Splice the mainbrace for what will be the 43rd Thames Traditional Boat Festival from 15th-17th July in the stunning riverside setting of Fawley Meadows in Henley-on-Thames .

The Thames Traditional Festival like many other events in Henley is pretty unique and a tad eccentric. Just how we like it.

This year the festival will be celebrating The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in “TRAD” style with WW1 & WW2 naval craft, plus featuring the Dunkirk Little Ships and beautiful heavy horses, as in this Her Majesty’s Jubilee year, no event could be complete without horses!  There will be vehicles and vessels of every sort from the reigns of The Queen’s father, her grand father, her great-great grandfather, her great-great-great grandmother and of course her own!  

Centre stage of the Festival will be the largest collection of traditional river craft in the world.  There is an amazing opportunity to see a WW1 radio-controlled torpedo boat, aerobatics from the Bremont Great War display team and a display by a World War II Harvard trainer;  a military encampment including a Field Kitchen, and the Berks-Oxon military vehicle group mounting a World War II era static display.

There’s more, including amphibious vehicles and hovercraft, and the wonderful veteran cycles from the Solent Veteran Bicycle Club.  Also available will be river trips on the beautiful old passenger steamer Alaska, the oldest still operating on the Thames which has been tripping since Queen Victoria was on the throne.  

Fun for the family includes a dog show on Saturday and Sunday, a source of not a little canine amusement, along with children’s rides, face-painters and story-tellers, shops galore from ships chandlers to vintage couture, and a whole street of antiques.    

There is no disappointment on the food front either with local favourite Paul Clerehugh’s gastro pop-up pub “The Crooked Billet”, and a host of street food offerings and a food court.

Next to the Food Court is the acoustic stage which provides al fresco entertainment through the day. In the evenings on the main stage there is music and entertainment so you can dance the night away on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. 

The Trad Fest has more bonkers and quintessentially British festival fun than you can shake a stick at.

Each full-on festival day starts at 10.00am and runs until 6.00pm. This is followed by the Crooked Billet (music and partying at a pop-up pub/restaurant and music stage) until 11.30pm with closedown at midnight.

For more information, how to book tickets and the opportunity to become a member can all be found on www.tradboatfestival.com. 

Images: Stephen Munt