Hereford River Carnival 2018
Friday 4th May 2018 – Hereford River Carnival Mystery and Magic
The spectacle of mystery and magic will start at around 8:30pm on Friday 4th May outside the North Door of Hereford Cathedral with a Mummer’s Play from Leominster Morris, drawing on our wealth of Herefordshire folklore.
They will be joined by the creatures of the Mappa Mundi, who have wandered far and wide into our world seeking adventure. The creatures will weave a musical story of their travels, helped by young dancers from Dancefest.
At around 9:15pm the procession will begin from the Cathedral and head along Gwynne Street towards Bridge Street and then across the bridge to the banks of the river at Bishop’s Meadow where the River Wye will be transformed into a world of fire and water.
The torchlit creatures from every time and space converge on Victoria Bridge to share their story at about 9:45pm. After the creatures have left visitors are free to enjoy the after party with Mash Cinema in the tent on Bishop’s Meadow.
Saturday 5th May 2018
CASTLE GREEN – Hereford River Carnival Activities
9:00am: Registration for the perennially popular FRIENDS OF CASTLE GREEN FUN DOG SHOW
10:00am: Stalls and activities open, including Duck Race tickets (also available on Bishops Meadow), Info & First Aid, Strongbow Bar, buskers, ice creams
10:00am-12:30noon: Judging by the RSPCA and Wye Valley Vets starts – prizes to be won in 10 categories:
10:00am-ALL DAY: the renowned FRIENDS OF CASTLE GREEN CAFÉ – delicious hot food and cakes, filled rolls and other savoury delights
10:00am – ALL DAY: INDIE FOOD VILLAGE: The best of Herefordshire’s Indie Food Village
11:00am-ONWARDS: in the CIRCUS AREA: in-between the Nozstock Stage and the Food Village. Half Aerial Hoop Workshops on the mini rig led by Joanne Ockwell (small charge) – Circus Skills with the Wye Circus Crew including Hula Hooping, Devil Sticks, Diabalo, Poi and spinning plates – donations please.
GET SET TO SPARKLE: Come and get your glitter and sparkle on! Get your face painted by professional artist Looby-Lou. Do it for the carnival or just because you want to!
11.15am – 11.45 am DRUMMING MASTER CLASS – We are very excited to announce the Street Carnival will be led by Hereford’s very own ‘River Rhythm Rollers’ led by Bym Welthy of BeatBangBong. Join Bym and the band for a master class in professional drumming from 11.15am to 11.45am (in the Carnival Area on Castle Green). Learn some rhythms, be part of the band and make some noise in the Street Carnival (Band massing at 12.30 in the Carnival Area on Castle Green).
11.30am – 12.30pm PUPPET WORKSHOP – Join local Artist Lily Smith for a creative workshop inspired by the amazing creatures of The Hereford Mappa Mundi. Lily will help you bring these mythical beasts to life during this puppet workshop where you can design and make your own creature. Take your creature on the Street Carnival – everyone can join in (meet in the Carnival Area on Castle Green from 12.30pm) or take it for a walk around the River Carnival. This is a free family friendly workshop open to all ages
12.30pm – 6.00pm: NOZSTOCK, THE HIDDEN VALLEY Six superb acts to give you a flavour of this Summer’s Festival
12.45pm: STREET CARNIVAL: – It’s time to put on your mask, bang your drum, raise your lantern and join the Carnival as we walk through the city streets. Come along in fancy dress (or not), bring something to wave, wear a crazy hat or headdress or get your face painted and join the creatures from the Mappa Mundi, Giant Puppets from the Wye Valley River Festival, drummers, cyclists and the Carnival Band.
3.00pm – 5.00pm: more puppet making at the PUPPET WORKSHOP! (see 11.30 – 12.30)
BISHOPS MEADOW – Hereford River Carnival Activities
ALL DAY PROGRAMME FROM 10:00AM: including Danters Children’s Funfair, fabulous stalls and activities, all sorts of delicious food and drink and Rotary Club Duck Race tickets (also available on Castle Green). Highlights include:
Kindle Centre Community Hub – Come and meet Mandy and the team from South Wye’s finest, the Kindle Centre. We’ll be making yummy cakes and selling them so why not join the fun.
Carnival makers club – free creative, family friendly fun for all. Make something to wave in the Street Carnival plus badgemaking – make your own special Carnival badge.
The City Council Roadshow accompanied by the Liveried Men bringing a display with artefacts ad manuscripts from among the heritage treasures of the Town Hall
Hereford Lions Village Green Fun – joining us for the first time at the Carnival, the Lions are bringing all the fun of the village fete. Try your hand a welly wanging, splat the rat and many more traditional favourites.
Wye Float – Sign up for Hereford’s other day for messing about on the Wye, Wye Float, get your tickets and meet the team to find out more about the event on 11 August 2018.
Three Choirs Festival – promoting the 2018 festival (the world’s oldest non-competitive classical music festival) happening right here in Hereford from 28 July – 4 August 2018. Find out what’s on and where and book your tickets.
Hereford Labyrinth – the Labyrinth will open the weekend before the Carnival so what better time to check it out.
Home-Start Herefordshire – Lucky dip and treasure map
Herefordshire Council Stop the Drop litter campaign and Choose How You Move sustainable transport – information and giveaways – eg safe bicycle routes and community litter-picks
PLUS Utility Warehouse, 1st Kingstone Guides, Healthy Life Styles, Hereford MS Therapy Centre (Raffle and giant board games), Herefordshire Land Rover club and the Special Response Team.
Delicious food and drinks from from Rocket Kitchen, Miniyaki’s – Japanese Street Food, Fressh @ Eat Your Veg, Noodles in a box, Cafe83, The Meat Kitchen, Fudge Stall, Harrison’s Bar (in the Music Pool Tent).
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