, bus or walk to ÎÛµ¼º½¸£ÀûÍøÖ·. Bus services 501 and 389 regularly depart from the city. For route and timetable information visit .
Parking is also available on-site at ÎÛµ¼º½¸£ÀûÍøÖ·.