• Make a contribution
  • Get the Print Edition
  • Sign up for our daily newsletter
Thursday, May 29, 2025
  • Login
Reading Today Online
  • HOME
  • YOUR AREA
    • All
    • Caversham
    • Central Reading
    • East Reading
    • Katesgrove
    • Reading
    • Southcote & Coley
    • Tilehurst & Norcot
    • Whitley

    Subsidies for All-Bus ticket fares end as public transport use returns to pre-Covid levels

    Royal Berks one of 28 Trusts to see new radiotherapy machine investment

    Berkshire Care Association celebrates stars at annual Care Awards

    Royal Berks records second-highest number of mixed-sex accommodation breaches in England, report shows

    UTC SEND students win big in Agricultural Challenge

    Reading Buses: ‘no reported injuries’ following traffic incident involving bus on Kings Road

    Thames Water issued £123M Ofwat fine – the biggest ever – over environmental breaches

    Mind in Berkshire report finds serious deficits in mental health provisions for Black people

    Family Fun Day returns to Reading Station this week

  • COMMUNITY
  • READING FC
  • SPORT
    • All
    • Basketball
    • Football
    • Rugby

    Supporters’ Trust at Reading joins 21-group alliance calling for Football Governance Bill amendment

    The Forest School U15s make history with another National Elite Cup victory

    Former Reading FC player announces shock international retirement

    Former Reading FC player reflects on heart attack suffered during match

    FC Bracknell U10 Lions score dramatic winner to win the cup for second season in a row

    Reading FC star player linked with transfer to Wrexham

    Former Reading FC manager Ruben Selles linked with League One job

    Four in a row for BAPCO

    Reading fans – you can finally dare to dream again

  • ENTERTAINMENT
    • ARTS
    • READING FESTIVAL
    • READING PRIDE
    • WOKINGHAM FESTIVAL
  • PRIDE OF READING
  • OBITUARIES
  • JOBS
  • ADVERTISE
  • CONTACT US
No Result
View All Result
Reading Today Online
No Result
View All Result
Home Entertainment Arts

Water way to celebrate: Water Fest returns to the Abbey Ruins

Staff Writer by Staff Writer
Thursday, June 8, 2023 8:44 am
in Arts, Entertainment, Featured, Reading
A A
Reading Today 4th June 2022; Jubilee Celebrations 2022; Water Fest 2022

Reading Today 4th June 2022; Jubilee Celebrations 2022; Water Fest 2022

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

ONE OF Reading’s most prolific festivals is returning to some of the town’s historic riverside venues for 2023.

Water Fest is back for the 34th time, celebrating the Kennet Canal and its various beauty spots through a day of art, music, and performance.

The On The Water Stage will see the arrival of the mayor at 12.15pm, boat parades at 1pm and 3pm, a race demonstration at 2pm, and poetry by Roy Mcfarlane at 4pm, followed by the duck race at 4.20pm.

The Acoustic Stage will see performances from Windsong at 11.20am, Ewan Millar at 12.10pm, The Small Strings at 1pm, and The Aldbrickham Clog and Step Dances from 1.50pm.

The Reading All Steel Percussion Orchestra will take to the stage from 2.45pm, followed by Praise Lubangu, and the Bengali Cultural Association at 4.25pm.

The Global Festival Stage in the Abbey will feature The Bluepers from 11.30am, Twenty06 from 12.30pm, 4Fingaz from 1.20pm, The Bulmershe Ensemble from 2.10pm, Nicole Allen from 3.15pm, and Limpopo Grove from 4.15pm.

Related posts

Henry the Thirst: RABBLE teams with Elusive Brewing to launch Chaos ale

Why Reading’s beer lovers will be raising their glasses to Henry I

Water Fest celebrates 33 years, still flowing strong

The Floating Stage will host performances from Robert Steven Hunt at 11.30am, the Hugh Turner Jazz Quartet from 12.30pm, Live Looper from 1.30pm, The Stretch from 2.30pm, and Sounds of Ukraine from 3.30pm.

Arash Shokouhi will close the stage from 4.30pm.

This year’s event will see a giant whale stationed in the heart of Forbury Gardens, where attendees will be able to venture inside and experience Plastic Oceans.

The immersive experience takes viewers into the Indian ocean with acrobatic divers, ancient leatherback turtles, and all sorts of sea creatures as they explore the effects of plastic pollution.

The shows run for 30 minutes, starting at the Jelly arts stand at noon, 2pm, and 4pm.

A number of artists will take up residencies, hosting several sessions throughout the day.

Sessions exploring photography and cartography will led by John Anderson, where attendees will be given a walking tour of Reading Abbey and the surrounding area, and find out about the area’s history and culture.

Many of the monks who inhabited the abbey were skilled cartographers, with the art of map making forming a big part of the area’s history as a result.

No materials are needed, though attendees will need to bring a camera or camera phone with them, and the event is open to children aged nine and over with an accompanying adult.

The event is free, though spaces are limited and must be booked via PhotographyJohnAngerson.eventbrite.co.uk.

Mel Nabarro will lead weaving workshops with participants will take part in creating colourful fabrics on a custom-made loom using traditional weaving techniques.

All materials will be provided, with all ages and abilities welcome.

Drop in sessions run for an hour each, running from 11am, noon, 1.45pm, 2.45pm, and 4pm.

Kate Powell will lead a sewing workshop which will work with recycled textiles and donated fabrics to create traditional “Suffolk Puffs.”These were small repurposed fabric embellishments mainly used for quilts, but latterly used to decorate clothing.

Sessions run for an hour, beginning at 11.15am, 12.15pm, 2pm, 3pm, and 4pm.

Linda Newcombe will host a number of illustration workshops where attendees will work with vinyl blocks to create composite motifs which can be turned into badges.

All materials will be provided, so pre-booking is required via IllustrationWithLindaNewcombe.eventbrite.co.uk

Two drawing classes will take place during the day, where attendees of all abilities will be encouraged to draw a model in historical dress.

Artists from Jelly will be on hand to help guide those taking part and will provide some basic materials, though attendees are encouraged to bring some of their own.

No ticket is required, though participation is on a first-come-first-served basis.

The sessions last one hour each, beginning at 11.30am and 1pm near the pond in Forbury Gardens.

A team of blacksmiths will be giving smithing demonstrations in the ruins too, showcasing traditional techniques.

A full list of events and workshops is available via: issuu.com/readingcouncil or whatsonreading.com.

Keep up to date by signing up for our daily newsletter

We don’t spam we only send our newsletter to people who have requested it.

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Tags: abbey ruinsWater Fest
Previous Post

FROM THE LEADER: The effect of voter ID on Reading’s local elections

Next Post

Reading West by-election likely as Sunak tipped to accept ex-PM’s honours list

FOLLOW US

POPULAR STORIES

  • Young man and woman attacked by group of teenagers in Reading robbery

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Former Reading FC star to become free agent following Championship relegation

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Thousands experience power outage in Reading, not expected to be fixed for hours

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Reading FC group Sell Before We Dai makes generous donation following end of campaign

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Reading FC takeover: EFL provides update as sale nears completion

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

RDG.Today – which is a Social Enterprise – provides Reading Borough with free, independent news coverage.

If you are able, please support our work

Click Here to Support RDG.Today

ABOUT US

Reading Today is dedicated to providing news online across the whole of the Borough of Reading. It is a Social Enterprise, existing to support the various communities in Reading Borough.

CONTACT US

news@wokinghampaper.co.uk

Reading Today Logo

Keep up to date with our daily newsletter

We don’t spam we only send our newsletter to people that have subscribed

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

The Wokingham Paper Ltd publications are regulated by IPSO – the Independent Press Standards Organisation.
If you have a complaint about a  The Wokingham Paper Ltd  publication in print or online, you should, in the first instance, contact the publication concerned, email: editor@wokingham.today, or telephone: 0118 327 2662. If it is not resolved to your satisfaction, you should contact IPSO by telephone: 0300 123 2220, or visit its website: www.ipso.co.uk. Members of the public are welcome to contact IPSO at any time if they are not sure how to proceed, or need advice on how to frame a complaint.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • HOME
  • MY AREA
    • Central Reading
    • East Reading
    • Bracknell
    • Calcot
    • Caversham
    • Crowthorne
    • Earley
  • COMMUNITY
  • SPORT
    • Reading FC
    • Football
    • Rugby
    • Basketball
  • ENTERTAINMENT
    • ARTS
    • READING FESTIVAL
    • READING PRIDE
    • WOKINGHAM FESTIVAL
  • PRIDE OF READING
  • OBITUARIES
  • JOBS
  • ADVERTISE
  • CONTACT US
  • SUPPORT US
  • SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER
  • WHERE TO GET THE PRINT EDITION

© 2021 - The Wokingham Paper Ltd - All Right Reserved.