Whether cycling along the tow path or sitting in one of the riverside bars,there’s nothing quite as attractive as hanging out by the water on a lovely sunny day. Next weekend, Leeds Waterfront Festival brings a host of music, performance and art to the waterfront for their annual family friendly and quirky event celebrating leeds waterways and its all free.
The festival stretches right across Leeds Waterfront. The incredible sight from the city is Thwaites Mill which is the last remaining example of a water powered mill in this country and well worth a look. It’s a bit further away but not to worry as the festival have a vintage bus running to and from the mill throughout the festival. It also includes the uber-cool Brewery Wharf, Granary Wharf, Victoria Wharf, Calls Landing, Leeds Minster and Leeds Dock.How many of these have you been to? Taking a look at the line up for the festival, it does sounds like a lot of fun. I am especially keen on seeing Playful Leeds‘ Robots trail. There’s certainly lots of stuff for families and children to do at the festival. One of the things that really caught my eye is this stunning art work that is being displayed outside at Leeds Dock (you may know this one as Clarence Dock). I am also excited to go in one of the water taxis on the day, and it’s tipped to be sizzling temperatures next weekend so bring your suncream!
I had a chat with Lucy Meredith ( @Lulovesglitter) and Sue Jennings ( @suzejennings), part of the new project management team connecting the waterways at this years festival. Here’s their top tips for this year’s festival.
What have been the main challenges in organising this years festival?
Lucy: Coordinating and linking so many activities across so many sites. This has been a real challenge with so many different activities, places and people involved. What we are really trying to do is engage and highlight the communities and people living and working along the beautiful waterfront. We want to have community spirit at the heart of the festival.
Sue: Yes the waterfront has so many wonderful places, full of potential and crying out for buskers, artists, installation and activities, it’s been hard to stop and say right, that’s enough now!
What are you really excited about thats happening this festival?
Lucy: There is so much going on that its hard to choose The art run is really great and captures the essence of the connectivity we are trying to achieve between the waterfront festival sites. It allows people to exercise while getting to know the canal tow path routes and also learning about the history of the waterfront. Having a Floating Stage in the river is also pretty awesome!
Sue: For me it is vintage and handmade heaven! Designers, makers and traders will be across Leeds Dock, Thwaite Mills and Granary Wharf as well as up-cycling, sewing and craft workshops. Two days of shopping and browsing, I can’t think of anything better!
What are your top five ‘to do’s’ over the weekend?
Lucy: Top five has to be Playful Leeds’ Robot Trail, watching bands on the floating stage at Leeds Dock, experiencing The Camp Cooks at Brewery Wharf, and last but not least taking part in the Cloth Cat Drumming Workshop and Bush Craft demonstrations at Thwaite Mills.
Sue: I would hang out at Calls Landing (It’s pretty cool on the balcony) you’ll be spoilt for choice food and drinks wise!, check out acoustic band set on a barge trip for FREE, check out the contemporary graffiti art and illustration at Leeds Dock 100 meters!, Crazy golf at Thwaite Mills….everyone loves Crazy Golf!, Mermaid and Pirates Splash mobs, now theres a spectacle for you!
What exactly happens at the festival’s Dragon Boat Races?
Lucy: Its a chance for different companies in Leeds to go head to head in a boat race whilst raising money for charity. They do all this in fancy dress which is a lot of fun. Last year, there was a boat full of ‘Where’s Wallys’. This years charity is Marie Curie cancer care.
Sue: Yeah, its lots of fun, bit wet at times…but great fun team building for a good cause.
What is unmissable?
Lucy: The musical barge trips! I mean what could be better than being entertained by fabulous singers and musicians whilst having a lovely ride along the canal. These are very personal gigs as there is a limit of 12 people on each trip.
Sue: The orange camper van café at Calls Landing….I love orange and I love camper vans…oh and good coffee!
What is the oddest thing happening?
Lucy: Probably the Mermaids and Pirates Splash Mob which is taking place on the saturday of the festival.
Sue: I think we are going to see some weird and wonderful fancy dress on the dragon boats!
What’s your recommendation for good nosh?
Lucy: Ooh spoilt for choice at this festival as the waterfront restaurants do food really well. There’s Stew and Oyster bar at Calls Landing and there are many great restaurants at Granary Wharf. There’s also tasty food on offer at a range of pop up stalls on all the sites and we are also lucky enough to have the Camp Cooks who mix food and entertainment!
Sue: Leeds Dock! Our favourite Indian restaurant will have an outside grill and sheesha (never tried it but it comes in all kinds of flavours!!!), Street food sellers at Leeds Dock, Calls Landing with street food, deli and awesome burgers….and our friends at Brasserie Blanc serving food with a free bottle of wine (check out the voucher on our blog or their website) on the terrace at Victoria Wharf
What exactly is a ‘steam punk’ market?
Lucy: Hmmm yes the steam punk market intrigues me. Not entirely sure what it is. I’m told it is victorian vintage meets science fiction ( whatever that is). I think the only way to know more is go down to Thwaites Mill and see!
Sue: Good Question, it conjured up all kind of things in my imagination but I hear it’s handmade at its best!
It must be really knackering project managing a festival over so many sites. What’s the first thing you’ll do after the festival is finished?
Lucy: Have a large glass of wine and put my feet in a bucket of cold water!
Sue: I’m going to drink a bucket of water and put my feet in a bottle of wine!
For the full line up, check out the full festival programme here. To contact them to ask a question click here or tweet them @LeedsWFFestival #LWF2014