A POPULAR arts festival which once brought thousands of visitors to East Lothian looks set for a comeback. 

3 Harbours Arts Festival has not been held in-person for several years - with the most recent festival in 2021 taking place online due to Covid-19 restrictions - and last year it was "at the point of closure" as it struggled to find committee members.

READ MORE: 3 Harbours Arts Festival 'at the point of closure'

But a relaunch event has now been announced and organisers told the Courier that they were already gaining "momentum" ahead of a full "festival revival" planned for next summer.

The festival, which first started in 2006, was a celebration of music and arts in Cockenzie, Port Seton and Prestonpans, held across multiple venues throughout the communities, including people opening up their own homes as miniature art galleries.

Celebrated artist Richard Demarco is among those who have appeared at the festival in the past, while well-known violinist Tasmin Little even played a concert inside one of the Cockenzie Power Station chimneys on one memorable occasion.

However, due to a combination of the Covid-19 pandemic and a lack of volunteers, the festival has fallen on hard times in recent years and was unable to take place at all in 2022 or 2023.

The relaunch event takes place at Port Seton Harbour next Saturday (September 21) between 11am and 5pm; the family-friendly event is free to attend and all are welcome. 

(Image: 3 Harbours Arts Festival)

Adele Conn, one of the original founders of the festival, told the Courier: "Recently, we got together and we knew the festival had fallen away due to Covid and it going online, but we are now hosting a relaunching event on September 21. 

"On the Saturday, we will have a big marquee with 20 artists, paintings, jewellery, sculptures and ceramics, along with live music from local musicians. 

"We are back and gaining momentum, and we've had a great response from people in East Lothian." 

Music on the day will be provided by Charlie Mac, Thorntree Players, Time to Shine, Ana Filogonio and Overton & McCann, while storytelling from the Courier's very own columnist Tim Porteus will also be a highlight.

There are then plans for a full festival revival in June next year. 

More information about the relaunch event is available here.