What to expect from Bristol Harbour Festival 2025

The organisers of a city's biggest music festival have said they hope to put on an "extraordinary" 2025 programme.

Bristol Harbour Festival attracts tens of thousands of people every year and is being held between 18 and 20 July.

The free festival is set to feature hundreds of music acts across a range of sites, as well as food stalls and plenty of other entertainment along the city's historic waterfront.

With so much going on, we have put together a handy guide with what to expect at this year's event.

The Longest Johns, Harmer Jays and Louis Cardozo Band are among the artists who will play the festival.

Bloco B, Eternal Taal and Gnawa Blues All Stars will also be performing at the Harbour View main stage at the amphitheatre.

On Saturday, the Global Local stage takeover will return, celebrating cultural diversity through music.

Sunday's line-up includes Make Friends and The Allergies at the Harbour View main stage.

Away from the main stage, there will also be lots of entertainment in Queen Square, Millennium Square, College Green, Thekla, on the water and in a fringe event.

Visitors will be able to enjoy the sight of a tall ship as the Galeon Andalucia makes a return to the festival for the weekend.

Performances get under way on Friday morning and run through to Sunday evening.

This year's event will also include a collaboration between four Bristol breweries - Left Handed Giant, Wiper and True, Bristol Beer Factory and Lost and Grounded Brewers.

Festival organisers want to encourage environmentally friendly travel to the event.

They said the best way for visitors to travel to the city is by train - with Bristol Temple Meads Station a 15-20 minute walk away from the harbourside.

Buses will run to the city centre throughout the weekend and organisers also encouraged people to cycle if possible.

The festival is also accessible by boat for those with the correct license. Boat owners on Marina South can attend by purchasing a festival licence through the Sail Bristol app.

The harbour can get busy and organisers said a one-way pedestrian system may operate across Pero's Bridge from Anchor Square to Queen Square.

The festival's five main routes are all accessible on foot, the longest of which -Queen Square to Brunel's SS Great Britain - is just over half-a-mile.

Stages feature ground-level viewing areas for customers with accessibility requirements, with a raised area for the main stage.

Volunteers from the group Attitude is Everything will also be running an Access Info Point at Millennium Square.

Viewing areas will be stewarded and run on a first come first served basis.

There will also be events including live entertainment and performances in cafes, restaurants and on the street.

Local writer, host and BBC West journalist Jasmine Yaba Ketibuah-Foley will host Sunday's main stage and said she felt lucky to be in a city "brimming with creativity and community".

Organisers said their aim was to showcase Bristol and "celebrate the past and offer a fresh perspective on the future".

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