Trustees:
Simon Hughes MP (Chair)
John Barker, Erica Bolton, Cllr Jim Dickson, Henry Fajemirokun,
Robert Gordon Clark, Kate Hoey MP, Sue Hughes, Phil Morris, George
Nicholson, Huilin Proctor, Justine Simons, Uday Thakkar, Iain Tuckett
Thames Festival
Mallside
The Bargehouse
Oxo Tower Wharf
Bargehouse Street
London SE1 9PH
Tel: 020 7928 8998
Fax: 020 7928 2927
www.thamesfestival.org
The Mayor's Thames Festival
10 and 11 September 2011
 A weekend-long celebration of London and the River Thames
 London’s largest free festival sees feasting, performances and
spectacle along the banks of the river
 Tower Bridge to the London Eye
With wonderful food, drink, music, interactive art, performances, an illuminated night carnival
and river firework finale, the Mayor's Thames Festival is one of Europe's most spectacular
free events.
Southwark Bridge will be closed to traffic for the annual Feast on the Bridge and hundreds of
artists, performers, musicians and installations transform London's south bank in a weekend
showcase of London's creativity.
A giant shipwreck will have been installed outside City Hall and live performances will take
place across the site. Come and see Mercury Prize-nominated artist Ghostpoet and the
incredible Dionne Bromfield performing on the Barclaycard Stage at Tate Modern, check out
the burning beats at White Mink's Electro Swing Speakeasy and the Lady Luck Jive stage, or
simply tuck in at our fabulous sustainable fish feast.
Kick back and enjoy the festival's family-friendly river and environment zone, marvel at
displays of Korean Taekwondo or head over to St Katharine Docks to see a fabulous variety
of vintage boats, sculling races and a retro fashion show. You can even take an exclusive
cruise on the Thames with hosts including Charlie Dark, Maxwell Hutchinson, David Starkey,
and the creators of Rastamouse.
The Festival's illuminated Night Carnival takes place on Sunday evening and brings together
over 2,000 dancers, drummers and masqueraders. If you see the procession from Victoria
Embankment, you'll have a prime spot to view our spectacular Fireworks Finale.
Supported by its principal partner Barclaycard, the Mayor of London and Arts Council
England, the Festival is delivered by the Thames Festival Trust.
Adrian Evans, Festival Director, The Mayor’s Thames Festival, said:
“This year’s weekend is going to be a true spectacular. The Festival brings Londoners
together to celebrate the things that make the city great and this year we’ll be bigger than
ever”.
The Thames Festival Trust Registered Office 108 Stamford Street London SE1 9NH. Registered in England No 3577462. Charity No 1074794. VAT No 782 5019 24
The Mayor of London Boris Johnson said:
“As the summer comes to a close, the Thames Festival is a magnificent celebration of the
important role the river has played in the life of the capital over millennia. Immensely popular,
always spectacular, it also highlights the warm community spirit as well as creativity to be
found in our great city - I especially like the way it gets young Londoners involved. The
festival is a truly unique event, which will have a significant role in our celebrations marking
the 2012 Games, adding to the colour and excitement of an amazing year for the capital.”
For more information please
s.kidby@thamesfestival.org
contact
Sam
Kidby
on
07946278480
or
at
Notes to Editors
The Mayor’s Thames Festival is London’s largest free festival, a spectacular two-day
celebration of London and the River Thames, attracting over 800,000 people every
September. The festival transforms spaces on and around the River Thames with a vibrant
mix of music, dance, feasting, carnival, river races, art installations and street performances.
It takes place every September, with a weekend of outdoor events on the river from the
London Eye to Tower Bridge and beyond. Through the Festival’s year-round learning and
participation programme it works with over 300 schools and community groups across
London, engaging 10,000 young people. The Thames Festival Trust is a not-for-profit
charitable trust with an independent board of trustees.
The Mayor’s Thames Festival 2011 takes place on 10 and 11 September. For more
information, please visit www.thamesfestival.org
Full programme:
Please follow the links below for specific information on the events taking place at the
Thames Festival.
Electro Swing Speakeasy Taking the sounds and style of the 1920s to ‘50s, turning them
on their head and smuggling them back into the 21st century. (Sat 10 September 2011)
Lady Luck Jive Stage Live bands and some of the best DJs on the jive circuit (Sun 11
September 2011)
Barclaycard Stage An amazing eclectic line-up of the very best of today's up-and-coming
bands (Sat 10 – Sun 11 September 2011)
Les Celestes. Beautiful illuminated aerial sculptures from France (Sat 10 – Sun 11
September 2011)
Feast on the Bridge – curated by Clare Patey Bringing people together in celebration to
share food, to talk, to dance and to reclaim a beautiful public space in the heart of the city
(Sat 10 September 2011)
Thames Parade A flotilla of over 100 working recreational and historic boats, both old and
new, with live music (Sat 10 September 2011)
The Thames Festival Trust Registered Office 108 Stamford Street London SE1 9NH. Registered in England No 3577462. Charity No 1074794. VAT No 782 5019 24
Night Carnival Britain's biggest and best illuminated night-time Carnival procession (Sun 11
September 2011)
Fireworks finale What better way to end the Festival than with a bang? (Sun 11 September
2011)
A cruise in the company of… These cruises will pass through the centre of the Thames
Festival, with commentaries delivered by various personalities, including Rastamouse and
David Starkey (Sun 11 September 2011)
Magnificent Revolution’s Cycle-In Cinema Resurrecting the abandoned corners of the
capital and weaving some cinematic magic into unexpected spaces (Sat 10 – Sun 11
September 2011)
Korea Calling Showcasing the very best of Korean culture, music, as well as amazing
taekwondo and theatre (Sat 10 – Sun 11 September 2011)
Barge-Driving races Teams compete in this impressive race, requiring both skill and
strength to propel these heavy un-powered vessels and ride the river currents (Sun 11
September 2011)
Al Fresco Tango Tango returns by popular demand with a mix of classic and electro tango
led by Sean A.McGee and El Farabute (Sat 10 September 2011)
Kids’ Choir Children’s mass choir made up of 700 voices from 45 London primary schools
(Sun 11 September 2011)
UP Projects Four ground-breaking light pieces have been commissioned by up projects in
partnership with Shangri-la Glastonbury Festival (Sat 10 – Sun 11 September 2011)
Orlando Gough – Transmission A short and intense percussion piece using HMS Belfast
as an instrument (Sat 10 September 2011)
Thames Revival Bringing the history of the river back to life, celebrating vintage glamour,
classic boats and the golden days of sailing (Sat 10 – Sun 11 September 2011)
White Rabbit Storytelling. Performance storytelling in a beautiful creative environment (Sat
10 September 2011)
The BFI’s Vintage Mobile Cinema Bus A vintage-themed day of film and fun for all (Sat
10 – Sun 11 September 2011)
Festival Market Quality crafts and delicious food and drink from across the globe including a
special focus on food from Korea and crafts from Central and Eastern Europe (Sat 10 – Sun
11 September 2011)
The Thames Festival Trust Registered Office 108 Stamford Street London SE1 9NH. Registered in England No 3577462. Charity No 1074794. VAT No 782 5019 24
New European Village Showcasing cultural activity from the countries of Central and
Eastern Europe (Sat 10 – Sun 11 September)
Photo Masterclasses The chance to hone your snapping skills with free drop-in
photography classes for Festival visitors (Sat 10 – Sun 11 September 2011)
BFI IMAX free screenings Family-friendly free 3D screenings on festival mornings (Sat 10 –
Sun 11 September 2011)
Akari Lantern Project Lantern-making workshops all weekend, followed by a lit procession
in the Carnival (Sat 10 – Sun 11 September 2011)
Firing on the Foreshore Learn about the Thames and Bankside from an archaeological
perspective (Sat 10 – Sun 11 September 2011)
Rivers of the World A show of river-inspired artworks from around the world (Tues 16
August – Sun 11 September 2011)
Chapeau Magique and La Galette How much fun can you have with 7 kilometres of paper?
(Sat 10 – Sun 11 September 2011)
Watch This Space at the National Theatre Join Watch This Space for some spectacular
outdoor theatre (Sat 10 – Sun 11 September 2011)
Blue Ribbon Village Thames Festival’s family-friendly, interactive river and environment
zone (Sat 10 – Sun 11 September 2011)
Reclaimed by the Thames A life-size skeletal wreck of a ship is built in front of City Hall
(Sat 10 – Sun 11 September 201)
Cadbury Spots v Stripes Minute To Win It How much fun and bonkers challenges can you
squeeze into 60 seconds? (Sat 10 – Sun 11 September 2011)
Sing for Water Choirs from across the UK journey to the Thames Festival to sing in a
unique massed choir concert (Sun 11 September 2011)
Disco Shed Turning the traditional garden shed on its head! (Sat 10 – Sun 11 September
2011)
Thames Sailing Barge ‘Lady Daphne’ Relive history by sailing right through the Festival
site on an historic vessel, and see Tower Bridge raise from underneath! (Sat 10 – Sun 11
September 2011)
The Thames Festival Trust Registered Office 108 Stamford Street London SE1 9NH. Registered in England No 3577462. Charity No 1074794. VAT No 782 5019 24