1984 - 2027
SNEINTON FESTIVAL 2026:
On the Water
4th - 12th July 2026
Parade & Main Carnival Day
-> Saturday 11th July 2026 <-
Celebrating the Element of Water
The Trent, the Leen , Colwick Lakes, the Canal and all the ponds of Sneinton, all the creatures that live in them, the people who work and play on them
- water is sacred and essential -
join us to enjoy the stories of our water - sacred wells, ghosts, mysterious turtles, floods and marauding mobs!!!
Row your coracle over to the perfect fishing spot, with the wind in the willows, have a chat to a salamander, see the world through the eyes of a water nymph or a great carp, whispering old soul songs of the river of old, prophetic words about the spring of life, become enchanted by a nixie and be back in time for tea!
Looking for ideas for your Sneinton Festival parade costume? Why not have a browse of our pinterest board --> Sneinton Festival 2026 Pinterest Board
MAIN FESTIVAL DAY
Saturday 11th July
9.30am-11am Pre-Parade Breakfast - Bring your outfit to do finishing touches and get ready for the parade
@St Stephen's Church, NG2 4JN
Then find your place in the parade in the church yard (this is a change from the programme - we are not gathering in the Green's Mill car park anymore)
Find your school or community group or go to the back section
11am Parade starts - goes up Sneinton Dale, right at Jamia Masjid Sultania Mosque, down Trent Rd all the way to the
festival site @Trickett's Park
12-5pm Main Festival Day at Trickett's Park
A proudly non smoking and alcohol free event
Food, stalls, activities, workshops, live music, dancing
MAIN STAGE
Burly Nagasaki (avant surf rock two piece)
Nottingham Kung Fu & Lion Dance
Rebecca Leivers 'We are the folk' (singer, mermaid and jolly lad)
Simran (deeply personal R&B songs)
Tanuki Moon (indie, reggae, hip hop)
Possum Kid (dreamy rock)
HERDS (Sneinton's very own psychedelic five piece)
IMPACD CIC DANCE STUDIO - Coffee and Cake available all day
1pm Fabric Dance Workshop
1.45pm Latin Dance workshop with Todo Latino
2.30pm Fabric Dance Workshop
3.30pm - 6pm World Music Dance
YURT PERFORMANCE SPACE
Hazel Warren (inspirational and moving ukele poet)
Ebony Reels (engaging Afro-carribean story telling for all ages)
Poetry Collective (various artists inclusing 'Write Queer'
Geoffrey Jumper - Live music, comedy, magic, crazy puppets - wonderful children's entertainer
1pm and 3pm at the play park at Trickett's Park
12-5pm Danelaw Viking Encampment - at Lindum Grove Community Garden, NG2 3GH
1pm Weapons Display
2pm Kiddie Vike - children come and have a go at fighting a viking
2.30pm Weapons Display Part 2
3pm Kiddie Vike - children come and have a go at fighting a viking
4pm Dance Cubana!!!!! performance of authentic Cuban Salsa followed by a beginners taste class
Time to move!
Get ready to bring some incredible energy and rhythm to the festival!vPlease welcome Dance Cubana! They are here to show us the vibrant, infectious rhythms of authentic Cuban Salsa followed by a taster of their weekly Salsa classes.
If you love what you see, you can join them every Tuesday night at the Colwick Community Centre. They have an amazing 70% off discount for brand new beginners, and you don't even need to bring a partner! But first, let’s see how it’s done—put your hands together for Dance Cubana!
Sunday 12th July
Arrive for 10am - 10am - 1pm - Have a go at Dragon Boat Racing with Notts Anaconda Dragon Boat Club @Trent Side North, West Bridgford, NG2 5FA (in front of the City Ground) (coyr)
12pm - 4pm Picnic in the Park - Bring your own picnic and enjoy the park. Watch wonderful acpustic acts, listen to story tellers, watch the performance of Much Ado About Nothing by the incredible Notttingham Shakespeare Company @ Greens Windmill & Science Centre, NG2 4QB
12pm - 4pm Oliver Hind Club Summer Fayre
Stalls, shows, street food, games & community love
performance by the astounding DAKO flying angels
Some River Folklore Creatures
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Kelpies & Water Horses (Scotland/Ireland): Shapeshifters, often appearing as horses, that lure riders into rivers to drown them.
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Kappa (Japan): Green, turtle-like humanoid creatures with a water-filled dish on their heads; they are known to drag people and animals into rivers.
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Jenny Greenteeth (England): A river hag who pulls children into the water.
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Grindylow (England): Similar to a hag, these water demons use long fingers to drag victims down.
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Nixie/Näck (Europe): Water spirits that often lure people with music or shape-shift.
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Bunyip (Australia): A creature that lives in swamps/creeks and is known for eating humans.
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Vodianoi (Slavic): A malevolent water spirit resembling an old man with algae, scales, and a green beard.
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Knucker (England): Water-wyrms (dragons) that live in deep, bottomless pools.
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Fosse Grim (Scandinavia): A spirit that plays the violin and can teach mortals music, but might also lure them to their deaths.
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Zin Kibaru (Niger River): A dangerous creature that controls fish and can capsize boats.
