Family fun at Shrewsbury River Festival

The event offers a range of entertainment including raft and duck races, various demonstrations on the river, canoeing, coracles, local independent craft stalls, children’s pirate-themed fancy dress and other competitions, as well as live entertainment.

“This Sunday promises to be a great family day out,” said Tony Durnell, pirate chairman of the 2014 Shrewsbury River Festival organising committee. “Just bring a picnic, enjoy the entertainment and have a lovely, relaxing day by the river.”

As part of the river festival thirteen teams of ‘pirates’ are set to put their sailing skills to the test in the Morris Lubricants Raft Race for charity on the River Severn from Bicton to Porthill Bridge in Shrewsbury.

The race aims to raise more than £4,000 for the Midlands and Wales Air Ambulances Services, Morris Lubricants’ adopted charities this year.

Last year’s successful inaugural race attracted an entry of eight rafts and was won by car dealership J. T. Hughes, who will be defending their title.

Also competing will be teams from Morris Lubricants, Salop Leisure, Bearing Man, Burnt Tree, Gately Wareing, Greenhous, Lloyds Bank, Morris Property, Multisol, Rea Valley Tractors, Midlands Air Ambulance and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

“It’s a fantastic, fun event that brings companies together for the day,” said event organiser Phil Gittins from Morris Lubricants. “The competing teams are all our customers and suppliers and it’s a good way of meeting up with them whilst raising money for a good cause at the same time.”

Last year’s event attracted over 7,500 visitors.

SHREWSBURY RIVER FESTIVAL PROGRAMME
QUARRY TIMETABLE
10:00 am Show open
10:05 am Community Uke
11:10 am Raise the Dust Appalacian Dancers
12:00 pm Roanne’s Dog Therapy
12:15 pm Telford Dixie Land Band
13:00 pm Mayor arrives and visits stalls
13:10 pm Mayor releases elvers into Severn with Severn Rivers Trust
13:15 pm Telford Dixieland Band
14:00 pm Fancy Dress Competition judging
14:15 pm Roanne’s Dog Therapy
14:30 pm Telford Dixieland Band
14:56 pm Red Arrows fly over the Quarry
15:45 pm Raise the Dust Appalacian Dancers
16:15 pm Community Uke
17:00 pm Close

RIVER TIMETABLE
10:15am onwards - Shrewsbury Canoe Club to take names for canoe taster sessions
11:00am Sabrina Boat trip from Victoria Quay
11:15am Adult canoe taster session
11:30am Shrewsbury Sub Aqua club demonstration
12:00pm Sabrina Boat trip from Victoria Quay
12:15pm Adult canoe taster session
13:00pm Sabrina Boat trip from Victoria Quay
13:10pm Mayor releases elvers into Severn with Severn Rivers Trust
13:15pm Adult canoe taster session
13:15pm Severn Area River Association demonstration
13:45pm Introduction to coracling
14:00pm Sabrina Boat trip from Victoria Quay
14:15pm Adult canoe taster session
14:45pm Morris Lubricants raft race (Welsh Bridge to Porthill Bridge)
14:56pm Red Arrows fly over Quarry
15:00pm Sabrina Boat trip from Victoria Quay
15:15pm Adult canoe taster session
15:30pm Shrewsbury Sub Aqua Club Duck Race
16:00pm Sabrina Boat trip from Victoria Quay
16:15pm Adult canoe taster session
17:00pm Close

This timetable is subject to change if necessary and is dependent on river conditions. All attractions & events subject to availability.