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.
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.
