Bristol’s economy will get a £12m boost this year from its biggest-ever Harbour Festival, organisers said this week as they unveiled more details of the ever-popular event.
The festival, which takes place from July 17 to 19, is forecast to attract more than 250,000 visitors to the city – making it Bristol’s most popular event. 
Now in its 44th year and one of the UK’s largest free festivals, the event is organised by Bristol-based Richmond Event Management on behalf of the city council, which funds it.
In keeping with Bristol’s role as European Green Capital, this year’s festival will focus on sustainability and recycling – from the site management to the events and performances over the three days on its five stages as well as its water-based activities.
All traders will be urged to use environmentally friendly packaging and food wrapping while visitors will be encouraged to buy drinks in plastic bottles or cans instead of glass as part of the festival’s ‘keep glass off the grass’ campaign.
Mayor of Bristol George Ferguson said: “The Harbour Festival is one of the great annual events on Bristol’s calendar. It plays to our strengths and gives us the perfect platform to celebrate Bristol’s diversity and culture, holding particular significance, in our year as European Green Capital.”
Festival goers will also be urged to use the correct bin to enable waste to go straight into the right recycling stream.
Critical Waste, a Bristol-based sustainable waste management company specialising in clearing up and recycling at events and festivals, will donate a percentage of the revenue generated from the sale of the festival’s recycled materials to the Small Steps Project – a charity tackling the problems communities face living on landfill sites in the developing world.
Festival organiser Mike Richmond, of Richmond Event Management, said: “95% of our waste avoided landfill last year – if we could replicate or even improve on that this year that would be great.”
Queen Square will once again play centre stage to the festival’s diverse music offering, showcasing talent from the region and some choice picks from around the world.
The festival will be topped off with reggae singer Dawn Penn, whose career stretches back to the 60’s and whose classic ‘No, No, No’ will bring the festival to its climax.
Bristol’s innovative Happy City project, which in previous years has organised activities in the Canons Marsh Amphitheatre, will this year team up with boat-turned-music venue Thekla and Bristol Plays Music, the city’s hub for music education, to stage the Happy City Area in Mud Dock.
The area will become a ‘world of happiness’ with two music stages and interactive entertainment for the whole family.
Mike Richmond added: “We moved Happy City to co-ordinate the diversity of music and to bring a state of happiness there and celebrate some of that diversity. What better way to do it than combine everything into one area.”
The Dance Village, previously staged in Millennium Square, will move to the Canons Marsh Amphitheatre to become the biggest free dance event in the South West. A participation stage in Millennium Square will encourage visitors to join in with flamenco, swing, Zumba and African dance.
College Green will be home to the family area with Bristol’s hugely popular circus company Cirque Bijou performing for the 12th year running, while Cascade Steps on The Centre will be programmed by Jelli Records, the Bristol-based independent record label, bringing a diverse line-up of upbeat folksy pop.
At the heart of the festival, the harbour will host events such as cardboard boat racing, where teams build and race their vessels.
For more information on the festival visit www.bristolharbourfestival.co.uk
