This summer will see a Boat Gathering at Thwaite Mills Watermill Museum from 29 June – 1 July as part of the 5th Leeds Waterfront Festival. The Gathering is being hosted by West Riding Branch of the Inland Waterways Association (IWA) and brings together for the weekend a host of colourful narrowboats and their owners, as well as historic craft, to add to what has become a growing annual celebration of Leeds’ regenerated waterfront.
Saturday and Sunday sees fun, free Waterfront Festival events all along the regenerated waterfront – from Granary Wharf on the Leeds & Liverpool, right through to Thwaites Mill Watermill Museum on the Aire – with live music, dance. food and drink, arts and crafts, and family activities, as well as ‘on the water’ fun including walk-on-water balls, canoe sessions, heritage boats and boat trips. Find out more at www.leedswaterfrontfestival.com
Plans are well in hand for a variety of events and stands at the Museum and Gathering site to compliment those elsewhere. Alongside the Museum’s heritage attractions there’s a particular emphasis on family fun at Thwaite Mills - with its extensive grounds to run around and picnic in and, this year, the boats to look at and find out about, too! There’ll be childrens’ activities, face-painting, a bouncy castle, craft, produce and refreshment stalls, as well as a classic car rally on one day – all included in free admission to the Museum! In addition it is hoped to have boat rides and there will be a free vintage bus to connect the Museum with other venues near the centre,
The Waterfront Festival also incorporates the Leeds Dragon Boat Spectacle, where teams in fancy dress and colourful 40ft boats compete to raise money for local charities. There’s something for everyone to enjoy, and Thwaite Mills Watermill Museum looks forward to welcoming you over Waterfront weekend this summer!
If you would like to bring a boat to the Gathering, please contact Elaine Scott IWA for further details and a boat booking form Elaine.Scott@waterways.org.uk
Further information
The Leeds Waterfront Festival is a not-for-profit partnership event, co-ordinated by waterfront representatives and river management non-profit partnership Aire Action Leeds and aimed at raising the profile of the regenerated Leeds waterfront, to encourage leisure, living and working along it.
Individuals, businesses, volunteers and organisations are encouraged to get involved - for information on opportunities on offer, contact Project Officer Rachel Clunas rachel.clunas@aireactionleeds.org.uk