THE RNLI will be holding a festival in Poole Quay next month as it celebrates its 200th anniversary this year. 

Poole Lifeboat Festival will take place in West Quay Road, facilitated by a road closure, at the support centre and will include behind the scenes tours, capsize demonstrations in the sea survival centre, launch and recovery demonstrations and interactive workshops. 

There will also be live music on a centre stage and refreshment stalls during the two-day weekend festival on May 18 and 19. 

As part of the event, Poole Quay will also see a host of activity with Poole Quay Boat Haven hosting historic RNLI lifeboats and international visiting lifeboats.  

Poole Lifeboat Station will be open to visitors and other pop-up stalls including lifeboat models, static lifeboats and much more that will add to the atmosphere. 

The festival will close at 4pm Sunday with a parade of sail including many historic RNLI lifeboats, the current RNLI fleet, and visiting lifeboats from other countries.