Thames Festival 2012

Launched in 1997, The Mayor's Thames Festival has grown to become London's largest free open-air arts festival. This year the festival happens on the closing weekend of the London 2012 Games, and the Thames Festival will be the Mayor's, and the city's, final celebration of an amazing year for London.

Events

Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th September 2012, are the dates set aside for the festival which is open from noon until 10pm between Westminster Bridge and Tower Bridge. Many Thames Festival activities are based on public participation. The festival commissions new work, and transforms unusual spaces on and around the River Thames with a mixture of street arts, performance, carnival, pyrotechnics, illuminations, art installations, exhibitions, river events, massed choirs, Barge driving races, circus, music and dance, food and feasting. The finale is a magical illuminated Night Procession that winds along the north and south banks of the Thames, followed by a fireworks display fired from the centre of the river itself.

Line-up

On both nights there's a performance of XX Scharnhorst a new site-specific performance, combining international choirs and young percussionists performing live after dark on the historic HMS Belfast.

The Night Carnival will happen on Sunday from 7.15pm-10pm with 25 carnival and street theatre groups.

To celebrate the 10th year of Kids' Choir, the Thames Festival Trust has commissioned award-winning singer-songwriter Sam Lee to write and arrange a new song cycle for Sunday afternoon.

With more to be announced.

The event will also host a lot of activities throughout the weekend. With food, drink, music, interactive art, performances, an illuminated night carnival and river firework finale.

Night Procession

Every year key London roads are closed to traffic for the Thames Festival's spectacular finale event, the Night Procession, with over 2,000 musicians, dancers, performers and masqueraders come from across the country and the world with lanterns, illuminated costumes and fantastic structures. The Procession takes place on Sunday 12th September, starting at 7.15pm on Victoria Embankment, travels east crossing the Thames at Blackfriars Bridge, and finishes behind the Royal National Theatre and Southbank Centre.

The event's river and water-focused activities aim to inspire and excite and its extensive education programme involving some 300 schools hopes to increase interest in and appreciation of the river and its environment.

More info

For more information (as available), see the official website.

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