Great Stour RiverFest returns for its second year, running from Saturday 14th to Sunday 22nd September 2024.
Each year, thousands of people visit and enjoy the beauty of the River Stour, the second longest waterway in Kent and once a key Roman trade route connecting Britain to Europe. People picnic along its banks, rejoice in a relaxing river tour or walk along the footpaths that offer glimpses of the river.
The City of Canterbury has many great attractions, from St Augustine’s Abbey and Canterbury Cathedral to the award-winning Westgate Gardens. However, one of its greatest jewels meanders silently through the city centre while providing space for nature and people. It’s appreciated by many but celebrated and cared for by only a few. The jewel in question? The Great Stour River.
Thanks to Canterbury’s devoted local communities and their passion for promoting and protecting this asset, we are excited to announce the second annual Great Stour RiverFest will be running from 14-22 September 2024. Expect a week of wonderful Stour-related events aimed at celebrating its historical, cultural and environmental interests.
Events will include:
- Children’s Art Competition – The River Stour and its Wildlife
- Great Stour Riverfest Fair in Westgate Gardens
- River Stour Arts and Crafts with Anna Outdoors
- Punting Bat Tour
- Guided nature walk alongside Canterbury’s river
- River Dipping – Become a River Stour Guardian!
- A forage along the river Stour in Chartham with Miles Irving, forager
- Canterbury’s Urban Beavers – A walk and talk
- Bat and insect walk in Westgate Gardens
- Riverside Bulb Planting
- Riverfest Bat Walk at the Franciscan Gardens
- An evening of illustrated talks on the Great Stour’s plant life and mammals
- Inter-faith Riverside Walk with Canterbury and District Inter-Faith Action
- AND the annual Westgate Gardens Duck Race!
To find out more about your river, join us for a wonderful week of free Great Stour-related events to learn, share stories and celebrate!
Pick up FREE copy of the ‘Canterbury’s Wild Stour’ guide and trail!
Available at any of the festival events, The Beaney House of Art & Knowledge, or download a copy HERE.
Brought to you by Canterbury BID, with contributions from the Kentish Stour Countryside Partnership, the Canterbury Society and St Peter’s Methodist School, this new guide to the Great River Stour allows you to discover the amazing green spaces along Canterbury’s riverside. Photos courtesy of Martyn Barr, Nicola Crockford, Beverley Paton & Simon Pettman and background mapping provided by Clarity Interpretation.
