The weeklong Red Sails Festival organized by the Portstewart Community Association in conjunction with Causeway Coast and Glens Council, D.C.A.L., and Coleraine Borough Arts Committee will be from 19th-25th July
The 2015 festival includes 
the usual feast of free entertainment for all ages. Including:
Ritchie Remo’s Big Band
2014 Britain’s Got Talent Semi Finalist’s-The Innova Irish Dance Company
And Hugo Duncan’s Radio Ulster Road Show, featuring several guest artists.
Plus lots more music inc tributes to Elvis and Pink Floyd. There will also be a variety of artists performing music and poetry in the local cafes.
Plus lots for the Kids-Workshops, Street Theatre and Talent, Sandcastle, Pavement Art, Fishing and Fancy Dress Competitions.
A special feature this year will be a skiffle version of The Beatles Lonely Heart’s Club Band album performed by the Really Rubbish Orchestra Band, using instruments fashioned from a piece of driftwood washed up at Portstewart Crescent.
It all finishes on Saturday 25th July with a spectacular Fireworks display at 10.30pm
For full details of the program visit www.redsails.co.uk
This year’s festival celebrates the 80th Anniversary of the publication of “Red Sails In The Sunset”. The lyrics of the song were written by Jimmy Kennedy, whilst staying in his family holiday home in Portstewart. The song was inspired by the “Red Sails” of Kitty of Coleraine and the beautiful scenic views in Portstewart. It was a massive hit around the world, when published in 1935. Sheet music was the popular format of the day and it was the biggest seller that year in the UK and the second best seller of the year in America. Over the next 25 years it was recorded by many of the top artists of the time-Bing Crosby, Louis Armstrong, Fats Domino, Nat King Cole, Connie Francis to name but a few. It was the first song Vera Lynn ever broadcast and formed part of The Beatles set list before they became famous. In 1977, over 40 year’s after publication, Jimmy Kennedy received an award in Nashville, as the song had been the most played song on US country music stations that year. It continues to be recorded and inspire today. In 2012 popular American TV Crime Drama The Mentalist had an episode entitled “Red Sails In The Sunset”.
To mark this special occasion the yacht “ Kitty”, which is possession of the Council’s Museum department, will be on display at the crescent on Monday 20th July. ( The anniversary of Jimmy Kennedy’s birthday 20th July 1902).
Local artist, Jonny Thompson, is releasing his self penned Red Sails inspired single-“Red Sails Romance” and this will be available at an information stall at the crescent during the week. He will also be performing at a couple of the cafes during the festival as well.
In further tribute to Jimmy Kennedy’s song writing, there will be a Teddy Bear’s Picnic Children’s workshop and Story Time session.