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Leeds Waterfront Festival dates announced

10th Jan 2012

Waterfront venues across Leeds will come to life this summer with a festival, boat gathering and dragon boat racing. Leeds Waterfront Festival will take place on Saturday 30 June and Sunday 1 July 2012.

Sites along the Aire & Calder Navigation and the Leeds & Liverpool Canal will play host to walk-on-water balls, canoeing sessions, boat trips, live music, dance, art, food and drink. Venues include Granary Wharf, Brewery Wharf, Clarence Dock and Thwaites Mill Watermill Museum.

A highlight will be the dragon boat racing, a fantastic spectacle, with the teams of 16 paddlers and a drummer all competing in colourful fancy dress. The races are organised by the Leeds Community Foundation in aid of local charities.

Boat gathering

This will be the fifth time the annual festival has taken place, and this year promises to be bigger than ever, thanks to the introduction of a brand new boat gathering. The IWA will host a gathering of all types of inland waterway craft at Thwaites Mill Watermill Museum.

The Festival is a not-for-profit partnership event, co-ordinated by Aire Action Leeds. There are lots of ways to get involved in the festival. Aire Action Leeds is looking for business sponsors and individual volunteers, as well as offering the chance for canal societies to have a stand. For more details on getting involved, contact Rachel Clunas on Rachel.clunas@aireactionleeds.org.uk. For more details of the boat gathering and boat-booking forms, contact Elaine Scott on Elaine.Scott@waterways.org.uk.

Visit the Leeds Waterfront Festival Facebook page.

Last updated: 13/01/2012

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