THE Quayside Festival is Bridgwater’s new free outdoor summer festival with an array of live music, arts and entertainment across eight locations in the centre of the town. 

The festival, set for Saturday, July 29, will celebrate Bridgwater and Sedgemoor’s diverse and creative culture and showcase both local talent and national artists. 

Festival locations will include Blake Gardens, West Quay, Fore Street, Angel Place, King Square, Bridgwater Arts Centre, Engine Room and Bridgwater Library.

The organiser, Fuse Performance, is working with the Bridgwater Cultural Partnership and artists, creating a programme of live music, street theatre, dance, performances, circus and acrobatics, aerial trapeze, puppetry and children’s activities. 

There will be free shows and interactive workshops with something aimed at all ages.

Performances include Sunken Circus aerial acrobatics performance in Angel Place, music bands Shoot the Moon and The Gin Bowlers, Carmen the Escapologist, Cabin Fever shows and maritime mayhem walkabout pirates from the company Bell and Bullock and much more.

Throughout the festival, there will be living statues, Punch and Judy shows, stilt-walkers, Sutton Household Archery and medieval sword games, free arts and crafts workshops, skiffle, acoustic bands and musicians, face painting and circus antics workshops.

After the outdoor festival finishes at 6pm, there will be a free night of dancing at the Bridgwater Arts Centre with DJ’s Global Jukebox, Red Shadow Jamaican Sound System and The Lone Arranger.
You can book you tickets for the After Party at Bridgwater Arts Centre. 

Bridgwater Town Council leader Cllr Brian Smedley said: “Our council is happy to be part of the sponsorship team for this event along with Sedgemoor District Council and we are particularly pleased that the Bridgwater Cultural Partnership is playing a key part in this. 

“The idea of a summer festival gained impetus two years ago when the Cultural Partners organised the Big Bash in Castle Street which proved extremely popular. 

“The idea of a Quayside theme perfectly compliments our community’s aspirations to once again turn our face to our nautical and riverside heritage.

"We are sure that Fuse Performance’s Festival will provide something for everybody and taps into Bridgwater’s special sense of community, culture and creativity.”

For more information, or to find out about getting involved as a volunteer for the festival, visit bridgwaterquaysidefestival.uk.