Thames festival, between Westminster Bridge and Tower Bridge
Report by urban75 editor, 18th September 2005
The Mayor's Thames festival is an annual London event serving up a feast of free entertainment with parades, funfairs, fireworks and a big lantern procession. We love it!
The action takes place around the riverfront, parks and open spaces between Westminster Bridge and Tower Bridge, and the festival has become hugely popular with locals and tourists.
I grabbed these pictures on the Sunday afternoon.
![Thames festival, between Westminster Bridge and Tower Bridge, South Bank, London September 2005](images/thames-festival02.jpg)
Sand sculpture
A huge sand sculpture was created outside the National Theatre by Daneel Foyer who, is, apparently, a professional sand artist.
Mighty impressive, isn't it? Mind you, I wonder how many times he had to stop rampaging three year olds from heading straight into the thing.
![Thames festival, between Westminster Bridge and Tower Bridge, South Bank, London September 2005](images/thames-festival03.jpg)
Slovakian musicians
According to the program, these guys were playing 'authentically temperamental' music from all the regions of Slovakia.
It certainly was a bit moody - the bloke in the blue waistcoat was booming out verses with all the melody of a pub argument.
![Thames festival, between Westminster Bridge and Tower Bridge, South Bank, London September 2005](images/thames-festival01.jpg)
Jazz dancing
There's a long tradition of jazz dancing inside the Festival Hall on Sunday afternoons, but for the Festival, all the soft-shoe shuffling was going on outside.
![Thames festival, between Westminster Bridge and Tower Bridge, South Bank, London September 2005](images/thames-festival04.jpg)
Boat race
These heavy boats were hauled miles downstream by some seriously knackered-looking rowers.
![Thames festival, between Westminster Bridge and Tower Bridge, South Bank, London September 2005](images/thames-festival05.jpg)
Funfair
As usual, there was a small, old fashioned funfair at the festival with kids lining up for a spin on 'Forrests Old Time Riding Horses.'
![Thames festival, between Westminster Bridge and Tower Bridge, South Bank, London September 2005](images/thames-festival06.jpg)
City Hall auditorium
The new City Hall has a stone auditorium built into the site, providing an excellent open air venue.
![Thames festival, between Westminster Bridge and Tower Bridge, South Bank, London September 2005](images/thames-festival07.jpg)
Samba band
A 22-strong Samba band make a right royal percussive racket by the City Hall.
![Thames festival, between Westminster Bridge and Tower Bridge, South Bank, London September 2005](images/thames-festival08.jpg)
Gran Gran Fiesta!
Live Brazilian and Latin American music by the City Hall.
Look at the size of those maracas!
![Thames festival, between Westminster Bridge and Tower Bridge, South Bank, London September 2005](images/thames-festival09.jpg)
Night carnival
A major part of the Thames Festival is the fabulous night parade.
Unfortunately, I had to bugger off early, so I've cheated a bit and included some pics from the festival in 2000 to give you some idea of what goes on!
![Thames festival, between Westminster Bridge and Tower Bridge, South Bank, London September 2005](images/thames-festival10.jpg)
Fireworks
The Festival is traditionally closed with a spectacular fireworks finale, which takes place at 9:30pm on the Sunday night.
The fireworks are blasted into the air from a barge in the river, and it's definitely worth battling to get a good vantage point amongst the hefty crowds.
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