Bristol Harbour Festival returns this weekend. This free annual event, which attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors, takes place in the streets and squares around Bristol's historic floating docks.
This year's festival will open on Friday (July 14) from 3-10pm on Queen Square, then at 11am on Saturday and Sunday, at various locations, including Queen Square, College Green, Millennium Square, Waterfront Square (the Amphitheatre) and on the water. Dogs are welcome, but must be kept under control at all times.
We've compiled a guide on travel, weather and stage times, so you can prepare yourself for almost any eventuality and plan your day right down to who you're seeing on stage and when.
Read more: Bristol Harbour Festival 2023 outlines alcohol rules and food stalls this year
Travel information - how to get there
Walking around the festival
A one-way pedestrian system will operate at peak times across Pero’s Bridge from Anchor Square to Queen Square. Access will instead be via Cascade Steps. At busy times please be patient and considerate of other festival goers.
By car
The best way to plan your journey to the Harbour Festival by car, familiarise yourself with Bristol's Clean Air Zone, locate electric vehicle charging points and find out where you can park, is to head to Travel West via this link.
By bike
If you choose to travel to the festival by bike, there are dedicated lock up points to store your bike in. The main one is located in The Grove, the road that runs parallel to the Thekla. It is worth noting, however, that no security personnel will be situated in this area and bikes will be left at the owners' risk.
By bus
There are plenty of bus routes around Bristol that will take you to a central location at or close to one of the sites where Harbour Festival festivities are taking place. You can plan your route via First West of England on the website here.
By train
You can book train tickets to Bristol Harbour Festival via GWR here.
What's on? Stage times and locations
Amphitheatre
The Amphitheatre will be transformed for the Bristol Harbour Festival 2023 into a perfect spot to enjoy a bite to eat from the Food Court, with a range of music from Access Creative College, Ujima Radio and BCFM Radio as it becomes Harbour View. Here you'll be able to look out among the moored vessels and Bristol's Floating Harbour.
Opening at 11am, here is the line-up for Saturday and Sunday:
Saturday
- 12-12:20pm - Sadie Gledson
- 12:20-12:40pm - Natalie Ricketts
- 12:40-12:55pm - Cassidy
- 12:55-1:10pm - Claudie Short
- 1:10-1:30pm - Elarbe
- 1:30-2pm - Marns
- 2-2:25pm - B3nji (Next Level Showcase)
- 2:25-2:45pm - Asher Simmons (Next Level Showcase)
- 2:45-3:05pm - RED (Next Level Showcase)
- 3:05-3:40pm - Solo Jane (Next Level Showcase)
- 3:40-4:30pm - Badliana
- 4:30-5pm - Lebo
- 5-5:30pm - Millie Gibson
- 5:30-6pm - DJ Crook
- 6-8pm - Ujima Radio Showcase
- 6-7pm - Laid Blak
- 7-8pm - Faada Sojie Muzikology
- 8-9pm - Tristan B
Sunday
- 12-12:30pm - Monday at Five
- 12:35-1:05pm - LAKEDOWN
- 1:10-1:30pm - Karson Chivers
- 1:35 - 1:55pm - Ozone
- 2-3pm - Aspiration Creation Elevation Showcase
- 3-4pm - BORN2BE Records Showcase
- 3-6pm - Krazy & DJ Mixmaster M UK from Ujima Radio
- 4-4:30pm - JULIET
- 4:30-4:50pm - ELO1SE
- 4:50-5:20pm - M4DZ
- 5:20-5:40pm - The Underneath
- 5:40-6pm - DJ Fitz
College Green
College Green will become the Circus Playground as Cirque Bijou bring tricks and trapeze, children's entertainment and pop-up performances. What's more, the Circus Playground is sponsored by Pip and Posy and fans of the duo can meet them here on College Green.
Circomedia will be putting on a circus showcase, street entertainment and cabaret veterans Jones and Barnard, a cultural lion dance, jugglers, aerialists, dance groupes and even an award-winning circus troupe, Laser Kiwi, will be taking to the stage, among others throughout the day.
If you miss some of the shorter acts, fear not as they may appear on stage more than once throughout the day. Here's some more of what you can find off-stage here during the weekend:
- The Bee Garden
- Crazy Golf
- Loose Parts Play
- Bubble Walkabout
- Baby Racing
- Circus Workshop
- Hat making (Sunday only)
Millennium Square
The Jelli Shack will take over Millennium Square, providing "chill-out beach-bar vibes" with an acoustic programme brought to you by the team at Jelli Records. Featuring an abundance of Bristol talent, the Jelli Shack will also have dodgems and plenty of refreshments.
The lineup is as follows:
Saturday
- 12-12:40pm - Show Choir
- 1-1:40pm - Windrush Reggae Choir
- 2-2:40pm - Mia Albel
- 3-3:40pm - Taynee Lord and the Crookes
- 4-4:40pm - Gold Fever
- 5-5:40pm - Karen Swan and My Creatures
- 6-6:40pm - Harri Mason Band
Sunday
- 12-12:40pm - Break Out Voices
- 1-1:40pm - Aaron Douglas
- 2-2:40pm - Terraplanes
- 3-3:40pm - Chai for All
- 4-4:40pm - Cheritang
- 5-5:40pm - Onika Venus Group
Queen Square
Bristol's Georgian Queen Square will transform into the Music Quarter, curated by Harbour Festival programming legend, Tony Benjamin. This space will kick start the festival on Friday night and will also feature the brightest talent from Access Creative College alongside established acts.
The lineup is as follows:
Friday
- 5-10pm - Booty Bass
Saturday
- 12-12:40pm - Safrela
- 1:10-1:50pm - Starlings
- 2:20-3pm - Holysseus Fly
- 3:30-4:15pm - Sisanda
- 4:45-5:30pm - Mike Dennis
- 6-7:15pm - Zoobers
- 7:45-8:30pm - Solo Jane
- 9-10pm - Da Fuchaman
Sunday
- 12-12:45pm - Windrush Choir/Bristol Reggae Orchestra
- 12-5pm - DJ John Stapleton
- 1:15-2pm - Opa Rosa
- 2:30-3:15pm - Lady Nade
- 3:45-4:30pm - Xaman X
- 5-6pm - Doreen Doreen
On the water
It wouldn't be the Harbour Festival without some on-the-water entertainment and this year there'll be everything from jet ski stunts to an opening performance on Friday by The Caravan Collective between 7:30-10pm on the MV Balmoral.
Here's the rest of the weekend's lineup:
- Jack Moule, British Freestyle jet ski champion will be performing stunts in the water on his jet ski both days
- A cardboard boat race will take place on Saturday (12:30-1:20pm)
- James Prestwood will be Flyboarding at heights of up to 60ft in the air both days
- Young Shipwrights Boat Race will take place on Saturday (12-12:50pm)
- Family Model Boat Racing will take place on Sunday (1-1:30pm)
- Build and race mini land yachts on Sunday (2-3pm)
What will the weather be like?
According to the Met Office long-range forecast for the weekend, it is looking rather wet and windy for the Harbour Festival. The Met Office says: "Showers on Thursday, though fewer compared to late.
"More widely unsettled to end the week with heavy rain and thundery showers. Unseasonably strong winds possible along coasts on Friday.
"On Sunday, Persistent rain across the northeast should gradually ease. Elsewhere a mix of sunshine and showers, these most likely to be more frequent in the west. Some eastern and southern areas may stay dry.
"Showers are expected to be generally less intense or heavy than of late, although some heavier showers and thunderstorms still possible, mainly across the north. Winds moderate to fresh, locally strong and temperatures mostly rather cool.
"Later, low pressure to the northeast will draw cooler northwesterly winds across the UK, bringing sunshine and showers, possibly heavy and thundery, especially across the west. Often breezy, especially in the west and north. Temperatures a little below average for the time of year."
What can I bring?
There will be plenty of places to purchase food and drink around the site, as well as water fountains at Millennium Square and Queen Square to refill bottles and stay hydrated. You'll also be able to buy a Harbour Festival programme at any of the outlets dotted around the festival, as well as at various venues around the city.
Dogs are welcome at the festival but must be kept under control and cleaned up after at all times.
Do I need a ticket?
No, it's a completely free event to attend. And there's plenty to see and do.
