One of the biggest free festivals is set to return to Victoria Embankment for the first time in two years following Covid restrictions. The Riverside Festival will take place from Friday, August 5 to Sunday, August 7 with bands, street food and more.
The festival has attracted over 250,000 visitors in the past with similar numbers expected to attend this year's celebrations. The festival offers a wide variety of fun including fairground rides, games, and attractions - all located along the banks of the Trent. There will also be a number of street food and drink vendors there for treats and snacks.
One of the highlights of the festival is the evening firework display which lights up the sky much to the delight of visitors. Crowds of up to 40,000 people are expected to line the Trent to watch them take place. This year will see two nights of fireworks instead of one including Friday night as well as Saturday night at 10:30 pm.
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When it comes to food, the festival is packed with local favourites such as Hawaiian, Sri Lankan and Jamaican street food as well as The Filthy Vegan.
This year will see three huge music stages take place with music on the Monument stage featuring glam rock to global beats. The stage will be headlined by Dr and the Medics and supported by East Midland's band, Seas of Mirth on Friday.
Saturday will see a funk, soul, hip hop mix including performances from Fat Digester and Southern African rhythms of Kudaushe Matimba and Harare. The show will close with the exciting nine-piece Maroon Town providing their high-energy musical fusion of ska, rap and dub for a headline set.
Sunday performances will include Franco-Algerian band Tiwiza’s percussion rhythms followed by the UK’s longest-established Brazilian/Latin band, Viramundo. King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys, a jive and swing band will bring the festival to an end on Sunday afternoon.
It's not just about the live bands as the Big Top Stage will include a selection of DJs take to the decks on Friday. The stage will then switch to folk-based acts on Saturday including performances from Katie Spencer. The folk day will be headlined by Flats & Sharps who are known for their spirited bluegrass music.
Nottingham's brass band, Carlton Brass and Nottingham Big Band will also perform throughout the afternoon. The bands feature some of the city's best jazz musicians who draw influences from the great swing band era. There will be swing classics from the greats including Count Basie, Duke Ellington and Frank Sinatra.
There will also be plenty of local acts including sets from Blood Red Moon, a Nottingham five-piece who are known for blues and rock. Sunday will see Alex Mighten take to the stage with his signature R&B style. EEVAH who hail from Leeds will close out Saturday night Nottingham Big Band will also perform throughout the afternoon.
It woulnd't be riverside without a few river activities so fans will be pleased to note that the annual Dragon Boat Race will return with over 20 local businesses battling it out over a 200m race course all to a drum beat keeping time. The Rotary Club annual duck race will also be raising money for local charities at 4:30pm.
There will also be plenty for little ones who might be a bit too young to rock out by the music stages. Saturday and Sunday will see a 'Big Top Area' being set up for anyone looking to learn a few circus skills. The workshops on offer will include stilt walking, mini tightrope, plate spinning, juggling, novelty bikes and space hoppers. Wolly the clown will also perform two family shows with his hilarious, physical comedy and breathtaking stunts.
Cllr Pavlos Kotsonis, Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture said; “After a two-year absence, we are really looking forward to Riverside Festival and getting the whole city back together, and welcoming thousands of people down to Victoria Embankment."
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