Bristol Harbour Festival

I literally can't wait for this years' Harbour Festival, I only managed to catch bits and pieces of it last year as I had only just moved to Bristol.

This year, 2010, it'll be going down 30th July - 01st August, and do you want to know the best thing about it? It's freeeeeeeee!

Amazingly, it's been going for 39 years, and while I wouldn't want to bore you with trivial statistics and facts, what it means is, this weekend has been running for enough years for them to have worked out what works and what doesn't!

There will be not one, not two, not three, but eight, yes eight stages with a variety of music for all tastes.

It's generally a great weekend, don't miss it!

This much-loved summer festival sees literally hundreds of thousands of visitors flock to Bristol for a weekend of eating, drinking and wishing we owned a boat. Many of my friends come down specifically for this weekend, usually around the end of July, beginning of August.

All the boats in the harbour tart themselves up with bunting and the like and there are plenty of food stalls where you can buy everything from candy floss to wheels of cheese! There are plenty of market type stalls if shopping is your thing and all the bars and pubs around the waterfront are jam-packed with people making the most of drinks promotions and the outside seating.

A fantastic weekend of entertainment, and it's all for free! Last year I spent it drinking cider and watching VV Brown play on the main stage in a packed Lloyds Amphitheatre and can't wait to do the same this year.

Loads of food, boats with festive bunting, music and performance stages scattered about the downtown area and a general festive feel - what more could you want?
This year there were no fireworks, which was a shame, but I still had plenty of food, wine, beer and music to enjoy. Also bought some lovely ceramics at half price!

I really do not understand the hype of the harbour festival, every year it's a load of people walking around in circles complaining about how expensive the rissoto from a burger van is. The past few years it has been infested with flies or rained off.
Apparently it's supposed to be about boats but it seems to be more about drugs in queens park. But year after year people still seem to go, maybe it makes them feel patriotic to Bristol and want to be part of something and possibly end up on points west.
I don't get the hype, it's too busy, your child will get stood on, someone will spill cocaine on you and the city is covered in Thatchers cans for the next week (Other terrible apple based drinks are available.)

Last year had Smerins Anti Social Club and Candi Staton, some great dance and circus performances and was blessed with glorious sunshine. A recipe for a top weekend. There is loads to see and do and eat and drink. Wear comfortable shoes because there's plenty of ground to cover.

There's a very jolly atmosphere at Bristol Harbour Festival. Its also a free event and it does very much feel like a city festival. Look forward to seeing whats in store this year!

My first memories of Bristol Harbour Festival aren't as great as my last. The first time was in 2006. My feet were throbbing, I was sunburnt, thirsty and wearing a luminous yellow waistcoat. I was working as a steward. As a struggling student I took pretty much any job I could to pump up my pocket money, and this time my role included "standing still and pointing to the toilets".

Even though I hated every living, breathing second of the day, I did vow to come back as a punter the year after (everyone who came looked they were having the time of their lives!) and I'm glad I did. The family friendly festival usually falls on the last weekend in July and lasts three days. There's one main music stage, a French market, boats and water displays with a huge fireworks display on the last night for everyone too "ooh" and "aaah" at.

The festival usually pulls in some pretty big headliners (last year VV Brown, Dan Black and Candi Staton were among the musicians) and always has a happy friendly vibe. The main events tend to end quite early, so go along to The Louisana or Thekla to check out the after parties.

Bristol Harbour Festival is the highlight of my year, and has been for the four years I've been a student in Bristol. Hordes and hordes of people come to the harbourside to enjoy two jam-packed full days of entertainment. Millenium Square is like a circus arena full of trapeze artists, acrobatics and general clowning around. Queens Square becomes a food market with special emphasis on continental cheeses and exotic wines. The area by the fountains is overrun with people listening to live music and relaxing in the sunshine with special ales from temporary stalls. With such a diverse mix of music, food, artists and entertainment, there is something that every family member can enjoy.

Great atmophere as usual but shame about the predicted down pour on saturday