Riverside Festival 2012 - Saturday 16th June
Gainsborough Riverside Festival 2012                             
Site Updated: May 2012
The theme for our 2012 festival is "Going For Gold"  
which celebrates this Olympic year for the UK. The last time the festival celebrated
an Olympic year was back in 2008 for the Beijing Olympics Link below:
Beijing 2008
This year the Riverside Festival is celebrating it's 11th successive year and it's
promising to be a fantastic day out for all the family once again,  with Arts and
Crafts, local business, , community groups, the Earth Bound Misfits, live
performances through the day and night with a stunning  firework display at the
end of the event.








Click this image for
Olympics 2012 Website
2009/10 Festival
Link to Riverside Festival Video Clip:  You Tube Video Festival Day
Supplied by kind permission and sincere thanks to the
Lincolnshire Young Journalist Academy, their website:  
www.lyja.co.uk
Academy Link for 2012
The festival has been running for ten years in Gainsborough  — an event that was born from the
Riverside redevelopments and which is now seen as the highlight of the year within the local
community. From year two until 2006 and Neil's untimely death – Neil Rogers, with support from
his wife, Julie Willoughby.  Attendance grows each year, highlighting the fact that a great
proportion of the local residents choose to attend, often inviting relatives who live further
a field to join with them.   It is also attracting growing numbers of visitors from surrounding
catchments areas along with tourists to the Town.  

2007 was the first year that the Festival was held over two days, with a focus on the heritage
aspect of the years Seaside theme on the Sunday, with the lead partner being Gainsborough
Old Hall, along with considerable participation from Gainsborough Town Council and the Town
Councillors.   Activities took place in and around the Old Hall, Gainsborough House and on
Parish Church grounds.

The Saturday Festival has historically had a strong art content, this was maintained in 2007 with
11 free workshops held during the half term week open to anyone, of any age, these covered
costume making; flags; banners and structures, a music workshop and a windmill workshop with
Children's Links to compliment the giant sand castle play area held over the two days.  Richmond
Park hosted workshops throughout the week, St John's church hall was a new site and workshops
were held in Gainsborough Old Hall.  GAPA also offered workshops for those representing GAPA
in the parade.  At some of the workshops sections of a giant windbreak were created, which was
continued on the day with festival goers invited to join in with their own creativity.  Street theatre is
also a key part of the festival provided by professional companies, or local theatre groups.

The performance stage always has a full programme of dance/keep fit display/music/theatre from
local groups and organisations, starting from the opening of the festival at the new time of 12.00
noon until approximately 5.30 p.m.,

The theme for the 2009 festival was the English Civil War incorporating the battle of
Gainsborough in 1643 which  took place where Foxby Hill is now (there is a monument
on the grass on the right hand side going up the hill) With the Civil War Re-enactment
society bringing history alive through displays, workshops and related activities.

In 2008 the theme for the festival was.."Gainsborough Goes Oriental" linking to the
Beijing Olympics

In 2011 it was "Gainsborough Celebrates" the tenth anniversary of the event.
Festival History..Links to previous years 2009           2008               2011
E-Mail Addresses:
Gainsborough Old Hall
Marshalls Yard
Everyone Active
Acis
Trent Vale
Racetorations
Lincolnshire Co-operative

Another amazing group that support
our Festival year on year are the
Earthbound Misfiits their link:

Earthbound Misfits
Lincolnshire County Council  link..
Rainbow Fireworks link...
Councillors Initiative Fund link.
Sponsors..Past and Present...
We should also like to
acknowledge the support of...