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40 events took place in 2008
Tongliang Dragon
Sun 14 – Sat 13 September 2008
Thames Festival and Mandinga Arts play host to an amazing 50-metre-long Chinese dragon which will lead the Night Carnival. Created by artists Keji Zhou and Heping Zhou, it was commissioned to appear at the Beijing Olympics earlier this summer, and was brought to the UK with support from the British Council.
Kayaking Demonstrations
Sun 14 September 2008
Come to see kayak demonstrations between Westminster Bridge and Tower Bridge.
Night Carnival
Sun 14 September 2008
Key London roads are closed to traffic for the Festival’s spectacular Night Carnival. Over 2,000 musicians, dancers, performers and masqueraders come from across the country and the world with their amazing lanterns, illuminated costumes and fantastic structures – an incredible and un-missable display of carnival creativity.
Ahoy There – Olympic Vessels
Sun 14 September 2008
Come and explore the Olympics on water.
In anticipation of 2012 and with the recent Beijing Olympics still fresh in our memory the DesignMuseum invites you to take a closer look at the sport of sailing and in particular the boats that bring in the medals.
The Zen Hussies
Sat 13 – Sun 14 September 2008
Good time Dixieland swing, jump jive, ska and boogaloo from the inimitable Zen Hussies.
The Wishing Tree
Sat 13 – Sun 14 September 2008
A magical wishing tree has grown in Bernie Spain Gardens. No ordinary tree, this is made from materials saved from landfill, measuring over 6 metres high.
Deep Soup Ceremony
Sat 13 – Sun 14 September 2008
Join Miche Fabre Lewin to celebrate earth, water, air and fire with a healing food ceremony.
River Races
Sat 13 – Sun 14 September 2008
Sunday is a day at the races! The Steve Faldo Memorial Barge Races re-enact the way watermen manoeuvred their barges in the dying art of barge driving.
Barclaycard Jive Stage
Sat 13 – Sun 14 September 2008
Dress up and dance on our glittering outdoor ballroom hosted by London's famous Lady Luck Club.
The Scoop at More London
Sat 13 – Sun 14 September 2008
A cabaret line-up of some of the best street theatre acts on the circuit.
The Observation Point
Sat 13 – Sun 14 September 2008
Leading London DJs share the stage with virtuoso live musicians and celebrate the links that are being made in London via Rivers of the World with young people in Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Mexico and South Africa.
Swamp Rock
Sat 13 – Sun 14 September 2008
Bringing non-stop rockin’ Cajun and Zydeco dance music from the swamps and bayous of Louisiana to the banks of the Thames.
Thames Sailing Barges
Sat 13 – Sun 14 September 2008
For those of you who would like to get involved in the Festival’s nautical activities, you can take a trip on a beautiful, traditional Thames Sailing Barge, the Lady Daphne or Sailing Barge Will, and sail under Tower Bridge as it opens!
Whoopee presents Carnaval
Sat 13 – Sun 14 September 2008
You are invited to a Whoopee Club spectacular set in a fantastical riverside outdoor setting. Dress up and enter into a lantern lit magical 1920s and Ballet Russe inspired Venetian Carnival Ball.
River Tango
Sat 13 – Sun 14 September 2008
Star performances, cutting-edge workshops, live music and, of course, dancing into the night on London’s vibrant riverside, under the shadow of the iconic Tate Modern.
Cafe on the Terrace, County Hall
Sat 13 September 2008
Take a break and refuel at Café on the Terrace, and watch The Movieum's Wizard School in action during the afternoon!
Walk London Tent
Sat 13 – Sun 14 September 2008
Enjoy free guided walks of the River every thirty minutes from the Walk London information stand outside the National Theatre from 12 – 6pm on both days going alternately to Westminster Bridge in one direction and to Millennium Bridge in the other and collect free leaflets on over 500 miles of promoted paths looked after with the support of Transport for London. Great walks - Walk London!
The Movieum Tent - FUN WITH FILM
Sat 13 – Sun 14 September 2008
The Movieum Tent will be focused on FUN WITH FILM. Throughout the festival, we will be making a continuous black and white old-style movie starring our very own Charlie Chaplin and made by our old-style film crew. In the tent are small tasters of what The Movieum is all about highlighting the colourful film heritage in England, including props and set pieces and a working Make-up Department where you can learn how horror effects are made and applied. The public will be able to take part in the activities and may even get a special role in the film, even if it is just to shout ACTION!!
Japanese Jamboree
Sat 13 September 2008
On the eve of the Japanese moon-viewing festival, Tsukimi, enjoy a free and fun-packed running programme of activities and demonstrations for everyone with Japanese games, origami, manga-drawing, storytelling, taiko drumming, kimono, and calligraphy workshops.
Wool ‘n’ Dance
Sat 13 – Sun 14 September 2008
To make Wool ‘n’ Dance happen we need YOU! Lend us your hands and feet and join the Wool ‘n’ Dance crew in the felting of a big wool carpet!
The Great River Race
Sat 13 – Sun 14 September 2008
This year the Great River Race coincides with the Thames Festival. More than 275 traditional boats of all shapes and sizes from around the world will make a magnificent two-hour long spectacle as they compete in the 22-mile race to find the UK Traditional Boat Champions.
Jazz at the Fairtrade Village
Sat 13 – Sun 14 September 2008
Come down to the Fairtrade Village and support the campaign for London becoming a Fairtrade City. There’s lots to taste and see including indulgent chocolate treats, tropical dried fruits and honey, organic tropical fresh fruit and ice-cream as well as a tempting range of Fairtrade wines. All this while you listen to the sounds of the Riverside Jazz stage with everything from laid back cool to Latin salsa.
New European Village
Sat 13 – Sun 14 September 2008
A chance to see some of the finest crafts, and listen and dance to fantastic folk music, from Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovakia.
CBBC Me & My Movie
Sat 13 – Sun 14 September 2008
Don’t just watch it, do it! with CBBC at the Thames Festival.
Get inspired in film-making masterclasses with CBBC Me and My Movie in association with BAFTA.
Thames Pageant
Sat 13 – Sun 14 September 2008
Promoting the Thames as an arena for all, the River Pageant sees river-users of all kinds join together in a programme-packed river display.
BBC Headroom
Sat 13 – Sun 14 September 2008
Come and unwind your mind in the BBC Headroom Tent, where you can check out positive ways to help you deal with life's ups and downs.
Green Man Stage
Sat 13 – Sun 14 September 2008
In the heart of Potters Fields, the magically decorated Green Man Stage features a unique programme of world music, inspirational speakers and artistic performances - in celebration of cultural diversity, and its importance for humanity and the earth.
Club Dada
Sat 13 – Sun 14 September 2008
On Saturday: golden era Parisian chic; Manu Chao meets Django Rheinhardt; Mexican rockabilly; 21st century barn dance; super-star Americana; radical Latin; a guitar and ballad duel and good-time swing and boogaloo.
On Sunday: ska ‘n’ fruity grooves; French street music; melodramatic songs; fezpians of street theatre; a one-man blues band; Italian gypsy grooves and … The Bobby McGees.
Blue Ribbon Village 2008
Sat 13 – Sun 14 September 2008
This vibrant, creative and interactive open-air space forms the festival’s river and environment zone and offers the opportunity to learn and engage with environmental issues at different levels.
Korean New Moon Festival
Sat 13 – Sun 14 September 2008
The greatest festival in the Korean calendar is for the Harvest Moon, or Ch'usok, and it is held on the 15th day of the Eighth Moon which this year happens to fall over the Thames Festival weekend.
Thames Lens Short Films
Sat 13 – Sun 14 September 2008
Come and be inspired by a series of short films from the Thames Festival's inaugural film programme, Thames Lens.
Firing on the Foreshore
Sat 13 – Sun 14 September 2008
Bankside STEWards invite you to join them for this magical combination of Thames clay, Thames driftwood and Thames foreshore at Bankside under the Millennium Footbridge.
Children’s Society - Walk and Explore
Sat 13 – Sun 14 September 2008
Take a step back in time and uncover England’s past with Walk & Explore London.
Feast on the bridge
Sat 13 – Sun 14 September 2008
On Saturday 13th September 2008 Southwark Bridge was closed to traffic and transformed by a team of Artists into a dining space running the entire length of the bridge.
I Went to the Thames Festival, And I Saw…
Sat 13 – Sun 14 September 2008
I Went to the Thames Festival, And I Saw… is a game of finding things and making a list of them using text messaging. It's like a treasure hunt. It's like "I Spy". In fact it's like quite a few games you may have played to relieve boredom as a child. Now these games have been brought up to date using SMS and the internet.
Barclaycard Freerun Zone
Sat 13 – Sun 14 September 2008
Urban Freeflow has been the driving force behind the parkour/freerun movement globally; amongst many other things, they provided stunt services for the film Casino Royale. Over the festival weekend their team of 15 athletes perform a mix of high impact choreographed pieces and lead jam sessions on a specially commissioned structure designed to show off the best of this amazing street sport.
BBC Blast
Sat 13 – Sun 14 September 2008
Free workshops, taster sessions and showcase events for 13–19 year-olds. Work with leading artists, designers, BBC and National Theatre experts to develop your ideas and creative skills in writing, music producing, theatre, film-making and much, much more.
Rivers of the World 2009
Sat 13 – Sun 14 September 2008
This creative visual art and design project aims to link young people around the world through a common theme: their river.
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