Home Page Skip Navigation
  • Conference Bristol - Conference Bristol Microsite
  • Venues West - Venues West
  • Harbourside - Harbourside

Home / Latest News / 2008 / 5 / 15 /

EDF Energy Bristol Harbour Festival returns bigger and brighter for 2008

 

Bristol's Flagship event the EDF Energy Bristol Harbour Festival returns to the harbourside from 1st to 3rd August 2008, featuring more entertainment, fun and frolics for all ages than ever before.

The festival, which takes place around the historic harbour, celebrates the essence of Bristol as a creative and culturally rich city, and is designed to deliver a new experience at every turn.

Around 200,000 visitors flocked to the event in 2007, to see fireworks surrounding the tall ships, street dance, 300 EDF Energy Harbour Festivalperformers across eight stages, circus and aerial displays and poetry, all surrounded by delicious craft and food markets.

David Whitelock, Festival Director, explains;
"This year's festival is designed to have something for all ages with the introduction of a 'Southbank' area along the harbourside, impromptu street dancing, an international music programme and even after-parties organised with local venues."

Music

The festival, which opens on Friday night and runs through to Sunday night, will be packed full of international and local artists including The Hot 8 Brass Band from New Orleans and Bristol's hottest export, Beth Rowley. Both artists appear on the Queen Square Stage, presented by Bristol's eclectic Colston Hall. Many more top acts will be announced in the coming weeks.

The Amphitheatre will feature as always everything from big band to reggae and funk, and as you make your way through the city, be sure to stop by Cascade Steps for an acoustic set from a local act. The Remix stage, set in the Mud Dock area features a programme of Bristol's youngest, freshest musical talent as well as an array of workshops and surgeries for any budding musicians who want to find out more about production and the creative arts.

Family Flavours

Families visiting Queen Square can enjoy the children's festival, which will feature arts workshops, puppet performances and face painters, brought to you by the folks behind Shambala Festival.

Festival sponsors EDF Energy will be inviting people to join their 2012 Carbon Challenge. Compete against friends and family in a sporting challenge and help show how energy is hard to generate and easy to waste.

Bristol is synonymous with circus and street theatre and once again the Millennium Square stage at the Harbour Festival will showcase the very best of Bristol's circus and street theatre talent, programmed by Cirque Bijou. Drawing sought after street performers from all over the world, the stage is a firm favourite with thousands of festival goers, and you could fill a day with just watching aerial and acrobatic displays, juggling and comedy characters.

Ships

At the centre of the Harbour Festival are the ships and boats. Tall ships, feature vessels and hundreds of private boats from far and wide, anchor up for the festival, providing the perfect backdrop to the wealth of entertainment and the stunning fireworks display on Saturday night.
Councillor Rosalie Walker, Bristol's executive member for health and leisure says,

"Everyone is welcome to come and join us this summer in the west's biggest and best, free festival. By being ambitious together with our title sponsors and partners - EDF Energy - we can promise an action-packed weekend programme of thrilling activities and top-class performances."