Reading Water Fest 2023

We’re celebrating 34 wonderful Water Fest years with a programme full of fun, music, dance and activities.

Water Fest is Reading’s way of celebrating and showing off the Kennet Canal in all its glory, along with the gorgeous and historic spots on its towpath.

Visitors can take in the sights and sounds as they wander through Chestnut Walk, Forbury Gardens and the renowned Abbey Ruins.

En route you’ll see some beautifully painted boats and meet some of the friendly boaters keen to chat about life on board.

Water Fest is brought to you by Reading Borough Council in partnership with the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust.

This hard-working charity is committed to enhancing and promoting the canal for people to enjoy – both on and off the water!

Find out more at www.katrust.org.uk, ring them on 01380 721279 or visit their stand along the Water Fest route.

Forbury Gardens

This year the Forbury Gardens will host Disco Slice, the annual celebration of Street Food brought to you by Blue Collar - with their ultimate selection of food stalls there is so much choice you will be sure to find something to enjoy! Relax on the deck chairs and seating, visit the Blue Collar bar featuring Pimm’s, prosecco and draft beer from local brewery Double-Barrelled, or dig into food from around the world including gourmet burgers, loaded fries, Peruvian, hot dogs, vegan, vegetarian and much more.

Nature Nurture

Earth Action Challenge with Nature Nurture

Join Nature Nurture in the gardens for fun and games all about how we can look after our planet.

Ocean Plastic

Ah look at the lovely sea. Oh no, it’s full of plastic! Have fun with this timed challenge.

Food Miles

How far did that apple travel?

What about that potato? Explore how food travels to our plates and how we can shorten the journey.

Bees Please

Let’s make a habitat for the bees! Make and take wildflowers and have a go at the ‘waggle dance’ to find the pollen!

Mothers are Queens

Join Becoming Mums who will be bringing together mothers, parents and children across Reading to celebrate what home feels like for them at Water Fest 2023.

Using scrap fabric from The Cowshed (a charity that helps families in crisis by sewing bags with reclaimed fabric filled with emergency supplies), they will make bunting inspired by the colours of flags, representing the many nations in our town and our global connections. Workshops have taken place in the lead up to the event with parents from schools in South Reading, supported by the Family Support Workers, to create the bunting. Families and visitors to Water Fest will then be invited to stamp the flags with words that represent ‘home’. With the coronation of King Charles, the celebration of all the things that unite us will be a lasting message of the diversity and community of families across the town, and will provide a visual tool that can be used at future fetes and festivals.

The Whale at Water Fest

Why not join us for a special immersive show (plastic oceans) in the heart of the Forbury Gardens. Bold explorers squeeze into the belly of an enormous inflatable Whale where they find themselves in the depths of the bubbling, kelp-swirling ocean. They encounter an acrobatic diver who leads them swimmingly through the age old journey of the life of an ancient Leatherback Turtle. With the use of exquisite puppets, comedy and music, they explore the tale of sea creatures and their battle to survive in an ocean full of rubbish.

The audience help to save the turtle and the Whale from a deluge of plastic and travel from the Indian ocean to a coral reef, leaving feeling empowered that everyone can make a difference.

Shows at: 12noon and 12.30pm 2pm and 2.30pm 4pm and 4.30pm

Reading Climate Action Network Marquee

Reading Climate Action Network (RCAN) is a partnership of community groups, academia, businesses and statutory authorities coming together to tackle climate change. Look out for the programme of activities during Reading Climate Festival which will take place across Reading from 10 - 21 June, all to be viewed and booked on Eventbrite, kicking off with Water Fest.

Join RCAN, Friends of the Earth (FoE), Reading University, Global Justice, Econet, Draughtbusters, Reading Hydro and others in the RCAN tent in the Forbury to find out what we’ve all been doing to reduce carbon emissions in Reading, quiz the local experts, see how you can help and make suggestions for future projects in the town. There’ll be information on draught proofing your home, cost-effective changes to heating and insulation, climate-proofing your garden, local community energy schemes, recycling, and mitigating the impacts of climate change on local wildlife (and come and meet some of those in the tent).

You can talk to any of our experts at any time, but there will be two sessions of short talks on all of these subjects starting at 11.30am and running until 2pm

Short talk programme includes

FoE: Warm Homes for Reading campaign

Global Justice: the Energy Charter Treaty

RCAN: Retrofitting your home to save energy

Draughtbusters: just what it says on the tin!

Reading Hydro: Community Energy

Econet: Mitigating climate impacts on biodiversity

And come and say hi to the volunteers from local charities and community groups who have set up stalls in the gardens to showcase all the vital work they do here in Reading.

Dormitory

Artist Residency at Water Fest 2023

On Saturday 10 June from 11am, four artists will be hosting a series of workshops that will take place within the Abbey Ruins and Forbury Gardens for this years Water Fest. The workshops will give participants an insight into the artists processes and techniques used to create their work.

In recognition of Reading’s Climate Festival 2023 these workshops have been developed to highlight the heritage and environmental connections with our waterways.

When artists are not hosting workshops they are available to chat about their work at the Jelly base within the Abbey Ruins.

Go to the following link to find out more about each workshop and how to book:

www.jelly.org.uk/waterfest2023

Weaving - Mel Nabarro

Session Times:

(Drop in workshop -turn up any time within the sessions listed)

Session 1: 11am to 12pm

Session 2: 12pm to 1pm

Session 3: 1.45pm to 2.45pm

Session 4: 2.45pm to 3.45pm

Session 5: 4pm to 5pm

Working together on a giant custom made loom, participants will be invited to join textile artist and weaver Mel Nabarro to weave in colourful fabrics to make a community textile. Using traditional weaving techniques participants can spend time with Mel mindfully weaving in recycled fabrics, creating with their hands and making a community textile wall hanging. A fun, relaxing and participatory activity that is suitable for all ages and abilities.

All materials will be provided for this workshop. This workshop is suitable for all ages and abilities.

Drop in anytime during the session times. There may be a short wait at the craft table at busy times. Register your interest here WeavingWithMelNabarro.eventbrite.co.uk

Sewing with Kate Powell

Session Times:

(Drop in workshop - turn up any time within the sessions listed)

Session 1: 11.15am to 12.15pm

Session 2: 12.15pm to 1.15pm

Session 3: 2pm to 3pm

Session 4: 3pm to 4pm

Session 5: 4.15pm to 5pm

Join artist Kate Powell for a recycling textile workshop to create Suffolk Puffs. Suffolk Puffs are an ancient form of textile repurposing and are thought to originate from Suffolk in the 1600s. They were made from clothes that could no longer be mended and other scraps. They were mainly used to make quilts, sometimes stuffed with wool to make them warmer. Nothing was wasted.

In later years they were used for decorative purposes and to make toys. We are going to make charms using donated fabric scraps, buttons and beads. All materials will be provided for this workshop.

This workshop is recommended for ages 9 and up. Needles will be used, adults are required to participate with all children.

Drop in anytime during the session times. There may be a short wait at the craft table at busy times. Register your interest here SewingWithKatePowell.eventbrite.co.uk

Illustration with Linda Newcombe

Workshop times:

Session 1: 12.15pm to 1.15pm

Session 2: 1.15pm to 2.15pm

Session 3: 3pm to 4pm

Session 4: 4pm to 5pm

Join artist Linda Newcombe to make your own beautiful illustrations in this climatethemed creative workshop. Linda is an award-winning illustrator who uses rubbing techniques on paper to create delicate images with powerful messages. She will be showing how she does this and bringing vinyl blocks designed for use so that you can experiment with making your own images by overlapping and layering motifs. The outcomes are always beautifully unexpected. She’ll be helping you to combine her symbolic templates and methods to create your own illustrations. You’ll also be able to turn your creation into a badge to take home. All materials will be provided for this workshop.

All workshops are aimed at adults. Children aged 6+ are welcome to join with a participating adult. Numbers are limited and each adult and any accompanying children must register for a ticket.

Linda will be available to chat about her work on the Jelly stand between 11am and 12pm.

PRE-BOOKING ESSENTIAL. Spaces are limited.

Book here IllustrationWithLindaNewcombe.eventbrite.co.uk

Photography and Cartographic Journey with

John Angerson

Workshop times:

Session 1: 11.30am to 12.30pm

Session 2: 12.30pm to 1.30pm

Session 3: 2.15pm to 3.15pm

Session 4: 3.15pm to 4.15pm

Join photographer John Angerson on an artist walking tour of Reading Abbey and the surrounding area. The tour will begin with the distribution of a map, which outlines the different stops along the way. Each stop will be marked with a corresponding icon, as the tour progresses, participants will visit different locations, learning about the history and culture and be shown some of the artworks already made by John. The map serves as a guide, helping participants to navigate their way through space while also highlighting hidden gems and lesser-known artistic treasures.

Maps are a source of inspiration for John’s work and his way to connect with the landscape on a deeper level. By studying maps, John can gain a sense of the natural rhythms and patterns that shape the landscape. The ruins of Reading Abbey are a popular tourist attraction and a reminder of the town’s rich history. Maps played an important role in the history of Reading Abbey. The monks who lived there were skilled cartographers and produced many maps of the surrounding area. Beyond the practical benefits of using maps, they also offer a unique opportunity for groups to engage with the history and culture of the landscape they are working in.

This workshop will provide participants with a new perspective on the creative process and offer insights into John Angersons’ own artistic approach

No materials or equipment are provided in this workshop. Bring your own camera or phone camera to this workshop.

Meet at the Jelly stand within the Dormitory of Abbey Ruins.

All workshops are aimed at adults. Children aged 9+ are welcome to join with a participating adult. Numbers are limited and each adult and any accompanying children must register for a ticket.

John will be available to chat about his work on our Jelly stand between 4pm and 5pm.

PRE-BOOKING ESSENTIAL. Spaces are limited to 10 participants per session

Book here PhotographyJohnAngerson.eventbrite.co.uk

Life Drawing

Times: Drop-in workshop (turn up any time within the sessions listed)

Session 1: 11.30am to 12.30pm

Session 2: 1pm to 2pm

Jelly artists will be on hand to guide you through some sketching warm up techniques.

Suitable for beginners and experienced artists. Spaces are first come first served. No ticket is required, drop in on the day. We will have basic art materials to borrow. We encourage you to bring your own if you would like to.

Find us located on the lawn near the pond within Forbury Gardens. Workshops are aimed at all ages and abilities.

LifeDrawingatWaterFest.eventbrite.co.uk

Also on display at Water Fest 2023:

This year we have been working with Years 4 and 5 at New Town Primary School to create a textile banner which will be on display at Water Fest. The banner is inspired by the young people’s words, hopes and intentions in response to the climate emergency and the wildlife and plants surrounding our waterways.

Blacksmith Demonstrations

Join John our blacksmith and his team in the Abbey Ruins who will be demonstrating a wide range of traditional Blacksmithing techniques. Why not have a go yourself and make an item to take home with you on the day?

Abbey Ruins

Head on through to the Abbey Ruins for a mix of traditional and contemporary music and dance across two stages. Our acoustic and dance stage will be located in the beautiful surroundings of the South Transept throughout the afternoon.

The South Transept will also play host to a whole range of historical and heritage stalls include Reading Museum, Friends of Reading Abbey, Civic Society and The Confraternity of St James.

Join Museum on Wheels to take part in a variety of family activities, including virtual-reality headsets, tile-painting and object handling. Learn about the exciting history of the Abbey Quarter and find out the latest news about our projects.

There will also be the chance to meet characters from the Quarter, dressed in full replica costume while you enjoy your trip to Water Fest. Enjoy finding out how people lived, meet a laundress and find out how the Abbey became ruined in Tudor times. In the event of bad weather, please come to the museum.

Turbine House

Blake’s Lock Museum –The Museum is based in two former industrial buildings and tells the story of Reading’s two rivers, the Kennet and the Thames. Kennet and Avon Canal Trust invite you to an outstanding exhibition celebrating the work of the trust.

Free entry at The Turbine House, Gas Works Road, Blakes Lock, daily 10am - 6pm.

Chestnut Walk

Wander down to Chestnut Walk, home to The Oscar Wilde Memorial Walk and also to the event’s craft avenue. Browse amongst a range of hand crafted items and admire the beautifully painted narrow-boats, new and old. Why not take a relaxing journey on one of the regular trips on the Kennet and Avon Canal Trusts narrowboat, running throughout the day.

For the second year running we’ll be featuring a floating stage as part of the event. Be prepared to be entertained as you meander along Chestnut Walk by a range of local soloists and groups bringing a whole host of exciting new sounds to the Kennet. Come and meet Roy McFarlane, poet, playwright, writer and the current Canal Laureate for England and Wales. Roy will be running two 60 minute workshops at 12noon and 2pm along Chestnut Walk where you can come along and gather canal memories and thoughts to help create a very special Water Fest poem. Roy will then perform some of his poems at 4pm along the waterfront.

The Global Festival Stage

This years’ musical programme has been curated in partnership with the new Reading Global Festival (“celebrating the grassroots sound of Readingas varied and diverse as possible”). The thrilling result is that a greater variety of performers than ever before will be taking part in the day. Come and be part of the celebration of our shared sound!

Highlights include:

The youth winners of Reading Lets Sing! 2023, the Bulmershe Ensemble will be performing on the Global Festival Stage at 2:10pm. They are a senior choir and band consisting of staff and students in years 9 to 13 from Bulmershe School in Woodley. They enjoy creating mashups of their favourite pop songs, but also have been starting to branch out into some more challenging close harmony/ polyphonic arrangements. Their mission is to spread the joy of choral singing, and they love performing in and around the Woodley community.

Ewan Millar will be performing on the Acoustic Stage at 12.10pm. Ewan was the BBC Young Musician of the Year 2020 woodwind finalist, and is one of the most prominent young oboe soloists of his generation. He makes classical concerts engaging and friendly, breaking down barriers between performer and audience.

At 12.30pm the Hugh Turner Jazz Quartet will perform on the floating stage. Hugh’s music appeals to a wide range of audiences from jazz aficionados to lovers of raw, musical energy. His quartet present a varied programme of jazz, Latin, swing and exciting groove-fuelled tunes.

We are really excited to also be featuring a performance from a selection of Ukrainian acts celebrating the beauty and diversity of Ukrainian music. They bring with them a unique style, reflecting the true diversity and soul of Ukrainian culture.

Closing the Global Festival Stage on the day will be local band Limpopo Groove, an established, upbeat, afro-fusion group for all ages and walks of life. Formed in 2009 by Tomson Chauke. They play infectious, lively music, inspired by their drummer and founder’s African homeland. With original songs written in Shona and English, they blend afro jazz with tribal beats and European influences to create catchy rhythms that crowds just can’t help dancing to.

On the Water

This year is the 300th Anniversary of the opening of the Kennet Navigation. The beautifully painted boats moored will be along the length of the site and many of them will take part in two special parades throughout the day (weather and water permitting). They will then be judged in the best dressed boat competition. Take the opportunity to stop and chat to one of the boaters, some of whom will also be judged on the day in ‘the best dressed boater’ competition. They will be more than happy to tell you about life on the water. You can also expect to see an extra special duck race!

The Kennet and Avon Canal Trust

The Kennet and Avon Canal Trust restored the Canal back to a navigable waterway, and it was fully reopened by the Queen in 1990 – We are now in the 33rd year of this enormous effort and are conscious of the high use and deterioration that the waterway has been subjected to over time. We have projects and plans to support the authorities to make the Kennet and Avon a thriving asset to the community and the environment.

Today is an opportunity to remember the achievements but also to look at the plans that the Trust has going forward –talk to our volunteers at Chestnut Walk and find out the details. The Reading Branch has some ambitious plans this year, and with pandemic and lockdown now largely out of the way we have a keen lock flight to climb.

We began our trip boat adventure on Matilda, which began its two-year trial just six months before COVID. The trial having been successfully concluded, and many thank to David Dare and Oxfordshire Narrowboats for their help and support, the branch has obtained a permanent replacement to operate the trips from Reading. Over the last year we had help from Marcus Marine and ABC boats in Aldermaston to get Matilda Too up to standard to operate the trips. We were back taking passengers by July last year so this will be our first full season on Matilda Too. She will be on show today and will be running the regular trips every weekend until the end of October. Look on the trust web site www.katrust.org.uk or email Matilda@katrust.org.uk for more details. We believe that Matilda gives visitors a different view of Reading with the excitement of cruising through the Oracle and absorbing the history of industrial Reading and the fascination of the Abbey. Our long-term plans, if all

goes well, is to start raising the funds to acquire an electric boat to join the fleet of four other trip boats between here and Bristol.

Heading out of town, but still within the Reading Branch area, we have an 18thcentury building that we have restored. The building is believed to have been a toll house for the canal company and later as a wash house taking in boaters’ laundry. This is a listed building and sits in the grounds of one of the Trust’s four tea rooms along the waterway. This is in Aldermaston and has been given a new lease of life with new operators and is well worth a visit. The Toll / Wash house is being fitted out to be a Trust information centre and will have displays and information looking at the history of the navigation and the Trust.

Another project we are looking to work on is our 1st mile project looking at enhancing the waterway from the confluence with the Thames up to County lock approximately a mile. This stretch comes under two council authorities and two water authorities and so has been left to fall into some disarray. We hope to see Readings waterway to be brought up to be seen as an asset and something we can be proud of. As a Trust we are always looking for new people to volunteer so if you fancy helping crew Matilda, help in the restoration of the Toll House, assist with the Long-Life Lock project or just keep up to speed with happenings on the river that Reading is truly “on”, go and talk to our folk at Chestnut Walk and become a member … but most of all, enjoy the waterside and enjoy the day.

Performance and Activity

On the Water

12.15pm arrival of the Mayor

1pm Boat Parade #1

2pm Devizes to Westminster Race demonstration (TBC)

3pm Boat Parade #2

4pm Roy McFarlane –Poetry Performance

4.20pm Duck Race

Acoustic Stage

11.20am Windsong

12.10pm Ewan Millar

1pm The Small Strings

1.50pm Aldbrickham Clog and Step Dancers

2.45pm RASPO

3.35pm Praise Lubangu

4.25pm Bengali Cultural Association

Timetable

Jelly Workshops

11am Weaving - Mel Nabarro

11.15am Sewing with Kate Powell

11.30am Photography and Cartographic

Journey with John Angerson - Life Drawing

12pm Weaving - Mel Nabarro

12.15pm Sewing with Kate Powell and Illustration with Linda Newcombe

12.30pm Photography and Cartographic

Journey with John Angerson

1pm Photography and Cartographic

Journey with John Angerson

1.15pm Illustration with Linda

Newcombe

1.45pm Weaving - Mel Nabarro

2pm Sewing with Kate Powell

2.15pm Photography and Cartographic

Journey with John Angerson

2.45pm Weaving - Mel Nabarro

3pm Sewing with Kate Powell

Illustration with Linda

Newcombe

3.15pm Photography and Cartographic

Journey with John Angerson

4pm Weaving - Mel Nabarro

Illustration with Linda

Newcombe

4.15pm Sewing with Kate Powell

Reading Global Festival Stage - Abbey

11.30am The Bluepers

12.30pm Twenty06

1.20pm 4Fingaz

2.10pm Bulmershe Ensemble

3.15pm Nicole Allen

4.15pm Limpopo Groove

Floating Stage –

Chestnut Walk

11.30am Robert Steven Hunt

12.30pm Hugh Turner Jazz Quartet

1.30pm Live Looper

2.30pm The Stretch

3.30pm Sounds of the Ukraine

4.30pm Arash Shokouhi

Getting There

The Water Fest site is just a few minutes walk from the town centre and 5 minutes walk from Reading Railway Station and all main bus routes.

Pay parking is available at car parks throughout the centre of Reading, the nearest

Queen’s Road car park will be signed and you can pick up pedestrian signs on leaving the car park. Should Queen’s Road car park be full, please use alternative car parks listed on the live signs located at intervals throughout the town centre.

Water Fest 2023 is organised by Reading Borough Council in partnership with the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust.

Every effort has been made to ensure that details in this programme were correct at the time of going to press. However, Reading Borough Council, cannot accept responsibility for any changes, amendments and cancellations of any events or activities listed, nor any inaccuracies which may have been printed in error. Adverse weather conditions may cause some events to be cancelled or rescheduled.