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On The Water

On the water

On the Water entertainment returns to the Bristol Harbour Festival, bringing the water to the forefront of the celebrations with activities guaranteed to make a splash.


Sponsored by Grainger PLC

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Man with water jets on foot doing a back flip3 blue waves

Saturday

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Time
A fireboat sprays multiple high jets of water into the air in Bristol’s harbour, creating dramatic arcs against a grey, cloudy sky. Behind the boat, historic ships and colourful harbourside buildings are visible.

The Pyronaut Fire Boat

The Pyronaut will open and close both days of the Bristol Harbour Festival On The Water

11:00

To

11:10

Start:

11:00

End:

11:10

Steamboat Association of Great Britain

The Steam Boat Association of Great Britain was formed in 1971 to promote the enjoyment of steamboats and to represent the interests of steamboat owners via regattas and cruises and social gatherings

11:15

To

11:35

Start:

11:15

End:

11:35

A young girl smiles while holding up a handmade green model sailboat with a sail that reads “BROCCOLI BOAT.” She stands by a busy dockside during what appears to be a community or festival event, surrounded by people in life vests and casual clothing.

Young Shipwrights Model Boat Parade. My Future My Choice & MV Balmoral

Model sail boats made by primary school children parade before the launch of the Young Shipwrights Boat Race

11:45

To

12:00

Start:

11:45

End:

12:00

A group of colorful handmade model boats sail across a harbor, each with uniquely decorated sails. In the background, people stand on a dock near full-sized boats, including one named "Stella Mayore" with “Bristol” on its stern. The scene captures a playful, community event by the water.

Young Shipwrights Boat Race. Bristol Schools, My Future My Choice and MV Balmoral

100 Model sail boats will be launched in a race for £100 prize. The boats are made by 100 small teams of primary school children mentored by volunteers. The race will be accompanied by Samba Drummers from Batala Bristol.

12:00

To

12:40

Start:

12:00

End:

12:40

Three women paddle a homemade boat decorated with sea creatures, using large cardboard tubes as oars. Wearing life jackets, they navigate through a harbor with determination and laughter, surrounded by moored boats and floating buoys.

Bristol Cardboard Boat Race. Intrepid members of the public, My Future My Choice and MV Balmoral My Future My Choice

Teams of sailors make boats from cardboard and race in the Harbour

12:40

To

13:00

Start:

12:40

End:

13:00

A group of people in whimsical costumes resembling ice cream sundaes smile beside a handmade boat. Dressed in sprinkle-covered capes and hats topped with cherries, they stand by the waterfront as crowds gather in the background for a festive event.

Cardboard Boat Race, Prize Ceremony. My Future My Choice MV Balmoral

Post match analysis before prizes are awarded for the 2025 Cardboard Boat Race.

13:00

To

13:30

Start:

13:00

End:

13:30

A performer in a sailor outfit holds a large blue "Bristol Harbour Festival" flag while soaring above the water on a flyboard. Jets of water propel him into the air as a crowd watches from the harbourside, with the M Shed museum visible in the background.

James Prestwood

A flyboard rider stands on a board with his feet strapped into boots, which is connected to a 23 metre hose (75ft). The other end of this hose connects to a 300 horse power jet ski which has a dual impeller. With this power, the jet ski can push the board up to heights off 18 metres.

13:30

To

13:40

Start:

13:30

End:

13:40

A group of canoeists paddle at speed through Bristol’s Harbourside during a competitive race, each wearing life jackets and concentrating intensely. The Bristol Canoe Club logo is prominently overlaid at the top, featuring paddles and the Clifton Suspension Bridge with the words “Canoe – SUP – Kayak.” Historic buildings and moored boats line the waterfront in the background.

Canoe/Kayak Sprint Race with Bristol Canoe Club

Canoe/Kayak Sprint Racing on a 300M course in racing kayaks on the festival water arena. Includes relays and a 600M circuit race to music and commentary. Kayak racing like you've never seen before! Don't miss this exciting spectacle!

13:50

To

14:20

Start:

13:50

End:

14:20

Three rowing boats with teams in blue jerseys race across a busy harbor, surrounded by moored boats and watched by crowds on the waterfront. The boats are named “Massive Attack,” “Bristol Blue,” and “Wapping Wharf.”

Bristol Gig Club

Sprint race with racing start followed by demo of technique.

15:00

To

15:30

Start:

15:00

End:

15:30

A performer in a sailor outfit holds a large blue "Bristol Harbour Festival" flag while soaring above the water on a flyboard. Jets of water propel him into the air as a crowd watches from the harbourside, with the M Shed museum visible in the background.

James Prestwood

A flyboard rider stands on a board with his feet strapped into boots, which is connected to a 23 metre hose (75ft). The other end of this hose connects to a 300 horse power jet ski which has a dual impeller. With this power, the jet ski can push the board up to heights off 18 metres.

15:45

To

15:55

Start:

15:45

End:

15:55

Steamboat Association of Great Britain

The Steam Boat Association of Great Britain was formed in 1971 to promote the enjoyment of steamboats and to represent the interests of steamboat owners via regattas and cruises and social gatherings

16:10

To

16:30

Start:

16:10

End:

16:30

A fireboat sprays multiple high jets of water into the air in Bristol’s harbour, creating dramatic arcs against a grey, cloudy sky. Behind the boat, historic ships and colourful harbourside buildings are visible.

The Pyronaut Fire Boat

The Pyronaut will open and close both days of the Bristol Harbour Festival On The Water

17:00

To

17:10

Start:

17:00

End:

17:10

Sunday

Sort by:
Time

Steamboat Association of Great Britain

The Steam Boat Association of Great Britain was formed in 1971 to promote the enjoyment of steamboats and to represent the interests of steamboat owners via regattas and cruises and social gatherings

10:30

To

11:00

Start:

10:30

End:

11:00

A fireboat sprays multiple high jets of water into the air in Bristol’s harbour, creating dramatic arcs against a grey, cloudy sky. Behind the boat, historic ships and colourful harbourside buildings are visible.

The Pyronaut Fire Boat

The Pyronaut will open and close both days of the Bristol Harbour Festival On The Water

11:00

To

11:10

Start:

11:00

End:

11:10

All Aboard Watersports Floatilla

All Aboard Watersports brings a vibrant flotilla of adapted sailing boats, kayaks, powerboats, and paddleboards to the Water Stage, showcasing how watersports can support well-being, build confidence, and bring communities together.

11:15

To

11:30

Start:

11:15

End:

11:30

A group of young people wearing life jackets sit in rowing boats on a sunny day, with some giving thumbs-up to the camera. The boats are marked “SEA CADETS” and are docked in a calm harbor, with industrial buildings and boats visible in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

Bristol (Adventure) Sea Cadets

Young people from Bristol (Adventure) unit of the Sea Cadets will be demonstrating the teamwork and boating skills learnt by cadets through a series of rowing races down the Harbour.

12:20

To

12:40

Start:

12:20

End:

12:40

A performer in a sailor outfit holds a large blue "Bristol Harbour Festival" flag while soaring above the water on a flyboard. Jets of water propel him into the air as a crowd watches from the harbourside, with the M Shed museum visible in the background.

James Prestwood

A flyboard rider stands on a board with his feet strapped into boots, which is connected to a 23 metre hose (75ft). The other end of this hose connects to a 300 horse power jet ski which has a dual impeller. With this power, the jet ski can push the board up to heights off 18 metres.

13:00

To

13:15

Start:

13:00

End:

13:15

A group of smiling children and a few adults pose on stone steps, proudly holding a handmade blue model sailboat. Surrounded by other colorful boats on the ground, they appear to be participating in a creative community event, with a large brick building and leafy tree in the background.

Family Model Boat Race. My Future My Choice, Imayla and MV Balmorall

Families build a model yacht to sail in a race in the Harbour.

14:00

To

15:00

Start:

14:00

End:

15:00

Three rowing boats with teams in blue jerseys race across a busy harbor, surrounded by moored boats and watched by crowds on the waterfront. The boats are named “Massive Attack,” “Bristol Blue,” and “Wapping Wharf.”

Bristol Gig Club

Sprint race with racing start followed by demo of technique.

15:00

To

15:30

Start:

15:00

End:

15:30

A performer in a sailor outfit holds a large blue "Bristol Harbour Festival" flag while soaring above the water on a flyboard. Jets of water propel him into the air as a crowd watches from the harbourside, with the M Shed museum visible in the background.

James Prestwood

A flyboard rider stands on a board with his feet strapped into boots, which is connected to a 23 metre hose (75ft). The other end of this hose connects to a 300 horse power jet ski which has a dual impeller. With this power, the jet ski can push the board up to heights off 18 metres.

15:30

To

15:45

Start:

15:30

End:

15:45

The Bristol Boat Parade

This will see a parade of boats showcased across the main water arena to close out the festival.

16:20

To

16:45

Start:

16:20

End:

16:45

Best dressed boat announcement

Prize ceremony for the best dressed boat across the weekend!

16:45

To

17:00

Start:

16:45

End:

17:00

A fireboat sprays multiple high jets of water into the air in Bristol’s harbour, creating dramatic arcs against a grey, cloudy sky. Behind the boat, historic ships and colourful harbourside buildings are visible.

The Pyronaut Fire Boat

The Pyronaut will open and close both days of the Bristol Harbour Festival On The Water

17:00

To

17:10

Start:

17:00

End:

17:10

Our other stages

A woman singing with a man on the bass next to her

Queen Square

A proper showcase of the best of Bristol and welcoming communities from across the city, Bristol Rising at Queen Square will present emerging artists from grassroots music and dance institutions.

Green square with circle in the middle
View Stage
Man playing guitar on stage dockside. Photo taken by Paul Box

Amphitheatre

Expect the very best in back-to-back music from local and international talent along with programming from industry heavyweights Greenpeace, Global Local and a Made In Bristol Sunday curated by Proud and Swans Events, celebrating emerging talent from across the city.

Blue abstract amphitheatre
View Stage