The highly anticipated and award-winning nautical festival, Gloucester Tall Ships – taking place over Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Weekend, Friday 3rd – Sunday 5th June, has announced an enchanting line-up of performances, puppet shows and shanty bands, which are set to delight the crowds at Gloucester Docks.
Anchored in the heart of the city at the Quays, the Orchard Square Stage, Victoria Dock Stage, and the Mariner’s Square Performance and Victoria Dock Performance areas will be home to some of Gloucestershire’s finest performers, musicians and DJs – as well as Jack Sparrow sword fights.There will also be a children’s entertainment area playing host to Pirate puppet pirate shows, maritime arts and crafts, as well as cardboard ship making workshops led by Hugh Thomas of My Future My Choice.
Over the course of the weekend, Luke Philbrick and Solid Gone will be opening the show on the Orchard Square main stage on Friday 3rd June with their innovative roots, blues and skiffle music, which draws on traditional gospel and folk influences.
Elsewhere, Loctup Together, a close harmony duo, will be gracing the Victoria Dock Stage, with their popular shanty and folk music where you can expect some wonderful maritime melodies.
Over on the Mariner’s Square Performance area, get ready to witness the swashbuckling Pirate puppet show from Captain Barnacle; a one-man pirate pantomime show featuring comedy, music, puppets and mayhem.
Causing a ruckus around Victoria Dock Performance area, you’re sure to run into the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow getting into all kinds of mischief and sword fights with his fellow pirates. It’s a definite performance to look out for.
Festival goers can also expect performances from High and Dry Shanty, Cotswolds Male Voice Choir, HMS Victory Joogleberry, Tightrope Pirates, The Harry Browns of Bristol, The Rusty Tubs, The Royal Marines Association Brass Quartet and Acrobatic Sailer all set to bring the Jubilee celebrations to a close on Sunday 5th June. For the full line-up, head to gloucestertallships.co.uk.
Councillor Andrew Lewis, said: “We can’t wait to be back at the iconic Gloucester Quays amongst the crowds and families who have waited just as long as we have for the return of the festival. We received a huge amount of interest from performers wanting to join us over the weekend, so we have a fantastic entertainment programme lined up which will delight crowds of all ages. With pirates, puppets and live music set amongst six impressive Tall Ships, it’s going to be brilliant.”
Over the weekend, the Canal and River Trust will be putting on 45-minute boat trips which will run from the museum on QBII each day, Discover Paddling will also be hosting canoe and paddle boarding sessions and Gloucester Boat Hire will be offering 15 minute skippered trips around the Docks. You can also expect Flyboarding aquatic jetpacks, rescue demos and Sea Cadets tug-of-war in the water across the Jubilee.
The family-friendly event is free-to-attend and for those who are keen to explore these titans of the sea in more detail, attendees have the option to purchase a £5 Boarding Pass here, which grants access to climb aboard the ships.