This September, the city of Sheffield will host its biggest ever Waterfront Festival, thanks to the combined efforts of waterway charity the Canal & River Trust and Kelham Island Museum. To coincide with this year’s global celebrations for World Rivers Day, the city’s waterfront – from Victoria Quays along the Sheffield & Tinsley Canal and the River Don – will be transformed with a bumper-packed weekend of free family-friendly activities, live music, art, food & drink during the weekend of 23-24 September from 10am-4pm.
Saturday 23 September ‘On the Waterfront’ – Victoria Quays. Here you’ll be able to try a range of water-based activities for free at Victoria Quays on the Sheffield & Tinsley Canal, from fishing and canoe tasters to boat trips. The fishing tasters are available to book in advance, you can book your place here. You’ll also be able to enjoy artwork by internationally-acclaimed artist Alex Chinneck and an exhibition of canal paintings by local artist Norah K. Rogerson. Street artist Philip Padfield will be at work as he paints a unique artwork especially for the festival, and there’ll be live music and a whole host of culinary delights to sample from the food and drink stalls.
‘On the Waterfront’ Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1419237888132327/
Sunday 24 September ‘Down by the Riverside’ – Kelham Island Museum. Visit Kelham Island Museum on the banks of the River Don to enjoy a range of have-a-go heritage and traditional crafts, community stalls, local artisans, kayaking and riverside walks and talks. The heritage activities will include an animal roadshow with Heeley City Farm, willow weaving, and green woodturning with Ecclesall Woods Discovery Centre. Live music will come from Dead Man’s Uke and guests, and there’ll be delicious food and drink on offer from the Steam Hammer Café BBQ and Millowners Arms Ale. Normal admission fees to the museum apply.
‘Down by the Riverside’ Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/209615899575491/
The Sheffield Waterfront Festival is part of the Canal & River Trust’s plans to reconnect the local community to their waterway over the next 18 months, ahead of the Sheffield & Tinsley Canal’s bicentenary in 2019. So be sure to head on down and while away some time by the waterfront.
