Heart of Kent and Royal British Legion supported at Maidstone River Festival launch
Preparations for a town’s annual river festival got underway this week with its launch party.
The event marked the countdown to the Maidstone River Festival itself which will be on Saturday, July 26.
The theme for this summer’s event is fairytales and fantasies, with boat owners invited to dress their craft with a world of imagination.
Visitors can join in too, with princesses and superheroes welcome. The theme is inspired by the 70th anniversary of Disneyland in July.
The core sponsor for this year’s festival is Firmin – the haulage and transport specialists.
All the festival favourites are back, including the Heart of Kent Hospice Raft Race, live entertainment on Coronation Square, and a spectacular fireworks finale from the roof of Fremlin Walk.
As ever, the community is invited to take part with charity and voluntary service stalls in the Archbishop’s Palace Gardens and along the riverfront.
The launch party also involved the presentation of awards to last year’s festival winners.
They were:
Fastest Raft: The Prawn Stars (Hampstead and Yalding Cruising Club)
Best Dressed Boat: Peter Brooker (Larkony R, East Farleigh Cruising Club)
Best Dressed Raft: Heart of Kent Hospice (Shaun the Sheep raft)
Best Illuminated Boat: John (Spirit of Mercy, Little Venice)
Most Raft Race Sponsorship: Niblett and Suzanne Therapies (Peppermint Paddlers)
The festival’s charity partners were presented with donations from money raised at last year’s festival.
They were Heart of Kent Hospice (£400), Making a Difference to Maidstone (£300), Royal British Legion (£300) and the Young Lives Foundation (£300).
The river festival’s chairman, Dave Naghi, said: “We are immensely proud to organise this event.
“It’s the biggest event in the town and celebrates Maidstone’s best asset – the River Medway.”
The festival has its own website.
Anyone wishing to sign up for the Heart of Kent Hospice Raft Race, apply for a community stall or to perform on the main stage at Lockmeadow’s Coronation Square can find details there.
