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Highlights from the 28th Maidstone River Festival - 27-28
July 2007.
After a summer which has seen heavy rain and
freak flooding across parts of the country, organisers of
the Maidstone River Festival had been watching the forecast
with much interest.
Despite some heavy rain on Friday evening and drizzle as
the festival came to a close, the vast majority of the event
was dry with sunshine bathing the River Medway.
That dry weather was a welcome relief for all visitors to
the county town and the volunteers of the River Festival committee
that had planned the event for many months.
There was entertainment for everyone with live bands on the
Maidstone Housing Trust Stage and the Hospital Radio Maidstone
Soundstage. From original songs to crowd-pleasing sing-a-longs
– the performers didn’t fail to impress.
Dance is a major part of the festival and the Mandy Ellen
School of Dance staged a vast programme exclusively for the
event and attracted many to the historic Palace Gardens. Margaret
Preedy Dance Studio and Sharon Kennard School of Dance entertained
crowds on Friday evening on the Kentish Lady mooring, despite
the weather, and enjoyed drier conditions throughout Saturday.
For the second year the festival welcomed the Elemental art
project. Children from primary schools in the borough worked
with arts group Same Sky in the weeks leading up to the event
in preparation for a stunning parade along the river, led
by samba band Bloco Fogo.
Other art projects included Light Wave, a series of small
lights floating in the river under an arch of the 19th century
Maidstone Bridge. It was also the first time visitors to the
River Festival had the chance to change the lights on Maidstone
Bridge and St Peter’s Bridge by texting from their mobile
phone.
The festival fairground proved as popular as ever, with some
brave people trying out the Cannonball and, if they didn’t
have their eyes closed, seeing superb views across the river
and town.
Along the river, there were a range of art, craft and entertainment
stalls. At All Saints Church there was an Arts Show and the
chance to look round this historic building. Visitors to the
festival also had the chance to check out the exhibitions
at Maidstone Museum and Maidstone Carriage Museum.
In Maidstone town centre there was a Bizarre Bazaar in Bank
Street and the festival brought many more people to enjoy
one of the country’s biggest and best shopping towns.
The traditional favourites of the festival were as popular
as ever. The Mayor of Maidstone Richard Ash, Mayoress Christine
and the Kent Carnival Court sailed from the Malta Inn to Maidstone
town centre with River Festival chairman David Knight to welcome
visitors to the county town.
The Heart of Kent Hospice Raft Race was a great competition.
It saw one of the fastest ever races and some excellent fun
rafts. Imaginations went into overdrive to come up with some
very inventive crafts.
The best-dressed boat competition was a hot one. Competition
was rife between boatowners and marinas. A Grease-inspired
Cadillac won the prize and there were many other superb entrants
including the runner-up which saw Freddie Krueger on-board
to surprise passers-by and penguins galore with a Happy Feet
inspired creation.
Eleven boats took part in the illuminated boat parade and
the River Festival is one of a few events in the region which
features such a highlight. It takes boatowners hours to prepare
their craft but it is definitely worth it.
A dramatic firework display concluded the 2007 event. The
display came from the roof of Fremlin Walk and it lit up the
night sky over the county town.
It was another successful year for Maidstone River Festival.
Months of planning by a small team of volunteers paid off
and even the weather came along for the party.
The committee would like to offer our sincere thanks to all
the businesses and organisations that sponsored this year’s
event and extend that to everyone involved – entertainers,
stewards etc – you know who you are. We couldn’t
do it without you and appreciate your support.
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