This year’s edition of the Bristol Harbour Festival spanned nearly two miles of the city, transforming the harbourside into a bustling hub of entertainment with six performance areas and a brand new Fringe element, which extended the festival’s footprint wider into the city centre.
The event's popularity - seeing hundreds of thousands of people over the weekend - significantly boosted the city centre's footfall, with many local businesses reporting great success across the weekend.
Featuring a vibrant blend of beloved traditions and new additions against a backdrop of rain and shine, the weekend included music, food markets, circus acts, live performances, spoken word and on the water spectacles, as well as the much-loved Dance Tent, which returned for the 2024 edition.
Highlights of the festival included the Harbour View (mainstage) line-ups at the Amphitheatre, which were curated by Global Local for the Friday night opening party and Greenpeace who took over on Saturday. The high energy Bhangra All Stars closed Friday and festival favourites The Beatles Dub Club, Eva Lazarus and Grove wowed crowds at the Amphitheatre on Saturday night.
As well as returning classics like James Prestwood, who left visitors dazzled by his flyboarding skills gearing up the crowd to get involved with old-school classics like YMCA whilst dressed as a sailor, brand new On The Water activity such as Dragon Boat Racing and a Parade of Sail were welcomed with waves and r-oars from the crowds.
Businesses within the festival footprint welcomed the additional visitors to the city centre over the course of the weekend.
Kieran Day, General Manager at No.1 Harbourside said that “No.1 Harbourside was rocking on Saturday night with The Zuzumen playing classics until late. A weekend filled with the best music and the best artists in the best city, we love Bristol!"
James Taljaard, Director of Trading at Watershed also had positive things to say: “Fantastic Harbourside Festival. Lots of people out and about enjoying everything on offer. Our new soft serve ice cream was a huge success, especially our brand new Ice Cream Nachos, and there were plenty of happy customers enjoying our summer cocktail specials, Aperol Spritzes and soft drinks on our balcony (now decked out with brand new furniture!)”
Vicky Lorych, Senior Facilities Manager at Avison Young said: “It was great, I loved dragon boat racing, it’s always a great way to get people together!”
Councillor Tony Dyer, Leader of Bristol City Council, said: "What an incredible weekend! It was fantastic to see our diverse communities unite for Bristol's premier cultural event. The festival truly showcased the best of our city and it’s fantastic to hear that it has had such a positive impact on the places and spaces that make our city centre thrive as it does.
"As always, sustainability has been a priority - and we are incredibly proud that this year’s festival has been part of a national trial to set a new standard that all events could follow in the future. The emerging Green Events Code of Practice aims to establish clear, consistent, affordable and workable minimum standards for sustainability at events nationwide.”
Vicky Lee, Director of Bristol City Centre Business Improvement District (BID), added: "The city centre was buzzing with vibrant energy over the entirety of the weekend, truly showcasing the dynamic spirit of Bristol. This lively atmosphere was made possible through our new-for-2024 partnership with the festival, ensuring that events like the Bristol Harbour Festival remain free for hundreds of thousands of people to enjoy. This accessibility not only brings joy to our residents and visitors but also fosters a sense of inclusivity and community spirit.
"Moreover, the increased footfall had a positive impact on our local businesses. Shops, restaurants and cafes saw a significant uptick in patronage, translating into much-needed revenue. It's fantastic to continue to see how such events can stimulate economic activity and provide a boost to our local economy. The Bristol Harbour Festival really exemplifies the powerful synergy between culture, community engagement and economic support. Congratulations to the entire festival team for delivering such a remarkable and successful event."
The Bristol Harbour Festival team would love visitors who attended the weekend to share their thoughts and feedback by completing the survey at this link: https://form.jotform.com/241703084618051
The Bristol Harbour Festival is produced by Bristol City Council, with support from Bristol City Centre BID and the Redcliffe & Temple BID. This year’s event was sponsored by Brother’s Cider, St. Austell’s Brewery, Bonne Maman, McArthur’s Yard, Great Western Railway and The Wave.
For more information, visit www.bristolharbourfestival.co.uk and follow the event on Facebook, Instagram and X. To support the Bristol Harbour Festival, fans can make a donation - and all funds will go directly into the artist programming for 2025.
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