Postponed   All Aboard river festival postponed >>

Updated It’s rare indeed these days to be able to share word of a local event thatisn’t on Zoom, but share we can, with news that “musical and theatrical treasure trail” ‘All Aboard’ is returning to the river and its environs in August.

‣ Met office outlook for Friday to Sunday as at 19/8/20: "Windy with scattered blustery showers interspersed with brighter spells."

All Aboard river festival postponed

The St Denys Boat Club-supported event first made its appearance in 2019 with watery activities around our stretch of the river and beyond.

Now with the government giving the green light for some open-air events, this year’s All Aboard is billed to take place during high tide (12.00 - 17.00) from Riverside Park to Northam Bridge on Saturday, August 22.

“Explore the water and water’s edge for 'happenings' musical, poetic, theatrical, colourful, unusual and unpredictable!” says the Facebook event page, promising that “The Troll will return!”

It continues: “You are welcome to come in watery fancy-dress, make music on the water and even bring your own performance afloat or at the water’s edge!

"Open-air gigs, festivals and theatre shows can resume in England from July 11th 2020, as long as they have ‘a limited and socially distanced audience’, the government has said.

“Everyone afloat should take common sense water safety measures - always wear a life-jacket/buoyancy aid, take caution with the wind, be aware of tides and other boats etc.”

Speaking after last year’s event, Chris Townsend, one of the organisers, said:

"All Aboard floated the boat with mythical musical and watery frolics... There were Mermaids , Trolls Pirates serenading punk folk classical ,blues, sea Shanties and jazz and the very best of cheesy singalong music hall.

"Delights included Duck Trébuchet Catapult , Troll Storyteller with a real Troll, poetry on boats and on the Swan Jetty at Riverside Park, and Boat delivered cheese toasties!

"Pontoons and Public paths and spaces provided venues allowing plenty of landlubbers a chance to join in too along with the simultaneous fun of Trifest.

"All the boats of St Denys Boat Club were out treasure hunting and many locals joined in with the frolics in a celebration of this wonderful river.

"When it happens again it will be bigger, bolder and wetter!"

Last year the event took place on the same day as TriFest in Riverside Park, pictured below,which organisers have decided to cancel this year.

Speaking in May to bitternepark.info, TriFest organiser Paul Jenks said a decision had to be made then, and that social distancing would be “all but impossible to enforce”.

Photos of last year's event: Ben Quextal

Previously

Organisers cancel this year’s TriFest community festival

• There'll also be an exhibition of art and craft work by local folk in the boat club hall, off Priory Avenue, to coincide with the event on Saturday afternoon. Pictured below:prints by Ann MacGillivray, one of the exhibits, with a percentage of any sale going to the Boat Club

All Aboard river festival postponed