Nottingham’s biggest free summer festival will be back on the city’s Victoria Embankment this evening from 6:30pm where thousands of visitors are expected as the Riverside Festival takes place alongside the River Trent.

From Friday to Sunday (3-5 August), the festival will offer a wide range of family fun and entertainment with something for every age and every taste in almost of mile of fairground games and rides, food and drink stalls, river based activities, have a go sports, sideshows and music acts.

There will also be the legendary fireworks display on the River Trent at 10:30 on Saturday night.

Brand new for this year in the kids’ zone is the touring #myfabland which will open on Saturday and Sunday between 10am and 6pm which promises to be a ‘fab extravaganza’ like no other.

Based on the iconic ice lolly, this extraordinary and colourful free activity is for families with children aged between 6-12. Children will experience all kinds of inflatable fun and obstacles including exploding confetti sprinkles geysers, huge 5ft fab lolly mazes, ball pit moats, and three supersized slides. Younger children are welcome but must be accompanied by an adult.

On Sunday between 10am – 5pm, the Dragon Boat competition will be thrilling to watch with up to 10 people paddling each 30′ boat with a drummer at the front beating time and the helm at the tail steering a straight course. Over 50 crews are expected to battle it out over the 200m race course.

Music is a big part of the festival with two massive live music stages. The Monument Stage will showcase world music talent with a diverse line up from Cuban mash ups and gypsy funk to brassy dub ska. The Big Top Stage, meanwhile; will uncover some of Nottingham’s best new music talent on Friday and Saturday. On Sunday, the stage will have a folk takeover which includes the Lonnie Donegan Band (featuring Peter Donegan) – Britain’s most exciting new folk band.

A full list of the acts performing can be found at the event website www.whatsonnottingham.com and there is a download option for festival goers to save the set listings on their smartphones.

Cllr Dave Trimble, Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Localities said; “We are immensely proud to be putting on fantastic free events such as the Riverside Festival for the people of Nottingham to enjoy, with such a varied and packed programme of fun things to do and see. We hope everybody has a wonderful time on Victoria Embankment.” 

Festival opening times
Friday           18:30 – 22:30
Saturday       12:00 – 23:30
Sunday         12:00 – 18:30

#myFabland
Visit the Fab Facebook page for further details https://www.facebook.com/fabicelolly/