With less than a week to go until Falmouth's Virtual Sea Shanty Festival 2020, we are in stall for a jam-packed evening full of singing, entertainment and an all-round shanty Friday night party.

People are set to tune in to the Facebook Live from all over the world between 6pm and 9pm on Friday the 12th June.

There are over 30 group performances confirmed on an international scale, with performances from Cornwall to Brittany, Holland, Spain and Ireland. This combined with fun and light-hearted presenting from Betty Stogs and John Warren, and some fabulous footage of Falmouth from 3Deep Aerial, offers a night not to be missed.

With a reach of 80,000 people so far online, shanty fans are even planning their own "pirate parties" and small events from their own homes to get involved on the night.

The event will be held at Cornwall Channel studios, who have been working hard on the tech behind the scenes to ensure the event runs smoothly and can be viewed far and wide.

"In light of the 2020 festivals cancellation, it seemed right to bring you all a bit of shanty spirit to enjoy from the comfort of your own homes. It's great that by creating a virtual aspect to the shanty festival enables us to reach out to people all over the world.

Not only will people in Cornwall and across the UK be watching, but we are expecting viewers from as far as South Africa, Australia and the USA!" says Richard Gates, Chairman of Falmouth's International Sea Shanty Committee and Falmouth Town Manager.

Falmouth International Sea Shanty Festivals chosen charity each year is the RNLI.

This year, money from the virtual event will go to the RNLI via this link.

Not only this, but all profits from of this years' "Through the Years" shanty CD will go to the Royal Cornwall Hospital COVID-19 Fund. The CD presents 48 tracks from many wonderful groups and singers who have performed at the Festival over previous years.

This can be purchased from The Cornish Store's website.

Betty Stogs single-handedly raised an incredible £5610 for the 2019 festival last year and is excited to be a part of this years' virtual event. Each year at the Festival Betty challenges the Sea Shanty groups to try and beat the amazing total she raises.

So not to miss out this year Betty has set up her own online JustGiving Page and is asking the groups to take up the Beat Betty challenge and try and beat her own target of £1,000.

"The Sea Shanty Festival is the high light of my year and so I was gutted when it had to be cancelled. I am really looking forward to a great evening of virtual shanties and suggest you get your bottles of fine Skinners ales in ready for the night!", says Betty Stogs.

The Beat Betty competition results will be announced live on the virtual event.

So, if you're not already involved, get your pirate party plans in place and get set for a night of great shanty celebrations!

There will be information coming out every day next week on social media so do keep an eye on Twitter and Facebook.

Falmouth's Virtual Festival Live event can be tuned into on Friday the 12th June from 6pm.