The 2017 Marlow Town Regatta and Festival takes place this weekend – the 10th and 11th of June. We have tried to include pretty much everything going on over the weekend in this article, so let’s get started!
Saturday – Regatta and Garden Party
Saturday 10th June is the traditional rowing regatta. Proper rowing races, entry badge required to get into the enclosure , dress code applies. Entry to the enclosure will be by traditional Subscriber Badge. Details for purchasing are here, and subject to availability there MAY be some available eon the day – but it’s always best (and a bit cheaper) to pay in advance. Many of you going will have pre-purchased gazebo spots for your picnic – us included!
The order of racing can be found on the Marlow Rowing Club website with races running from 8am through to gone 6pm.
Anything else apart from rowing? YES!!
Inside the enclosure there is the Riverside Bar, operated by Marlow Round Table selling local ales, wines, spirits and champagne, and of course Pimm’s. All profits go to local charities -so dive in!
A number of food stalls will be onsite: Camper Café (coffee etc) , ChilliDogs , I Love Crepes , Mr Singh Curry King , Sukanya Thaifoods , The Wandering Bagel , Toro Poco (Spanish) , Villani Group (burgers etc)
There is also sit down dining in the “Jim Campbell Garden Enclosure“, hosted by Made by Mark.
Throughout the day Marlow FM 97.5 will provide musical entertainment. Full bio’s are on the Marlow FM website, but the schedule is:
- 11.45am Christina Cameron – singer and songwriter based in Marlow
- 1.15pm Vibes Steel Band – steel drum band
- 2.45pm : Just Be – jazz pop duo
- 4.00pm : Saint Avian- acoustic covers
- 5.15pm: Troydon Bent – reggae
- 6.30 pm : Discosaurus – disco, funk & pop covers
Sunday – Festival Day
Sunday 11th June is the “Festival Day”, and encompasses a variety of family friendly things. Firstly, unlike Saturday – entry is FREE. On the river you can watch the exciting dragon boat races, and elsewhere there are all sort of entertainments and activities in the display arena, and of course food and drink options. Basically, all manner of fun! There will be food stalls and plenty of picnic space, all right by the river.
There will be a petting farm open all day for the kids, and plenty of trade, food, and craft stalls.
Dragon Boat Festival
The annual Marlow Dragon Boat Festival regularly attracts in excess of 400 participants in over 30 teams making Marlow one of the largest events of its type in the UK. Races start around 9am, and should run until around 4pm. Great fun to watch and cheer them on – if you live in Marlow you are likely to know someone racing!
Bell Boating with the Accessible Boat Club
The Accessible Boat Club is an inclusive club which provides on-the-water opportunities to people with physical, sensory and or learning difficulties. They are providing the opportunity for people with physical, sensory and or learning difficulties to go Bell Boating during the Marlow Dragon Boat Festival in the afternoon. Details on taking part are on the Regatta website
Have a go, have a row with Naomi Riches!
Come and join Naomi Riches who will be there to help you try your hand at rowing on a rowing machine. Post your time on the leader board and watch others as they try to beat you. There’s no need to dress up. Come as you are and post your best time. Located in the marquee upstream of the Dragon Boat area from around 11am. Naomi is raising money for charity and will be asking for a donation from each participant.
Dog Show – 2.30pm
Fun categories in the Dog Show- register 2.00-2.20pm on the day.
Amateur Bake Off – 3.30pm prizegiving
4 different categories – covering all ages too. We are looking forward to seeing the tallest cake! Full rules etc on the image below. Entries in by 2pm.
Entertainments in the arena
There’s loads of entertainments lined up, listed below with approximate timings:
10.30 – Open-air Church Service
12.00 – Marlow Primary schools Choir
12.15 – Punch and Judy
12.30 – Falconry display
13.00 – Katy Kartwheel circus
13.30 – Punch and Judy
13.15 – Marlow Orchestra
14.00 – Kobika Dance
14.30 – Dog show
15.00 – Katy Kartwheel
15.30 – Prize Giving for Photo, Painting and Cake competitions
15.45 – Punch and Judy
16.00 – Kobika Dance
16.30 – Falconry display
Traylen’s Funfair
Runs in parallel to the Town Regatta & Festival, basically filling up the rest of Higginson Park – and will open on as follows:
- Thursday/Friday 5-10pm
- Saturday 12-8pm
- Sunday 1-7pm
Thursday is the £1.50 for all rides evening (subject to a few exceptions!)
Well… that’s most of it covered, we think – have fun everyone!
(The ultimate resource for all things Regatta, of course is the official website: www.marlowtownregatta.org )
