A RIVER festival is back and promises to float a few boats this weekend as crowds celebrate all the fun of life on the water from parades to races and fancy dress. 

The Evesham River Festival is this weekend and is expected to bring in big crowds and plenty of colour and character to the town.

The return follows a three-year hiatus after it was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It was put off again last year because of ongoing work in Workman Gardens.

The event begins with the Boaters Welcome today (Friday) followed by the festival itself on Saturday and finishes with the Boaters Farewell and Breakfast on Sunday. 

Live music, entertainment, river activities, an illuminated boat parade and fireworks in the evening are among the highlights of the festival.  The 2023 theme is “Countries of the world”

Previous events have included a visit by the Memorial Flight Douglas Dakota, the night-time illuminated boat parade, music from musicians performing live, Morris men, boating demonstrations, river rescue demonstrations, boating competitions, including a ‘make on the day’ river festival raft race and more.

A spokesperson for the event said: "The Evesham River Festival is the place to see fancy dress boats and people. Rounding off, for the children at heart, are the fairground rides and bouncy castles.

"There’s much, much more at the Evesham River Festival for the children to do and see.  Why not visit the stalls which include a beer tent, various food outlets and craft stands?"