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Water Fest 2022

Celebrating the Queen's Platinum Jubilee

Sat 4 Jun, 11:00-17:00

Reading Water Fest will be taking place on Saturday 4 June this year to coincide with the Platinum Jubilee Bank Holiday weekend and will be Reading’s flagship Jubilee event! 

The event takes place in the Forbury Gardens, Abbey Ruins and along the Kennet, between Chestnut Walk and the Riverside Museum between 11am and 5pm. Reading Borough Council and The Kennet and Avon Canal Trust are working together once again and hope you can join us for what we hope will be very enjoyable day!

The event will consist of live entertainment, children’s activities and refreshments, water activities, narrow boats, craft and charity stalls.

The Global Festival Stage

This year's main stage programme has been curated in partnershop with the New Reading Global Festival. The line-up includes:

  • Readiophonics - a cappella singing group and winners of Let's Sing! 2020
  • Prolisok - a London-based Ukranian Dance group
  • La Mort Subite - European gypsy/folk/swing 
  • Limpopo Groove - upbeat Afro-fusion for all ages

Workshops from Jelly

4 artists will be hosting a series of 30 minute workshops that will take place within the Abbey Ruins and Forbury Gardens. The workshops will give participants a snapshot into the artists processes and techniques used to create their work.

The residencies and workshops are in recognition of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and Reading’s environmental and heritage connections with our waterways. When artists are not hosting workshops they will be available to chat about their work at the Jelly base. Find us within the Abbey Ruins on the large grassed area of the Dormitory.

Places are limited to 10 people per workshop - book via the Jelly website.

For the full programme for this year's event, head to our issu page