ON SATURDAY, June 4, Reading’s Water Fest celebrated not only the Queen’s Jubilee, but marked its 33rd year.
This year’s festival brought together arts, music, performance, food, activities, and charity throughout Forbury Gardens, in the Abbey Ruins, and on the Kennet Canal.
The Reading Global Festival stage saw doo-wop from the Ding Dong Daddios, followed by Dolly and the Clothespegs, and the Readiophonics.
Later in the afternoon, the London-based Prolisok Ukrainian dance group performed a stunning routine, complete with traditional dress, and Limpopo Groove brought their unique flavour of Afro-fusion.
The Acoustic Stage hosted the Aldbrickham Clog and Step Dancers, who performed traditional reels.
They were followed by Live Looper, who was joined in his temporal guitar performance by guest Paul Hancock, on flute.
It also featured DVI Dolly, Robert Brain, and JAIR.
The Floating Stage saw sets from Nikki Pearson, Matteo Matsetse, and the Rich Meehan Trio, all from the raft on the canal.
Elsewhere at the festival, two separate boat parades were held, as well as the canal’s duck race.
The mayor of Reading, Cllr Rachel Eden, also took part in a ceremony to rename Matilda, a barge which offered river cruises through the Oracle throughout the day.
A number of boats were moored at the canal, including the Thames Rescue Service, and Brian Greaves’ blacksmithing barge.
Many attendees were dressed in historical and royal garb, including an appearance from Henry I, who is believed to be buried in the grounds of the abbey.
Street food stalls by Blue Collar brought global cuisine to the festival, with charity stalls and activities being well represented in Forbury Gardens.
Both Reading Museum and the Museum of English Rural Life had stalls where attendees could handle and examine objects from the history of Reading, including artefacts from Huntley and Palmers.
Cllr Rachel Eden said: “It really was Reading at its best.
“All the mixtures of cultures, experiences, the boats, including Ukrainian dances and Indian music, everyone coming together, having a wonderful time.”
As well as the celebrations, local artists Lisa-Marie Gibbs, Amy Beddow, Linda Newcombe, and Philip Newcombe led workshops designed to help guests hone and improve their methods of creating art.
The workshops were put together in conjunction with arts charity Jelly, which also hosted life drawing.
“Everyone is really celebrating, but it’s also a very relaxed day in many ways,” said Cllr Eden.
“Everyone felt very calm and just happy.”
Are you celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee this weekend? Holding a street party? A right royal knees-up?
If so, send in your photos for the chance to feature in our special jubilee edition available on Wednesday, June 8.
Please email your photos to news@rdg.today
