Loch & Key Productions

Founded in 2002 by Capt. JK McKnight and an ambitious deck crew of young volunteers, The Forecastle Festival has grown from a small community gathering into a major national festival, attracting 75,000 travelers annually. The event has received numerous accolades, like being named one of the “coolest festivals in America” by Rolling Stone and among the “Top 101 Things to do in America” by SPIN Magazine, but it’s more than that.

In nautical terms, a Forecastle is a superstructure at the bow of a ship where the crew is housed. Hard at work in the unruly sea, it’s a place workers gather after a long day to unwind. A place where the people come together, for one whale of a good time.