On The Water

The Pyronaut

Opening the On the Water spectacle with a special on the water showcase, watch the powerful water cannon at work on Bristol’s former fire-boat around the docks that she was built in 1934. Guaranteed to make a splash, The Pyronaut is a must-see to kick off the Bristol Harbour Festival.

11:00

11:10

Start:

11:00

End:

11:10

Steam Boat Association of Great Britain

A parade of participating boats from the Steam Boat Association of Great Britain

11:15

11:40

Start:

11:15

End:

11:40

A person sits on a small raft in Bristol Harbour, surrounded by colourful paper boats. The boats are adorned with various drawings and messages. In the background, a large red building and other boats are visible near the dock.

Parade of Model Boats with My Future My Choice

Parade of Model Boats made by Primary Schools to race in the Harbour.

11:45

12:00

Start:

11:45

End:

12:00

Young Shipwrights Model Boat Race with My Future My Choice

Young Shipwrights Model Boat Race.

12:00

12:30

Start:

12:00

End:

12:30

A woman dressed in wet weather gear holds a colourful homemade sailboat decorated with vibrant drawings and the words "The... Exit?" by Bristol Harbour. The background features a dark covered structure and a cloudy sky.

Cardboard Boat Race with My Future My Choice

Get ready to witness an epic showdown of creativity and engineering as participants race their homemade cardboard boats in the waters of Bristol Harbour. Whether you're cheering on your favourite team or building your own boat to compete, this event is sure to be a highlight of the festival. Don't miss out on the fun! This year's theme will celebrate 200 years of the RNLI.

12:40

13:00

Start:

12:40

End:

13:00

Four smiling individuals stand together, holding a large white sign that reads "FASTEST BOAT! 2023" in purple lettering. They are outside, with a stone wall and a crowd of people in the background. The people are wearing life jackets and some are wearing peace symbol necklaces.

Boat Race Prize Giving Ceremony with My Future My Choice

Prize giving ceremony with My Future My Choice. Prizes for two races held on the water. A model boat building prize for children from a Bristol Primary school. These youngshipwrights will get £100. Prizes for the Cardboard Boat Race will be for: 1. Race winner: fastest to retrieve a n RNLI 200 flag, hoist it on their mast and return to the pontoon. 2. Best dressed Boat: apperance is everything. 3. Titanic Award: most spectacular sinking. 4: Team Spirit: endeavour and attitude. 5. Innovation Award: awarded for trying new ways of propelling cardboard over water. Celebrations with refreshments will follow back on the MV Balmoral.

13:00

13:15

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13:00

End:

13:15

A person in a Spider-Man costume is soaring above a body of water using a water jet pack. Water jets propel them high into the air in front of an industrial building with two large cranes and a crowd of onlookers.

Flyboard Displays with James Prestwood

James Prestwood is returning to the water with his Flyboarding tricks at the Bristol Harbour Festival, reaching heights off up to 60 feet in the air. Expect to see various types of back flips, spins, twists, supermans, dolphin dives, and salmons as James makes a big splash over the weekend.

13:30

13:40

Start:

13:30

End:

13:40

Orange lifeboat with RNLI markings speeding through choppy waters. Four crew members in yellow jackets and white helmets are onboard, holding onto safety ropes. The boat's equipment and radar mast are visible against a cloudy, overcast sky.

RNLI Water Safety Demonstration

RNLI Water Safety Demonstration, providing key information about water safety and what to do if someone gets in trouble. This will include practical demonstrations and key information about water safety and what to do if someone gets in trouble, including the RNLI Float to Live campaign for anyone who finds themselves in danger, and demonstrations on what to do when someone else is in difficulty, including use of lifesaving equipment.

13:50

14:20

Start:

13:50

End:

14:20

Bristol Empire Dragons Demonstrations

Bristol Empire Dragons are a Dragon Boat club based in Saltford, and will be running training drills across the weekend.

14:30

15:00

Start:

14:30

End:

15:00

Steam Boat Association of Great Britain

A parade of participating boats from the Steam Boat Association of Great Britain

15:10

15:40

Start:

15:10

End:

15:40

Flyboard Displays with James Prestwood

15:45

15:55

Start:

15:45

End:

15:55

Bristol Adventure Sea Cadets

A demonstration of our Sea Cadet rowing teams racing each other in the Harbour. These teams have been practicing hard for competitions, competing against cadets from other units across the South West only two weeks before the Harbour Festival and last year we even had a team reach the cadet national finals!

16:30

17:00

Start:

16:30

End:

17:00

Steam Boat Association of Great Britain

A parade of participating boats from the Steam Boat Association of Great Britain

10:30

11:00

Start:

10:30

End:

11:00

Chakras by Rasheed Araeen with RWA Art Gallery

The RWA Art Gallery will be showcasing 'Chakras', a 1960s performance artwork by Rasheed Araeen, re-staged on the water to accompany the exhibition 'Rasheed Araeen: Conscious Forms' at the RWA Art Gallery in Bristol.

11:00

11:45

Start:

11:00

End:

11:45

Two long boats race side by side on a river, each filled with rowers in colourful shirts paddling in sync. The teams are accompanied by a drummer in the front and a steerer at the back. Onlookers watch from the riverbank, which is lined with greenery.

Dragon Boat Racing with Bristol Empire Dragons

Bristol Empire Dragons will be hosting Dragon Boat training sessions across the weekend, ending the sessions with a race in the main On The Water arena. With no experience necessary, the Bristol Empire Dragons will be sharing their on the water knowledge with the public and encourage all to join in - no experience necessary!

11:50

12:00

Start:

11:50

End:

12:00

Bristol Gig Club Youth Demos

A demonstration of gig rowing on the river showing off the skills and enjoyment of this sport in our beautiful boats

12:00

12:20

Start:

12:00

End:

12:20

Flyboard Displays with James Prestwood

12:30

12:40

Start:

12:30

End:

12:40

Two long boats race side by side on a river, each filled with rowers in colorful shirts paddling in sync. The teams are accompanied by a drummer in the front and a steerer at the back. Onlookers watch from the riverbank, which is lined with greenery.

Dragon Boat Racing with Bristol Empire Dragons

12:50

13:00

Start:

12:50

End:

13:00

RNLI Water Safety Demonstration

RNLI Water Safety Demonstration - providing key information about water safety and what to do if someone gets in trouble. RNLI Water Safety Demonstration - this will include practical demonstrations and key information about water safety and what to do if someone gets in trouble - including the RNLI Float to Live campaign if you find yourself in danger, and demonstrations on what to do if you see someone else in difficulty including use of lifesaving equipment.

13:00

13:30

Start:

13:00

End:

13:30

A rescue worker in a red and grey uniform stands next to a red inflatable boat labelled "Avon Fire & Rescue" on a shore. The worker is wearing a white helmet, life jacket, and waterproof boots, and appears to be smiling. The water and shoreline are visible in the background.

Avon Fire & Rescue Service

Avon Fire & Rescue Service will be doing an exciting water demonstration to showcase their water rescue capability and share important safety advice. - The features and capability of the boat (when it would be deployed etc.) - What to do if someone were to fall in - How they rescue people

13:30

13:50

Start:

13:30

End:

13:50

Dragon Boat Racing with Bristol Empire Dragons

13:50

14:00

Start:

13:50

End:

14:00

People in homemade boats, constructed primarily from cardboard, participate in the Cardboard Boat Race by Bristol Harbour. They wear various festive hats, and the boats are adorned with colourful flags. One boat has "HMS" written on it. The atmosphere appears lively and fun.

Family Model Boat Race with My Future My Choice

Family Model Boat Race. Familes and small teams of chums have built model boats in two hour workshops leading up to the Festival. Workshops are on 29th June, 6th July and 13th July. Get in touch info@myfuturemychoice or search Build Model Yachts Bristol on Eventbrite to get involved. The models will be of iconic Bristol boats and ships, like The Matthew, Bristol Channel Pilot Cutters which can be seen at Underfall Yard and the SS great Britain. These model sail boats will be paraded from the MV Balmoral at 13:45 to the Prince Street Pontoon where one member from each family or team will take their boat out on a small boat to the launch site. The winning boat will sail straight, tack when it hits an obstacle and stay afloat. Winners will be announced after the race from the small stage near the bridge and celebrations will continue back on the MV Balmoral.

14:00

15:00

Start:

14:00

End:

15:00

Dragon Boat Racing with Bristol Empire Dragons

15:00

15:10

Start:

15:00

End:

15:10

Flyboard Displays with James Prestwood

15:15

15:25

Start:

15:15

End:

15:25

Bristol Canoe Club

Sprint canoe/kayak team demonstration races in the floating harbour, comprising a 250m relay race and 750m circuit race. Races will include a mixture of kayaks for singles (aka K1), doubles (K2) and fours (K4). The plan is to have 3 races in the 30 mins available: Men's, Women's & Mixed! Canoe Sprint racing has been an Olympic recognised sport since 1936! Not to be missed!

15:30

16:00

Start:

15:30

End:

16:00

Parade Of Sail

Closing this year’s On The Water programme, a parade of sail is a traditional part of any harbour festival, but being Bristol ours is different. Our parade of sail represents the wide variety of activities which take place on our harbour, in the middle of our City.

16:15

17:00

Start:

16:15

End:

17:00