Blessing of the Fleet & Fireworks

Join us for the 21st Anniversary of the Blessing of the Fleet. Fireworks on Friday the 26th of May from 6:30pm-7pm and the Blessing on Saturday the 27th from 1:00-3:30pm

Saturday 27th May 2023 Programme:

1:00pm
Welcome and outline day’s events (MC Pete Kara)
• Music interlude
• Fish filleting and demonstrations
• Fish and chips cook-up by Nelson Rotary
- $4 per serve
• Mussels - $5 per serve (5)
• Salmon cakes $3 per cake
• Donation collection for Seafarer’s Memorial Trust – Nelson Rotary Club

1:30pm
Blessing Ceremony Commences (MC Pete Kara)
• Pete Kara to name the Dignitaries
• Dignitaries’ arrival onto the Pier – led, piped, and saluted by a guard of honour by T.S. Talisman Cadets

1:35pm
Welcome and opening prayer

1:40pm
• Music interlude
• Prayer

1:45pm
• Reading
• Music interlude
• “Eternal Father” for those in peril of the sea. Public invited to join in

1:50pm
• Blessing service by the 3-clergy pointing out to sea towards vessel and asking audience to do the same

1:55pm
• Wreath laying followed by 1 minute of silence, followed by the ringing of the Ship’s bell
• Ships sound their horns followed by music as Dignitaries and Clergy leave the Pier

2:05pm
• Vessel’s parade (Darren Guard)

2:15pm
• Tug display (Harbour Master Stuart Whitehouse)

2:20pm
• Displays - Coastguard (Pete Kara)

2:40pm
• Fish auction