Warmly welcomed back for its second year, the sun-drenched canal basin provided the perfect backdrop for all of the community festival’s excitement, with visitors being treated to a truly spectacular range of events!
Paralympian Derek Derenalagi launched the day, encouraging festival-goers to try their hand at everything from free canoeing, kayaking and paddle boarding sessions to wildlife activities and canal boat trips-all the while soaking up their picturesque surroundings.
Mum of three, Gemma, commented: “I had a great day, made even better by the glorious weather, and my kids really enjoyed making a crown as part of the wildlife activities.
Combining a winning formula of both water and land-based activities, festival goers were delighted with the vast choice of events and activities on offer.The return of the remarkable floating market proved popular once again with those looking for that unique gift or special souvenir of the day, and the festival also offered a mouth-watering food court to tingle taste buds and stunning stage performances from Hartbeats Vitae African Drummers, Aylesbury Opera and many more. Further additions to the exciting festival line-up included; historical heritage walks, backstage theatre tours, BuDS chill-out zone and accessible children games, and a fantastic and insightful glimpse into the many opportunities available at Bucks New University’s Aylesbury Campus.
Professor Nick Braisby, Vice-Chancellor of Bucks New University, said:“The Waterside Festival was once again a fantastic community event which we were proud to be a part of. It was a pleasure to welcome people in to our campus to see our excellent facilities, including our newly-installed nursing simulation wards, to try their hand at some of the state-of-the-art equipment we use, and gain an idea of the wide range of courses we offer. We are already looking forward to being part of next year’s Festival.”
This exciting event was the results of months of hard work with the aim of offering a fantastic community event at a little-known gem of Aylesbury’s town centre. It was coordinated by Aylesbury Town Centre Partnership, working together with local businesses, organisations and councils, with support from Aylesbury Garden Town, alongside Michael Graham and Durkan.
To find out more about the Waterside Festival, visit www.watersidefestival.org