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Saturday and Sunday 30 June and 1 July 2012
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What’s On
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Stratford upon Avon River Festival News 2012
Bookings for VIP Tent being taken -
40,000 People and 150 Boats over two days in the heart of
Stratford-
VIP OFFER
By popular demand the Stratford River Festival will be returning to the banks of the River Avon over the weekend of 30th June and 1st July 2012. This unique free event was established by Stratforward Business Improvement District in 2009 providing yet another reason for visitors and locals to come to enjoy this wonderful town. Plans are afoot to make this years River Festival even biggest and best so far. The event is advertised nationally and attracts people from all over the UK. But perhaps more importantly it’s the most popular event in the Stratford Calendar and attracts a huge local following.
The packed programmed of events ensures that’s there is something for all the family to enjoy, whether it be admiring the flotilla of over 100 decorated narrow boats, watching river demonstrations by the dozens of national clubs, ambling through the craft market, savoring an assortment of global foods, being inspired by the dozens of local charities, joining in on the fun in the family zone to supping a pint of real ale, being amazed by the fabulous fireworks display or simply sitting back in a deckchair and soaking up the atmosphere and enjoying the selection of world class performers on the bandstand.
It’s the perfect opportunity for your company to become associated with this high profile quintessentially English event by taking a table in our VIP Marquee for just £100
What we are offering is exclusive use of a table for 8 for the day away from the hustle and bustle of the main arena. With riverside views of all the activities both on and off the river including the Saturday evening fireworks display it’s a great opportunity for local companies to entertain clients, reward team members or simply offer your friends and family a fun day out – without a huge outlay!
Each table will be served with a welcoming jug of Pimms on arrival and there will be waitress service available from the Pimms and Champagne Bar – avoiding all those queues! We’ll even arrange a private punting excursion for your party down the River Avon past the hundreds of brightly painted narrow boats including a punting master class for any of your budding punters! For those companies wanting to splash out we can also arrange delivery of a luxury hamper and champagne for your group – at an additional cost!
For further details call Ruth Wood 01789 299011 or email ruth@stratforward.co.uk
A PDF download of the above can be made by clicking here
Additional photos available -
More photos of the 2011 River Festival have now been made available:
Boats moored in front of the Bowls Club
Boats moored from the top of the RSC
Main site from the top of the RSC
All photos © Alasdair Lawrence
River Festival included as part of Stratford 2012 press release -
Delighted with the massive increase in shoppers and visitors in the run-
Stratforward Bid project director Chris Gregory said that even allowing for the snow that affected the 2010 figures, there was a substantial increase in footfall towards Christmas.
“Stratforward invested substantially in promoting the town as a must-
Mr Gregory, whose organisation represents some 500 shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants in the town centre, said that visitors this year could expect many more markets, new shops and more promotions, alongside a host of festivals that have helped to attract many thousands of visitors.
The Bid helps organise a number of annual attractions, such as the Shakespeare Birthday Celebrations (April 21 – 22), the Fringe Festival (June 2 – 10), the River Festival (June 30 – July 1), the Food Festival (September 22 – 23) and numerous Christmas events.
In addition, during the year there will be literary and poetry festivals, fashions shows, musical events, regattas and a Halloween festival.
“There is always something new happening at Stratford and this year we can look forward to the Olympic torch passing through during the River Festival weekend and lots of additional events to link to the Diamond Jubilee, the Olympics and the World Shakespeare Festival,” he said.
River Avon concessionary licences for boats attending Festival -
For the River Festival weekend, a concessionary licence for the River Avon is available (details within the boaters application form) to enable boats to attend the Stratford River Festival and over the following two weekends, the Evesham River Festival and Pershore Town River Festival.
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The Stratford River Festival Team
Jan Festival News Update published -
Happy New year to you all!
And welcome to the first of a regular 2012 Stratford River Festival News Update
The highly popular Stratford-
Saturday 30 June and Sunday 1 July
As usual we’ve lined up a packed programme of events both on and off the river bringing river enthusiasts and the local community together. There’s something for all the family to enjoy, so come along and pick up a unique gift from the Craft Market, feast on a delicious selection of global foods, be inspired by the Charity Village, join in the activities in the Family Zone or simply slump in a deckchair with a chilled ale or Pimms and enjoy listening to the selection of world class bands and performers on the bandstand. Saturday evening also hosts the illuminated boat parade and the un miss able fireworks display!
Become a volunteer
As a non profit making event we rely on the goodwill of the many individuals and organisations that make this fantastic festival happen. We'd love to hear from individuals of any age who have time to spare and are happy to help out before and during the River Festival. We are also keen to hear from local companies who'd be interested in getting involved as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility commitment.
So if you’re happy to help with leaflet distribution, posters, general event organisation,
stewarding, security, litter picking or any other vital roles please drop us a line!
Traders and Stalls Holders
Applications for Traders (for both food and drink), Craft and Charities are now being considered for the River Festival. To apply please go to www.stratfordriverfestival.co.uk/exhibitors where application forms can be found
Boats attending the River Festival
Last year saw nearly 100 boats moored on the banks of the River Avon. This year we expect to be able to accomodate many more boats. Concessionary River Avon Licences for the weekend are available and an application form can be found at www.stratfordriverfestival.co.uk/boaters
Contact and Information
The Stratford River Festival has a dedicated website which can be found at www.stratfordriverfestival.co.uk
We also have a Facebook (Stratford River Festival) and Twitter sites (river_festival)
If you need to contact the River Festival Team, please either e-
Do you know someone who would like to receive this News Update ?
We are sending out regular updates to what is happening at The River Festival this
year. If you know someone who would like to receive this News Update, please ask
them to visit our River Festival Website where they can supply their e-
The Stratford River Festival Team
January 2012
River Festival News Update Published
The first of the regular 2012 River Festival News Updates has now been published
-
Exhibitors application forms now uploaded -
The Stratford River Festival welcomes applications from exhibitors (commercial, charities or organisations) to attend the 2012 Festival
The application forms for the festival can be found here
Festival aims published -
The aims of the festival are:
· To maintain the profile of Stratford as a premier destination, encouraging visitors to visit more frequently, and stay longer on each visit.
· To build on the success of previous Festivals, and to develop a nationally recognised
Festival to add to the diary of events for Stratford-
· To provide a platform for local groups, clubs, charities and youth organisations to engage in community activities and to raise the profile of their work.
· To promote the River Avon and the benefit it brings to both the local community and visitors from further afield and to recognise the banks of the Avon as a popular destination for visitors to Stratford.
· To highlight the importance of maintaining and improving the existing navigation, and the benefits of extending that navigation to Warwick and the Grand Union Canal.
- To work with local waterways partners, local organisations and businesses to enhance
this Festival year on year, in preparation for the 2014 celebrations to mark, the
40th anniversary of re-
opening the Avon Navigation to Stratford, the 50 th anniversary of re-opening the Stratford- th anniversary of the birth of Robert Aickman (co-on- Avon Canal and the 100 founder of the Inland Waterways Association).
This promises to be a significant local and national event
We need your help ! -
As a non profit making event we rely on the goodwill of the many individuals and organisations who make this fantastic River Festival happen. We'd love to hear from individuals of any age who have time to spare and are happy to help out before during and to help close down the River Festival.
We are also keen to hear from local companies who'd be interested in getting involved
as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSV) commitment.
So if you’re happy
to help with leaflet distribution, posters, general event organisation, stewarding,
security, litter picking or any other vital roles please drop us a line
Thank you
For a talk through what is required or to volunteer, please contact Ruth at
ruth@stratforward.co.uk or telephone 01789 299011
Boaters application forms for the 2012 River Festival uploaded -
Applications for boats to attend the Stratford River Festival are invited and the form can be downloaded by clicking here
Stratford River Festival Website refreshed for 2012 -
2012 FESTIVAL DATES ANNOUNCED
The 2012 River Festival dates have been announced as Saturday 30 June and Sunday 1st July