Haverfordwest River Festival

INFORMATION and a friendly invitation to Quayside & Riverside businesses

We wanted to let you know about the second Haverfordwest River Festival taking place on Saturday June 13th from 10am onwards, running all along the river through the centre of town.

The festival route will stretch from the Old Bridge through Riverside and Western Quayside, past the Library and Waldo Lounge, across towards Forbidden Florist and down behind Haverhub along Quayside to The Bristol Trader.

This is a volunteer-led community festival celebrating the River Cleddau, our town, and all the groups and organisations helping people reconnect with the river and understand its importance to the future of Haverfordwest.

Across the day there will be free drop-in arts activities, music, stalls, food and drink, storytelling, demonstrations and information stands from a wide range of local groups — from St John Ambulance and RNLI through to environmental and heritage organisations.

Haverhub itself will host an all-day Community & Citizen Science Hub focused on the River Cleddau, with activities and displays for all ages exploring the wildlife, science and environmental importance of our waterways.

Along Riverside and near the Library, Paddle West will once again offer Canadian canoe rides on the river, alongside Carla’s Festival Farmers Market.

There will also be music and dance tasters from local groups, including a new hip hop team in the area, while visitors can meet local regeneration and community organisations including Haverfordwest Heritage Trust, Haverfordwest Town Council, the Green & Clean Team and others.

Throughout the day there will be performances and musical interludes from Rock Choir, Llangwm Village Voices and two ukulele groups, while the Rockabilly Club will be “strutting their stuff” behind the Services Club.

One of the biggest highlights this year will be the return of the Dale to Haverfordwest Longboat Race, arriving into the county town for the first time in 12 years. The exhausted rowers will finish near The Bristol Trader before boats and trailers are taken onto Picton Fields and the crews are welcomed into Haverhub for food from Café Nessie’s and a well-earned rest.

The Bristol Trader will then round off the day with two live bands from 6pm onwards and is also generously providing riverside tables and seating along Quayside to encourage people to relax, connect and enjoy the river atmosphere throughout the event.

The River Festival also launches a full “River Weekend” in Haverfordwest, with Sunday bringing the town’s traditional civic river ceremony, Beating of the Bounds. Boats will again leave from Quayside and return to a lovely waterside atmosphere through the weekend. Visitors will be able to learn more about the history of this important tradition at the Haverfordwest Town Council stall during the festival.

Other festival partners include Waldo Lounge, whose manager Steph is once again organising a charity Duck Race during the morning in aid of VC Gallery.

Important information for Quayside businesses

Please note that CAR PARK closure notices will be going up this week for Quayside behind Haverhub and the Services Club area and the Bristol Trader:

To allow the riverside to become a safe and welcoming pedestrian-friendly family space for the
weekend:

• NO vehicles should be left parked on Quayside after Friday 12th June
• NO bins should be left out within the closure areas during the event period

The car park area near The Bristol Trader will also be closed with the kind support of Haverfordwest Town Council and The Bristol Trader team.

We are very grateful for everyone’s patience and support while we create a much more attractive and accessible riverside atmosphere for the town across the whole weekend.

We would also be very grateful for any donations or sponsorship support to help this fledgling annual community festival continue to grow. If this is the best option for you – please tell us through the link below too! Perhaps consider being a ‘Friend of The Cleddau River Festival’?

We would love local businesses to get involved

There are lots of ways you can support or participate:

• Volunteer runners or helpers on the day
• Stallholders showcasing local businesses, products or services
• Activities, demonstrations, walks or tasters
• Food or drink offers
• Anything celebrating our town and the River Cleddau

If you would like space for a stall, we can usually find somewhere suitable along the river corridor. Stallholders will need Public Liability Insurance and ideally their own gazebo or safe stall set-up.

If you are interested, please email organiser Gitti Coats at:

gitticoats@outlook.com
…and please complete this short participant Expression of Interest Google Form
https://forms.gle/RYjbFV7Cf2NW1RQY7

Finally, if you are happy to display some printed festival programmes from your premises nearer the time, that support would also be hugely appreciated.

Many thanks for your support, and we hope you will enjoy being part of this growing River Weekend for Haverfordwest.