News / Bristol
Bristol Harbour Festival 2017 highlights: Maritime
Bristol Harbour Festival returns this weekend for its 46th year and, as always, promises to be a lively collection of activities, music, markets and exhibitions.
Every day this week, Bristol24/7 will focus on a different aspect of the celebrations in order to share some of the highlights and not to be missed moments of one of the city’s finest family-friendly events.
Bristol’s maritime background is at the heart of the Harbour Festival and this year there is plenty to see and do to learn more about the iconic docks and their packed cultural history.
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To kick off proceedings, three famous tall ships will be mooring in the harbour for the weekend.
The Kaskelot, one of the biggest and most impressive vessels still on the water, will be open to the public, offering a first-hand look at the machinery and how it works aboard such a grand ship.
The Earl of Pembroke will also make a return back to Bristol, alongside The Phoenix, which promises to be quite the spectacle for boat lovers and visitors alike.
The Western Boat Show will also be running all weekend and aims to showcase the many different aspects within the marine industry; including navigation equipment, boat builders, water sports and sail makers to name a few. Entry is free, however boat owners are able to buy premium tickets for £5.
In what looks set to be a fun event, The Harbour Festival Cardboard Boat race is back again in which teams must keep themselves afloat using only cardboard devices.
The race aims to raise money for another showcase taking place at the festival; the Young Shipwrights Boat Race.
This project offers students the opportunity to engage in fun, practical workshops, whilst learning about Bristol’s maritime history and, every year, 100 model boats made by the students also race. This year’s event takes place on the Saturday of the festival at 12 o’ clock, with the winning creation claiming a £100 prize.
After causing a big splash last year as one of the highlights, Flyboard Fun are gracing the waters again at the festival. Look out for their performances taking place at various times across the weekend, which are always exciting and packed full of adrenaline and theatrics.
Find a spot on the water’s edge and watch the fly boarders grace the air before plummeting back into the shallows.
Read more: Line-up for opening night of Bristol Harbour Festival announced
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