Somerset's largest event on water
| Published: 21st June 2007 16:56 |
River Festival
Taunton has been confirmed by Somerset County Council as the host of Somerset's largest event on water, The River Festival, taking place this year on Sunday 23 September (10am - 5pm) at French Weir Park.
The River Festival has fast become a top Somerset annual attraction, celebrating one of the county's greatest natural assets, water, including our rivers and waterways. It will transform the River Tone into a colourful spectacle of boats, and a packed programme of water themed events will entertain all the family.
This year the festival is joining forces with Waterlinks, a Somerset project, which has been shortlisted for a £50 million BIG Lottery Living Landmarks bid. Waterlinks unites 21 local initiatives, harnessing water into a web of schemes and discoveries for the benefit of local communities, visitors, business, wildlife and the wider environment.
The River Festival will offer a mix of entertainment including comedy, poetry and live music from The Wurzels and the Blackdown Samba Group. Guided walks will explore the historical and environmental significance of water.
There will be an added emphasis on climate change, including a climate café and the Rising To The Challenge roadshow. Demonstrations and workshops using materials from the riverbanks are also planned. Boat trips, model boat displays, a boat handling competition, a giant duck race and canoeing will take place on the river, and an illuminated boat procession will take place after sunset on the evening before the Festival itself.
More than 124 craft have taken to the water since the first festival in Langport, and 18,000 people have visited the event. The 2007 event is on course to top last year's record of 54 craft that took part in the festival.
Pioneered by the Parrett Catchment Project, the River Festival is in its fifth year and is organised by the Somerset Water Management Partnership. Led by Somerset County Council, the Partnership tackles all water issues affecting Somerset's three main river catchments - the Parrett, Axe and Brue.
River Festival
Cllr Hazel Prior-Sankey, Somerset County Council's Portfolio Holder for Planning, Transport and Waste, said: "These are exciting times for Somerset and its waterways. The River Festival is a wonderful event that showcases the activities of the people and organisations of the catchment areas. It throws the spotlight on flooding, water and land management, offering visitors and the local community a chance to learn more about the waterways of Somerset."
Applications for exhibitors and stands should be made to Caroline Dunn on 01458 251694 or cdunn@somerset.gov.uk. If you wish to bring your boat please contact the Harbour Master on 01460 241302 or download a boat entry form on www.parrettcatchment.info
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