Crowds to flood riverside for Kingston regatta (From Kingston Guardian)
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Crowds to flood riverside for Kingston regatta
5:50pm Friday 6th July 2012 in News By Clare Buchanan
Crowds to flood riverside for Kingston regatta
Crowds are expected to flood the riverside to celebrate the annual river festival and Kingston regatta.
Music, entertainment and rowing are planned for the festival on the stretch of the Thames from Charter Quay to Eagle Brewery Wharf on Saturday and Sunday. Visitors will be amused by a range of wandering entertainers, stalls and displays and a headline performance by contemporary and versatile string ensemble urban soul orchestra.
The group have collaborated with Mick Jagger, Leona Lewis, The Script and Take That, and recently performed at the Cannes Film Festival and the Monaco Grand Prix.
Kingstonfirst chief executive Ros Morgan said: “To have this unique ensemble that mixes percussion, bass, DJ and vocals, is a real boost for the festival, which is growing in strength.
“Sunday will be a great day for families with face painting, a Punch and Judy show, a magician, bicycle ballet and Miss Ballooniverse, who can make just about anything with balloons.”
The regatta, which has run for more than 150 years, attracts crews from across the country and past competitors include Olympic gold medallist rowers.
Kingston Rowing Club will host the regatta that will see nearly 300 races completed over the weekend event and will be held between 9am and 7pm each day.
A myths and magic tour will be held in the town centre over the weekend taking visitors from the tourist information kiosk at Kingston station to the river festival every hour from 1pm to 4pm.
A free ferry service will run from Minima Yacht Club between the Richmond and Kingston sides of the river and a live regatta commentary will be available.
Activity on the river will continue the following weekend with the dragon boat challenge, organised by Kingston Rotary Club.
The event, on Sunday, July 15, will see teams from across the country competing with drums, shouting and colourful boats.
