Bristol’s Harbour Festival is returning this weekend, bringing with it three days of live music, entertainment, food, drink and a celebration of all things Bristol Harbourside. It runs from today (Friday, July 19) to Sunday ar various locations across the city.
With that in mind, and with late additions to the programme being announced just days ago, we’ve compiled a comprehensive guide to the festival.
It includes everything you need to know about the event, from how to get there, and whether you need tickets, to acts on this year’s line-up, and new special areas and perks for VIPs. We’ll be bringing you all the action in a live blog on the BristolLive site throughout the weekend, too.
Read more: Bristol Harbour Festival unveils all-new VIP experience and stage
When and where is Bristol Harbour Festival 2024?
We’ve listed just some of the stages and acts across the weekend – you can find the lengthy full schedule via the official website here. Opening hours are 6-10pm on Friday, 11am-10pm on Saturday, and 11am-6pm on Sunday.
Programmes will be available at the entrance points to The Amphitheatre, Queen Square and College Green. There will be a stall in Millennium Square where these are given out.
FRIDAY
Amphitheatre on Friday:
- 6pm-10pm MC – Kathika
- 6-6.30pm – Xaman X
- 7-7.30pm – She’s Got Brass
- 8-8.45pm – Bloco B
- 9.15-10pm – The Bhangra All Stars
Expression Stage – Talks (Millennium Square on Friday)
- 6-9pm – Silent Disco hosted by Disco Neurotico DJs
- 6.14-9pm – Disco Neurotico DJs – Stef Mo & Byron Vincent
Fringe (multiple venues) on Friday
- 10am-5pm – Space Shanty
- 12-6pm – Bristol Chaplaincy Wellbeing Hub and Photography Exhibition
- 7-10.45pm – Caravan Collective – Bristol’s ‘Ship Hop’ Venue
- 11pm – 1am – Harbourfest After Dark Party
SATURDAY
Amphitheatre on Saturday:
- 11am-1pm – Old Time Sailors
- 2-2.45pm – Emily Magpie
- 3.15-4pm – Nat Oaks
- 4.30-5.15pm – Langkamer
- 5.30-6.45pm – The Beatles Dub Club
- 7.15-8.15pm – Eva Lazarus
- 8.45-9.45pm – Grove
Bristol Rising (Queen Square) Saturday:
- 11-11.15am – Liv Charley
- 11.15-11.35am – Biba
- 11.35-11.55am – Elarbe
- 11.55am-12.15pm – Hannah Mae
- 12.20-12.35pm – Poison Beret
- 12.40-1.10pm – Dandelion
- 1.15-1.30pm – Tia
- 1.30-1.50pm – Marns
- 1.50-2.10pm – Ssadcharlie
- 2.10-2.30pm – Ava Zarate
- 2.30-2.50pm – Rellz & Y.B Micz
- 2.50-3.10pm – Laura Dia
- 3.35-3.55pm – Jraggz
- 4-4.20pm – Akira
- 4.30-4.55pm – Lakedown
- 5.05-5.25pm – Olivia Rose
- 5.30-5.45pm – Elo1se
- 5.45-6pm – Senshun
Southwest Soundsystem (Saturday at Queen Square):
- 6-6.10pm – Muneera Pilgrim
- 6.10-6.25pm – Tianna
- 6.30-7.30pm – Wordlife Showcase
- 7.30-7.45pm – Mary Mina
- 7.45-8.45pm – Frilla Presents La La Land with Ms Lex and Millie Whitestone
- 8.45-9.45pm – Krush & Guests
Radio Takeover (Queen Square) Saturday:
- 6.10-6.25pm – Tianna
- 6.30-7.30pm – Wordlife Showcase
- 7.30-7.45pm – Mary Mina
- 7.45-8.45pm – Frilla Presents the La La Land Showcase
- 8.45-9.45pm – Krush & Guests
Dance Tent (Queen Square) Saturday:
- 11.05-11.20am – D Wild Fitness
- 11.25-11.40am – L.A Dance
- 11.45am-12.15pm – Swindon Youth Dance Centre
- 12.20-1pm – Hype Presents: Little Hype, Carnival Crew & Dance Competition
- 1.05-1.35pm – Gerry’s Attic
- 1.40-1.55pm – Cocreated Community Dance
- 2.10-2.30pm – Pranartana School of Indian Classical Dance
- 2.35-3.05pm – Yama
- 3.10-3,40pm – Anna K
- 3.50-4.20pm – Hare and Lion – Kennedy Junior Muntanga and Jessica Chambers
- 4.30-5.20pm – Bristol Ballroom
- 5.30-6pm – RSVP Drummers
Booty Bass and Babes at The Dance Tent on Saturday:
- 6.30-10pm – Booty Bass & Babes
- 6.30pm-10pm – Thai Chi Rose – Booty Bass MC
- 6.30-10pm – Tropicandance – Booty Bass Dancer
- 6.30-7pm – Booty B3B – Inda Flo
- 8-9pm – Cheza Lucina
- 9-10pm – DJ Devolicious
On The Water Saturday:
- 11-11.10am – The Pyronaut
- 11.15-11.40am – Steam Boat Association of Great Britain
- 11.45am-12pm – My Future My Choice parade of model boats
- 12-12.30pm – Young Shipwrights Model Boat Race with My Future My Choice
- 12.40-1.30pm – Cardboard boat race with My Future My Choice
- 1-1.15pm – Boat Race prize giving ceremony
- 1.30-1.40pm – James Prestwood
- 1.50-2.20 – RNLI water safety demonstration
- 2.30-3pm – Bristol Empire Dragons Demonstrations
- 3.10-3.40pm – Steam Boat Association of Great Britain
- 3.45-3.55pm – James Prestwood
- 4.30-5pm – Bristol Adventure Sea Cadets
Expression Stage – Talks (Millennium Square Saturday):
- 11.10-11.40am – Get Inspired: How to access multimedia organisations in Bristol
- 11.50am-12.50pm – Championing the joy and creativity of Bristol’s nightlife
- 1-2pm – Panel Discussion – Scene and Heard: Decolonising Bristol’s music scene
- 2.15-3pm – Honest, insightful, grassroot: A chat with Lavinia Calamai about inclusivity and diversity
Jazz & Blues (Millennium Square) Saturday:
- 5-5.35pm – Aviator Brass
- 5.50-6.25pm – Thomas Wright and Carder
- 6.40-7.15pm – The Original Barn Finds
- 7.30-8.05pm – Jelly Roll
- 8.20-9pm – Cindy Stratton and Marius Frank
Family Playground (College Green) Saturday:
- 11am-5pm – Junkfish Craft Workshops
- 11am-1pm – Bristol and it’s twin cities – colourful crafts
- 11am-5pm – Wildlife hunt with Wildscreen Ark
- 11.30am-12.10pm – Aargh!
- 12-5pm – Cirque Bijou presents
- 12-5pm – Marky Jay
- 12-12.30pm – Frenetic Engineering
- 12.10-12.20pm – Circomedia Youth Circus
- 12.25-12.35pm – Baby Racing
- 12.30-2pm – Circomedia Circus Workshops
- 12.40-1.15pm – Pete Anderson
- 1-2pm – Mermaid Pearl
- 1.20-1.50pm – Frenetic Engineering
- 1.20-1.40pm – Levantes Dance Theatre
- 1.30-2pm – Go With The Flow Yoga
- 1.30-2.10pm – Aargh!
- 1.40-1.45pm – Khadia
- 1.50-2.10pm – The Black Eagles
- 2.10-2.50pm – Puppetry workshops with Crow Nose theatre
- 2.20-2.50pm – Frenetic Engineering presents Goldie Fiasco
- 2.50-3.10pm – Circomedia BTEC and higher education showcase
- 3-3.30pm – Go With The Flow Yoga
- 3.15-3.25pm – Baby Racing
- 3.30-4.05pm – Pete Anderson
- 3.30-5pm – Circomedia Circus Workshops
- 3.30-4.10pm – Aargh!
- 4-5pm – The Rock Disco
- 4.10-4.30pm – Levantes Dance Theatre
- 4.30-4.40pm – Danni’s Dance Academy
- 4.40-5pm – The Black Eagles
Thekla Dockside Stage (Saturday):
- 2-2.30pm – Sam Paul
- 3-3.30pm – Danny McMahon
- 4-4.30pm – Sunday Sweethearts
- 5-5.30pm – John Mouse
- 6-6.30pm – Belishas
- 7-7.45pm – The Sneak Eazies
- 8-9pm – Piratitude
(more on the website)
SUNDAY
Amphitheatre on Sunday:
- 11.45am-12.15pm – Andy The Strange B2B Miss Grace
- 12.15-1pm – Helele
- 1-1.30pm – Andy The Strange B2B Miss Grace
- 1.30-2.30pm – Laid Blak
- 2.30-3pm – Andy The Strange B2B Miss Grace
- 3-3.45pm – Bass Choir
- 3.45-4pm – Andy The Strange B2B Miss Grace
- 4-4.45pm – Gabriel Templar
- 4.45-5.15pm – Andy The Strange B2B Miss Grace
- 5.15-6pm – Imprints
Bristol Rising (Queen Square) Sunday:
- 11-11.30am – Liila So
- 11.45am-12.30pm – Ali Austin
- 12.45-1.30pm – Millia Maya
- 1.30-3.30pm – Ace Cic Takeover
- 3.30-3.55pm – Charlie Ot
- 3.55-4.10pm – The Underneath
- 4.25-5.05pm – The Pavillion
- 5.20-6pm – Sedated Society
Dance Tent (Queen Square) Sunday:
- 11-11.25am – Nandini Boggaram & Aica
- 11.30am-12.05pm – Rise Youth Dance
- 12.10-12.45pm – Movema – World Fusion
- 12.55-1.30pm – Horizon Dance Company
- 1.35-2.10pm – AE Dance & Fitness
- 2.15-2.40pm – Funk Supreme
- 2.55-3.30pm – Ayahuasca
- 3.35-4.10pm – Sublime Dance Troupe
- 4.15-4.55pm – Bristol Capoeira
- 5.05-5.45pm – AFI Dance
On The Water Sunday:
- 11.50am-12pm – Dragon Boat Racing
- 12.30-12.40pm – James Prestwood
- 12.50-1pm – Dragon Boat Racing
- 1-1.30pm – RNLI water safety demonstration
- 1.30-1.50pm – Avon Fire & Rescue Service
- 1.50-2pm – Dragon Boat Racing
- 2-3pm – My Future My Choice
- 3-3.10pm – Dragon Boat Racing
- 3.15-3.25pm – James Prestwood
(more on the website)
Do you need tickets for Bristol Harbour Festival?
The whole weekend of the festival is free, so you won’t need to purchase a ticket. You can make a donation to the event, or spend your money on food and drink from the festival’s official bars or food traders while you’re there – this will help to keep the Harbour Fest a free event for all.
VIP Experience tickets
This year, Bristol Harbour Festival is offering a premium VIP area located opposite the festival mainstage, with views out across the harbour and mainstage live music. Access for VIP guests will be through a separate entrance directly into the VIP area, which means you won’t have to worry about getting to the festival site early – and you can come and go as you please throughout the festival weekend.
Tickets, which cost £15 each, include:
- Access to the VIP area with excellent viewing of the main stage and on-the-water shows
- Free drinks token on arrival (exchange for a beer, cider, wine, single spirt & mixer, soft drink)
- Festival programme on arrival
- Exclusive premium bar
- Seating area to rest and relax
- Luxury toilets
Getting to the event – and parking
Festival organisers say: “We always encourage our audiences to walk, cycle, or take public transport to our events. There are lots of cycle routes and cycle parking will be available nearby.
“As a city-centre festival, this event is easily accessible through public transport and served by Bristol Temple Meads within easy walking distance. If you have to drive, we encourage you to plan your journey to the Harbour Festival ahead – please visit here.
“At busy times please be patient and considerate of other festival goers. A one-way pedestrian system might operate at peak times across Pero’s Bridge from Anchor Square to Queen Square.
“If you are planning to cover the whole site or just concentrate on one or two areas, the following distance may help in planning your day:
Main routes
- Queen Square to Brunel’s SS Great Britain: 0.63 miles; approx. 15 minutes
- Queen Square to Millennium Square: 0.53 miles; approx. 10 minutes
- Queen Square to College Green: 0.4miles; Approx 8 minutes
- Queen Square to Cathedral Walk: 0.5 miles; approx. 10 minutes
- Millennium Square to Brunel’s SS Great Britain: 0.64 miles; approx. 10 minutes via ferry
Temple Meads Train Station to:
- Queen Square: 0.68 miles; approx. 15 minutes
- Brunel’s SS Great Britain: 1.22 miles; approx. 25 minutes
- Millennium Square: 1.22 miles; approx. 20 minutes.”
What you can and can’t bring
According to festival organisers: “Dogs are welcome but must be kept under control at all times, and please remember to clean up after them.”
No drones are not permitted to be taken into, or flown, at Bristol Harbour Festival. Other items NOT allowed on site, include:
- Alchol
- Soft drinks
- Food
- Glass containers
- Potential harmful fluids
- Weapons – bladed or pointed
- Umbrellas
- Flags or banners
- Marker pens
- Laser pens
- Non-prescription drugs, including the previously described ‘legal highs’
- Nitrous oxide
- Professional photography or recording equipment sound systems
- Fireworks/Flares/Laser candle lights/Gas canisters/BBQ’s/Sparklers
- Any other type of explosive
- Windbreakers/tents
- Dogs (except guide/service dogs)
- Bicyles
- Aerosols, gas canisters or air horns
- Drones
- Gazebos
- Fold out tables/chairs