When the sun shines in London, there’s no better place to be than by the river. So it’s rather nice that London has a three-month festival overlooking the Thames at Tower Bridge. Returning for another (hopefully) glorious summer of sun, Summer by the River has once again lined up a packed schedule of free, summery events until September rolls around.
We’ll overlook the less-than-imaginative name, because Summer by the River is in fact the largest free arts and entertainment festival in the capital. It’s all about the #summervibes as they bring the fun to a half-mile stretch of river frontage. So, what can you expect from nearly 100 days of entertainment?
What’s on at Summer By The River?
Live performances will highlight new and emerging talent – courtesy of BBC Introducing – with plenty of film screenings in between. These will range from family-friendly flicks to short films from the local community, and documentaries. Taking place in The Scoop, these outdoor screenings provide a gorgeous sun-dappled setting for a relaxed evening by the river.
But that’s far from being everything! A public art trail of 56 magnificent giant Morph sculptures will keep the kids (and the kids inside us) entertained as we race around the area trying to find them all. There will also be a variety of workshops and acitivies, ranging from the Hip Hop Weekender, with workshops, dance battles, and performances, to a tango workshop from the Embassy of Argentina in the UK, and even a LEGO-building workshop.
Head to one of the two pop-up bars, Riverside Terrace or the Riverside Pavilion, and you’ll find plenty of choices to keep you fed and watered. Vendors range from the crispy, crunchy offerings from Honey Honey Chicken, to heat-battling scoops from NICE DAY ice cream, and delicious slices from from Bad Boy Pizza. That offering is further accented by the KERB+ London Bridge City market, whose revolving lineup of traders ensures there’s always something for everyone! And naturally, there’s plenty to drink…
Seriously, you’ll have to actively have to work to be bored here. So, if it’s riverside revels you’re after this summer – without breaking the bank – then Summer by the River should float your boat nicely. The festivities by the river will carry on all the way through the summer, until September 1.
Summer By The River
Also published on Medium.