Buoyant mood on banks as river festival returns
Organisers pushed the boat out for the relaunch of Maidstone’s River Festival, which returned on Saturday after a three-year hiatus.
More than a thousand people braved the rain and headed for the banks of the Medway for the event, which included the traditional raft race, much-loved boat parade and a 12-minute long firework display.
Teams decorated their vessels with lots of different themes, with one group buzzing up the river as bumblebees. Meanwhile, ‘robber’ John MacKebitt had a job avoiding the cops on his boat, the Sleeping Tiger.
Eight teams, including one from Germany, locked oars in the reinstated raft race, in aid of the Heart of Kent Hospice, which saw Maidstone Canoe Club come out on top. But the One Eyed Walnuts won in terms of sponsorship, raising £650 for the charity in the 715m paddle. Long-time supporter of the festival and chairman of the organising committee, Cllr David Naghi, said: “The day was absolutely fantastic and it was the safest raft race ever.
“It was a proper community and charity event.”
Unlike in previous years there was no funfair, but instead children were kept entertained by balloon modellers, magicians and fancy dress pirates.
The festival, which was established in 1980, was axed in 2016 after Maidstone council withdrew its funding in a bid to save money. While some continued to meet up at the riverside for a so-called ‘gathering of boats,’ the event lacked many of its traditional elements.
This year Weston Homes stepped in with funding to save the festival.