Between the Tides Walton Arts Festival

05/05/2026

Helping us get the word out for our September festival.
Between the Tides, Walton Arts Festival, featured in Essex Magazine.

After the roaring success of the first Walton Arts Festival in 2024, ‘Between the Tides’ will return this September for another jam-packed weekend of live music, dancing, art, storytelling, performance, and fun for kids. Against a backdrop of beach activities, a celebration of coastal community ...

03/05/2026

Last day to see the beautiful sand drawings of De Strandharker on the beaches at Walton on the Naze.

01/05/2026

Did you see our Save the Date for this year's Walton Arts Festival? Dutch sand artist De Strandharker has drawn the Walton Arts Festival logo for us on the beach by Walton Pier to promote this year's Between the Tides, Walton Arts Festival happening from 18th-20th September 2026.

Gert-Jan van der Kooij goes by the name of De Strandharker, which means ‘The Sand Raker’ in Dutch.

This is his second trip to Walton on the Naze to create giant sand artworks. He has been drawing portraits and artworks on request by locals in the area. Gert-Jan likes the Walton beaches to draw on because of the flat sands and the raised promenade, which allows viewers to look down on the drawings.

"There's a high promenade where you can look from above, and that's perfect because in The Netherlands, when I'm raking, people can't see what I'm doing, only when they see it through the drone."

He prepares the artworks he draws first on his computer using software, and then loads the images to his virtual reality glasses, which he then projects onto the beach, tracing the lines and carefully raking the shapes.

You can follow his work on Facebook De Strandharker

Thanks, Gert-Jan, for drawing this for us and for all the other drawings you're doing during your stay.

01/05/2026

Save the Date!
Walton Arts Festival
18-20 September 2026.�
Between the Tides, Walton Arts Festival is back for its second year!

Save the dates of Friday 18th, Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th September 2026 for a fun-packed festival and celebration of coastal community and creativity across Walton-on-the-Naze.

01/05/2026

Save the Date... 18-20 September 2026.

Between the Tides, Walton Arts Festival is back for its second year!

Save the dates of Friday 18th, Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th September 2026 for a fun-packed festival and celebration of coastal community and creativity across Walton-on-the-Naze. Inspired by Walton’s heritage of September folk festivals, upholding its infamous reputation for being ‘Britain’s friendliest seaside resort’, the festival aims to showcase and offer a vibrant mix of opportunities and activities for residents and visitors of all ages, to connect, create, and enjoy our wonderful coastal town in all its glory.

See you there!
https://www.waltonartsfestival.com/