IWA BOAT GATHERING – BEGINNING FRIDAY 29TH JUNE 2012

 

Plans are steaming ahead for the IWA Thwaite Mills Boat Gathering – a ew Event for the Waterfront Festival this year! Many details are now confirmed for boaters, as follows:-

• Moorings will be available for the whole weekend at Thwaite Mills – starting from 10am on Friday 29 June, until 12 noon on Tuesday 3 July if required (small charge for mooring)*
• The moorings are along a piled bank within easy reach of the site. All moorings are within the security fence. Water, toilets, chemical toilet disposal, and refuse disposal will be available.
• For those wanting to arrive earlier, or stay later, there will be some moorings available at the site, but fewer than during the festival weekend. (Please let IWA know your plans as soon as possible to give the best chance of meeting your requirements).
• There is car parking available in the Mills’ carpark, which is at the end of its private road,  normally closed with a gate in the evenings. There is a supermarket 1.5 miles away and a pub within about 10 mins. Walk.
• There will be a barbeque for boaters on Friday evening, inside if wet (charge to cover costs)

Thwaites Mill is a heritage site, a local authority Museum with fully-restored working watermill, nestled on an ‘island’ location between the River Aire and the Aire & Calder Navigation 2 miles to the east of Leeds. Some Festival events will be held at the site. Otherwise, during the Festival there is usually a vintage bus running between the Mills and Leeds City centre (when not operating, there are regular public transport buses along the main road). Alternatively, it’s a pleasant walk along the towpath of the regenerated Leeds Waterfront to other Festival venues and the Centre.

Canal Societies, Restoration Groups, etc., are also being offered the chance of a publicity Stand at the Gathering/ Festival – contact IWA as below.

Bookings are now coming in, so why not get in touch with Elaine Scott, IWA West Riding Branch for more details and to register your interest? Elaine.Scott@waterways.org.uk 

*Waterfront Festival Events are on the Saturday and Sunday

Save the date! Saturday 30 June and Sunday 1 July is LWF 2012

 

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Plans for the 5th Annual Leeds Waterfront Festival and Dragon Boat Spectacle, to be held on the weekend of 30 June – 1 July 2012, are gathering pace!

Now might be the time – whether as a boater planning next year’s destinations, a visitor wishing to incorporate the event into a land-based trip to the area, or someone who would like to get involved in any other way – to add this vibrant Festival to next year’s Calendar!

Building on last year’s success, the Festival showcases both a magnificent waterscape - where the majestic Aire & Calder Navigation meets the meandering Leeds & Liverpool Canal - and the city’s renowned vibrancy and ‘buzz’. All along the Waterfront, cool venues – including Granary Wharf, Brewery Wharf and the iconic Clarence Dock – will feature live music, local bands, arts and dance, as well as on-the-water fun, canal boats, boat trips and much more. Whilst the Dragon Boat Races see some of Leeds’ biggest employers take to the water in huge, colourful 40ft long dragon boats, to raise money for Leeds’ based community initiatives.

This year’s Festival promises to be even bigger and better, with the addition of an IWA Boat Gathering at Thwaite Mills Watermill Museum. The Museum, just over a mile along the towpath from Clarence Dock, and approximately 2 miles from Leeds City Centre, will also host some of the other Festival events. For more details of the Boat Gathering and boat-booking forms, contact Elaine Scott on Elaine.scott@waterways.org.uk

The Leeds Waterfront Festival is a not-for-profit partnership event, intended to raise the profile of the waterfront and its attractions with a fantastic free event for all – and there is still time for other partners, venues and individuals to ‘come on board’! Sponsors are also welcome.

Event management volunteers are also sought to help with planning events, and this could be a great CV opportunity for students or recent graduates to work on a growing event with some big partners in Leeds.

For further information on Leeds Waterfront Festival 2012 opportunities contact Rachel Clunas on 07917 780151 or Rachel.clunas@aireactionleeds.org.uk

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LEEDS WATERFRONT REVELS IN FESTIVAL ATMOSPHERE

The waterfront in Leeds was treated to thousands of visitors on the 25 & 26 June as part of the fourth Leeds Waterfront Festival, combined for the very first time with Leeds Community Foundation’s Dragon Boat event.

The festival, which took place at Clarence Dock, Brewery Wharf, Thwaite Mills and Granary Wharf was a huge success.

Visitors were treated to a range of water activities including the tremendously popular WOW balls, canoe taster sessions, rides on a swan pedalo as well as the feature Dragon Boat competition, which saw around 25 local businesses dressed in fancy dress race in support of Leeds based initiatives.

The festival also offered a variety of live music including a steel band, buskers and the best of Leeds’ local talent as Radio Aire hosted the biggest ever ‘open mic’ event.

Waterside eateries including Granary Wharf’s Teppanyaki restaurant, Fazenda and Clarence Dock’s Pizza Express also put on live cooking demonstrations.

The weekend offered a huge range of activities for all ages. One visitor of the festival said: “I would like to congratulate Leeds Waterfront Festival on the organisation of the festival and all the activities included. My family and I live very close to the river and we have really enjoyed the event.”

Many people were seen snapping a shot at this year’s festival for ‘Capturing Leeds Waterfront Festival’ – a new competition for inspiring photographers and film makers. Those who caught the best pictures or video were in with the chance to win an overnight weekend stay at the Mint Hotel with dinner and breakfast included. Other prizes included £30 in gift vouchers and a meal for 4 at Fazenda. All entries were submitted on 4 July at 5.00pm- winners to be announced soon.   

Rachel Clunas, Aire Action Leeds project officer and festival organiser, said: “The range of attractions at the four festival sites this year was excellent. The waterways provide a fantastic environment for all the family and an event like this really shows how important Leeds’ waterfront is to the people of Leeds.

“Each year the festival is getting bigger and better and we are very thankful to all our volunteers who helped out but we want to keep improving the festival. We’re always on the lookout for aspiring event organisers and local residents to get more involved, so anyone interested in helping with the 2012 event should get in touch with me for more information by emailing rachel.clunas@aireactionleeds.org.uk.”

4 days to go until festival

4 days to go until festival…..

Really is not long now!!

Hope you’ve all taken a look at our amazing photography competition and got your cameras ready for this Saturday and Sunday. Full brief and entry form can be found on our website http://www.leedswaterfrontfestival.com/ some really great prizes.

Now more details about this year’s festival - at Clarence Dock there will be 40ft dragon boat racing complete with 16 paddlers all dressed in Technicolor fancy dress which will be taking place between 10.00am and 4.00pm on both Saturday and Sunday. The races are raising money for Leeds’ based initiatives. If you would like to get involved you can contact  Amanda Bennett at Leeds Community Foundation on 0113 242 2426 / or email amanda@leedscommunityfoundation.org.uk.

Saturday 25th at Brewery Wharf  between 12.00am and 5.00pm check out the Artmix Contemporary Art Market which is featuring an eclectic mix of contemporary art, design and craft.

Also on Saturday 25th come along to Thwaite Mills for a craft fair and keep the kids busy at the children’s workshops.

At Granary Wharf check out the Hop for some live acts outside and grab a bite to eat from their gourmet BBQ available all weekend.

8 days to go until festival

8 days to go until festival…..

Leeds Waterfront Festival 2011 launches ‘Capturing Leeds Waterfront Festival’ an amazing competition for inspiring photographers.

LEEDS CAMERA ACTION! 

Leeds Waterfront Festival is calling all inspiring photographers to capture a festival photograph or video on 25 or 26 June for the chance to win some amazing prizes.

The three prizes will go to the best in each category – Best Photo, Best Young Photographer and Best Video Promo.

**The winner of best photo will receive an overnight weekend stay at Granary Wharf’s Mint Hotel in one of the fabulous canal side suites for two people. Included in the prize is a pre-dinner cocktail in Sky Lounge bar followed by dinner for two in the award winning City Cafe restaurant and a yummy Yorkshire breakfast in bed the following morning.

**Those who enter for best young photographer have the chance to scoop £30 in gift vouchers at a Leeds photography retailer.

**For the winner of the best one minute video promo will be a meal for four at Fazenda, a Brazilian inspired restaurant serving expertly grilled cuts of meat by gaucho chefs.

**As well as these generous prizes, the winning ‘Best Photo’ will also appear in the Marketing Leeds’ 2012 edition of the ‘Style Guide to Leeds’, a visually compelling magazine produced to raise the profile of the city. Over one million people will see the magazine which is distributed nationally and internationally as well as being placed in the city’s hotel bedrooms.

The competition will be judged by Marketing Leeds on the 5 July and all entries should be submitted with an entry form by 5.00pm on the 4 July. One photo or video can be entered per person and the category must be stated within the entry form.

Entry forms and full competition rules will be available from 17 June at www.leedswaterfrontfestival.com.

9 days to go until festival

9 days to go until festival…….

At this year’s festival find outdoor games at Out of the Woods,a caricaturist and a pop up shop from ‘Bird’s Yard’ all at Granary Wharf.

At Brewery Wharf listen to music all day from some of Leeds’ best DJ’s and watch some live dance shows.

Come down to Clarence Dock for children’s entertainment and family activities including salsa dancing!!

Make your own smoothies with a cycle powered smoothies maker or play Bin Sling Saloon, an interactive recycling game all at Thwaite Mills .

10 days to go until festival

10 days to go until festival…….

Dont miss at this year’s festival an origami workshop taking place at Granary Wharf 11.00am till 12.00pm or 3.00pm till 4.00pm on Saturday and Sunday OR come along on Sunday for origami boat making!

Join in some free salsa dance lessons and win some prizes at the ultimate raffle at the Brewery Wharf site on Saturday 25th.

Teach the kids how to cook with pizza making activities at Clarence Dock on Sunday 26th or pick up some tips for yourself on Saturday 25th as on site restaurants take part in live cooking demonstrations.

Get your face painted and have a go on the bouncy castle at Thwaite Mills the perfect site for a picnic!

11 days to go until festival

11 days to go until the festival………

Don’t miss the SYNTAN BARGE visiting Leeds Waterfront for the festival – climb on board the barge and listen to live music. You can find the barge next to Brewery Wharf!

Join the presenters from Radio Aire at Clarence Dock for Leeds’ biggest ever ‘open mic’ event which will see performances from the best of Leeds’ local talent!

Walk on water, try out a canoeing taster session or take a trip on a swan pedalo as part of the amazing water activities taking place at Granary Wharf!

 Take a look at some MG classic cars and a steam train demonstration at the popular Thwaite Mills site.

More programme details to come – join us on our countdown and find out all the goings on at this years festival!!

 

 

Leeds Waterfront Festival 2011 – Free Guided Walks

Leeds Civic Trust are offering FREE Guided Walks along the Waterfront for the Leeds Waterfront Festival 2011.

The walks will be taking place on the Sunday 26th June at 2.00pm and 3.00pm

Join your guide at the end of the Millennium footbridge at Brewery Wharf  and see what Leeds has to offer!

Get involved as a Volunteer at the Leeds Waterfront Festival 2011

Some of you kindly supported us at the Leeds Waterfront Festival last year, and we can’t put a value on the incredible work volunteers contribute to this event.

We are once again looking for hard working, reliable and enthusiastic volunteers over the weekend to help out with a range of tasks from load in, marshalling, giving out information for visitors, stage management and clean up.

Volunteers are needed from about 10.30 – 17.30 on each day. A minimum of 2 hours is requested. First Aid qualifications are not mandatory but extremely helpful. 

This is a fantastic opportunity to support the Leeds Waterfront and have a fun day with your friends or colleagues as a part of the fourth Leeds Waterfront Festival. 

Please e-mail your interest as soon as possible, with preferred date and time to Rachel Clunas rachel.clunas@aireactionleeds.org.uk

We look forward to hearing from you!

The Leeds Waterfront Festival and Dragon Boat Spectacle takes
place on 25 and 26 June 2011

More information here; www.leedswaterfrontfestival.com

On Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 June 2011 Leeds Waterfront Festival is set to be bigger and better than ever by joining forces with the Leeds Community Foundation Dragon Boat Spectacle!

The Leeds Waterfront Festival features live music, local bands, arts and dance, on the water fun, canal boats, boat trips and much more, all at the coolest waterfront venues in Granary Wharf, Brewery Wharf, Clarence Dock and Thwaite Mills Watermill. There is something for everyone to enjoy!

Visitors will be treated to the sight of huge 40ft long dragon boats racing at Clarence Dock complete with 16 paddlers and a drummer all in amazing technicolour fancy dress!
The Dragon Boat Racing sees some of Leeds’ biggest employers taking to the water to raise money for Leeds based community initiatives.

Live Music • Street Entertainers • Arts & Crafts • Guided Walks
Dressed Boats • Art Walk