Everything you need to know about Bristol Harbour Festival 2022

Spoken word, shanty singing and punk rock aerobics will be showcased as Bristol Harbour Festival is due to return for the first time in three years.

Returning for its 50th anniversary, the huge public festival will see live music, circus and dance performances, food and drink stands and more across the harbour.

This year’s theme of ‘ebb and flow’ looks at the changing face of the city in line with the transformation of the harbour over the last 50 years.

2022’s festival begins on Friday and will continue until Sunday. Entry is free, but there is food, drinks and activities to purchase during the weekend.

It’s time to get your body moving during our #Bristol Dances #celebration at Millennium Square!@BristolTrinity have curated an incredible programme featuring everything from #streetdance to swing.

Click here to see the full line-up ➡ ➡➡https://t.co/BMkJ4YvhvQ pic.twitter.com/zQe6FJHFTX

— Bristol Harbour Fest (@BristolHarbFest) July 6, 2022

The mile-long festival features nine performance areas – Lloyds Amphitheatre, Underfall Yard, Cascade Steps, Grain Barge, Thekla, Cathedral Walk, The Grove, Millennium Square and Queen Square.

Lloyds’ Bristol Music Stage will feature Dazee, Black Roots and Doreen Doreen amongst a broad celebration of the city’s music scene.

Circus, comedy street theatre and family workshops will be on offer in Queen Square thanks to Cirque Bijou – who will transform the space into an accessible and exciting place for families.

On the water, there will be seven ships moored that visitors can explore, as well as playing host to 250 different visiting vessels.

There will also be free entry to the Albion Dockyard at Hanover Place where staff and volunteers from the SS Great Britain Trust will welcome guests to the working Grade-II listed shipyard.

On board the Matthew, docked at the Underfall Yard over the weekend, the world premiere of The Hamlet Voyage will take place – a theatrical critique of the beginnings of British colonial ambitions.

This is joined by water sport displays, including the Pyronaut firing its water cannon as it cruises around the dock.

Bristol Harbour Festival last took to the waters in 2019 – photo: Paul Box

A one-way pedestrian system will operate at peak times across Pero’s Bridge from Anchor Square to Queen Square – with access instead be via Cascade Steps.

Broad Quay in the city centre will be closed from 6pm on Friday until 11.59pm on Sunday.

Queen Square, Mill Avenue, Middle Avenue and The Grove will all be closed from 12.01am on Friday until 11pm on Sunday.

King Street, King William Avenue, Little King Street, Queen Charlotte Street, Queen Square Avenue, Redcliffe way, Welsh back, Bridge Street, Prince Street, Prince St Bridge Wapping Road and Assembly Lane will all be closed from 6am on Saturday until Sunday night – Prince Street, Prince St Bridge and Wapping Road will reopen overnight from 11pm on Saturday to 6am on Sunday.

Festival organisers urge all attendees, performers, and staff to take sensible measures to stay cool as the Met Office has issued an amber extreme heat weather warning.

To find out the full lineup of events, pick up a programme from locations across the festival area – with plenty due to be available in M Shed.

The Bristol Harbour Festival is produced by Bristol City Council, with support from Arts Council England, and this year’s guide is produced by Bristol24/7.

Main photo: Paul Box

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