The Tamar Valley River Festival on Saturday 26 October, Calstock, is a FREE family-friendly event celebrating the River Tamar through art, crafts, music, food and drink.
From 10am, a host of interactive activities and workshops will be on offer, including folk music, gig boat racing, multi-media exhibitions, singing workshops, interactive family-friendly drama performances, art activities as well as a River of Hope exhibition and parade by local school children. The festival will come to a close at 5pm, followed by an evening of music provided by local venues.
Local schools, Calstock Parish Council, Tamar Valley National Landscape, Tamar Grow Local, the National Trust and a number of community groups are involved.
Weather Update
Due to the recent significant rainfall and bad weather, only hardcore parking will be available for the festival. There will be a free park and ride service running from Callington College in Callington and the Bedford Hotel Bus Stop in Tavistock. There will be no festival parking available in Calstock – except for Blue Badge Holders who can park in the Quay Car Pak in Calstock. More details including a list of car parks and timings, can be found below in our ‘how do I get there’ section.
All day – Circus Workshops, Stilt Walkers and Bubble Fairy
10am – Morning Yoga, Calstock Arts (book via Eventbrite)
11am – Wren Music, Calstock Arts
11.30am – 12pm – Wrecker Border Morris Performance, Village Green
12pm – Allis the Shad interactive drama performance by Stiltskin Creative Arts & Theatre Co, Calstock Arts
12.30pm – 1pm – Wrecker Border Morris Workshop, Village Green
1pm – River of Hope Parade from the train station to the Village Green
1.30pm – Tamar Shanty, singing of the new shanty at the Village Green
2pm – The Rubber Band, Village Green
2pm – Wren Music performance, Calstock Arts
3pm – The History of Cornwall interactive drama performance by The Cornish Caretakers, Village Green
3pm – 4.30pm – Connecting Shores – The Listening, workshop, Calstock Arts (book via Eventbrite)
4pm – The Kit Hillbillies, Village Green
5pm – River Festival finishes
From 6pm – Live music provided by local venues
Timed events
Yoga, 10am, Calstock Arts
Wake up group yoga session held by Louise from Essential Yoga in Calstock Arts. Join us as we greet the morning and stretch our bodies to wake up gently. Yoga mats are provided, stretchy, comfortable clothes advised. Only 20 spaces available! Bookable event via Eventbrite:
Wren Music, 11am, Calstock Arts
This all-ages interactive workshop uses folk arts to empower people from all backgrounds to make music and feel part of the community. Join in to sing river- and water-based songs and play instrumental tunes on a range of different instruments. No experience needed!
Wreckers Border Morris, 11.30am-12pm and 1230pm-1pm, Village Green
Wreckers Border Morris is a vibrant side, originating from the border between Cornwall and England. We perform traditional and new dances, always with our inimitable flare and style. The band will captivate you with their wall of sound, never missing a chance to lift the dancers and audience to a new level of fun – we dance like it matters
Allis the Shad performance, 12pm, Calstock Arts
Allis the Shad Who Wouldn’t Give Up is a delightful rhyming story by Angela Gall from Natural England. The story follows the life journey of the rare and enigmatic Allis Shad; from the tranquil River Tamar to the underwater wonders of Plymouth Sound and the sea beyond – and back again. Stiltskin Creative Arts & Theatre Co are bringing this story to life in an interactive play where members of the public are encouraged to get involved and become characters along the way. Prepare to be transported underwater with bright costumes and wonderfully creative practitioners!
River of Hope Parade, 1pm, train station to Village Green
Join in this family-friendly parade as we dance and twirl our way from Calstock train station to the village green. Thames Festival Trust’s River of Hope project features beautiful flag artwork created by Tamar Valley secondary schools. This arts-based learning project links schools around the world through the study of rivers and environmental issues. Be part of the parade and create your parade headbands beforehand in a drop-in workshop with Chrissy Wallis. Calstock Samba Band will lead us down from the train station to the Village Green where we will sing our new Tamar Shanty song, written by Rosie Fierek. Create a river-themed headband before the procession with artist, Chrissy Wallis. Meet us at the Calstock Train Station just before 1pm to be part of the celebratory parade.
1.30pm, Tamar Shanty, community singing, Village Green
The new shanty, written by local woman Rosie Fierek, celebrates the historic practise of growers in the Tamar Valley passing messages to each other through song. It will be performed by local school children and community choirs. Watch the video and download the words to learn the new shanty and join in on the day!
The Rubber Band, 2pm, Village Green
Lively, energetic, and quirky, The Rubber Band will be performing a wealth of heart-warming funked-up traditional music as they ‘straddle the border’. Local artist, Rosie Fierek, will be performing her newly created song about the River Tamar and its’ heritage.
The Cornish Caretakers, 3pm, Village Green
Ready for a whirlwind humorous and educational tour of Cornwall’s long and proud history? Prepare for a barrel of laughs and get involved as the Cornish Caretakers, Kernow King (Ed Rowe) and Mimi Attenburrow whisk you through time.
Connecting Shores, 3-4.30pm, Calstock Arts
Connecting Shores: the Listening, is an audio-documentary series which explores young people of colours relationship to the coast and marine environments. In this session run by mentor of the project Sandhya Dave, excerpts will be played from the series and then there will be a facilitated discussion about our collective response’s to what we’ve heard. Booking essential via Eventbrite here.
The Kit Hillbillies, 4pm, Village Green
Rollicking bluegrass and good-time acoustic roots tunes. The Kit Hillbillies describe themselves as vigorous, expressive and unvarnished. Foot tapping, knees-up music to bring cheer to your soul.
All-day events, workshops performances and activities
BioBlitz Table
Have you ever wondered what wildlife can be found in the Tamar Valley? Uncover what plants and animals call this place home and find out more about them.
Calstock Ferry
Experience the river close up on the Calstock Ferry which will be running trips up and down the river throughout the day. Trips will be operated using a token system on the day. Collect your token from the Tamar Valley National Landscape stand. Donation of £1 and all proceeds go to the RNLI. The Calstock Ferry will open as a passenger ferry in Spring 2025.
Calstock Rowing Club
Boats have been a staple on the River Tamar to transport produce, minerals, people, and dung! Find out more about the fascinating history of boats along our incredible river by the Calstock Rowing Club. At high tide, witness a live gig race on the river and view a selection of their boats.
Casting the Landscape workshop
Cast nature in plaster cast form with artist, Andy Cairns, to create beautiful community artwork. Learn more about this fascinating process to make impressions with natural materials into a river scene or pattern.
Circus skills workshop
Queenie and the Jester proudly present their balance and ground-based circus skills workshop! Test your balance, coordination and bravery on a tightrope, slackline, unicycles, balance boards. Try improving your skills with diablos, poi, juggling equipment, and kendama.
Drip, Drip Tamar
Community river group Drip, Drip Tamar will be present on the day to share their findings of water testing from the River Tamar with visitors. They will also be running an art printing activity to get involved with.
Fotonow Summer Film School showing
A free Bridging The Tamar x Fotonow Summer School took place in August 2024 where young people participated in a week-long creative media summer school focusing on photography and filmmaking. See the film which was created in response to the summer school at our festival.
Giant Colouring in Wall
Our giant colouring in wall features a range of different things that can be found within the Tamar Valley. A self-led activity to get creative with.
Life on the Tamar: Interactive Wildlife and History Maps of the Tamar River Valley
Explore the rich biodiversity and historical significance of the Tamar River Valley through an interactive personalisation of maps, illustrated and designed by artist, Debra Parkinson. Highlight key wildlife habitats, historical landmarks, and points of interest along the river.
Life Along the River – Community Group exhibition
Community groups have received 3 funded art sessions with an artist to explore their interpretation of the theme of the festival, ‘life along the river’. Tavistock Youth Café and Devon and Cornwall Refugee Support Group have responded and their work is being exhibited at the festival.
Little Egrets and Herons on the River Tamar workshop
Capture the beauty of water using river bird-themed silhouette stencils and outlines combined with brusho pigments. Artist, Shari Hills, will be leading this creative crystals workshop.
Marine Kelp VR Headset
Explore an underwater marine kelp habitat using virtual reality (VR) headsets. This project, funded by Natural England, aims to connect more of us to marine spaces and experience life in the depths.
Nature Pledge Tree
The Tamara Valley National Landscape wants to hear your thoughts and how you will pledge to look after Nature. Write your pledge and add it to our tree.
Parade headband workshop
Design and make your headband to wear as part of our River of Hope parade with artist, Chrissy Wallis. Learn the ancient art of origami to make boats, birds and lots of other creatures to adorn your headbands. Make sure you join the parade at the train station, just before 1pm!
Photo Competition
Tamara Landscape Partnership are holding a photo competition with the theme of, ‘life along the river’. A panel of judges will award a prize of £50 to the winning design. There will also be a ‘People’s Choice’ award which will be voted for by visitors on the day of the festival. Closing date 18th October 2024. For more information, visit:
River-themed mini concertina book workshop
Unleash your creativity and decorate a mini concertina book through collage, paint, or pencils, themed on the life along the River Tamar.
Speaker’s Corner
Speaker’s corner is an opportunity for River Festival visitors to listen and engage with local and passionate people involved in community groups and organisations with expertise and knowledge in nature, conservation and environmental projects and networks within and beyond the Tamar Valley National Landscape. Speakers will be presenting on a range of themes from pondlife to Devon’s living churchyards. After each presentation there will be an opportunity for questions and answers related to each topic.
Tamar Communities Trust
Join a guided wetland walk with Tamar Communities Trust and discover what wildlife there is to see on this reclaimed habitat with the team. TCT will also be promoting their volunteering opportunities around the Tamar Valley.
Tamar Grow Local
Our partner, Tamar Grow Local, supports sustainable food and produce in the Tamar river catchment. Their activities revolve around community, educational, and working with commercial growers. Sample some fresh apple juice tastings and learn more about Tamar Valley’s market gardening heritage.
Tamara Landscape Partnership Scheme
The team behind the River Festival, the Calstock Ferry and the Tamara Coast to Coast Way.
The Tamara team will have fun, engaging art activities for you to have a go at as well as finding out more about the project. Learn more about our work with communities, heritage, land management, tourism and access.
Tamar Valley National Landscape
Meet the team who care for the Tamar Valley National Landscape. They’ll have fun arty activities for you to get involved in, as well as holding a public consultation for their new management plan. Have your chance to shape the management of this wonderful area for the next 5 years.
Weaving Tamara
The river nymph, Tamara, is woven into our landscape’s folklore. Let’s weave her sculpture into reality using recycled fabrics and other materials in this self-led activity.
What is the Tamar Valley River Festival?
A one-day FREE community festival on Saturday 26 October 2024, celebrating the River Tamar with interactive activities and workshops throughout the day.
Where will this be taking place?
The festival will take place in Calstock in 3 locations – the Village Hall, Calstock Arts and the Village Green.
What activities will be on offer?
There will be a host of interactive activities and workshops including folk music, gig racing, multi-media exhibitions, local produce cooking, singing workshops, hands-on art activities, a River of Hope exhibition and parade, and more.
Who is involved?
This is a Tamara Landscape Partnership Scheme event. Our partners include Tamar Valley National Landscape; Westcountry Rivers Trust; the National Trust; Fotonow; The Sensory Trust; Calstock Parish Council; Thames Festival Trust and a range of Tamar Valley primary and secondary schools.
Is this a family friendly event?
Yes absolutely, this is a family-friendly event and everyone is welcome to attend!
Will there be food?
There will be food available to purchase from Calstock’s resident businesses. If you don’t wish to purchase any food, bring your own picnic to enjoy along the waterfront instead.
Do we need to book ahead for any events?
The only bookable event is Yoga at 10am in Calstock Arts. Book here.
https://tamar-valley-national-landscape-tamara.eventbrite.com
How can I get there?
You can get to the Tamar Valley River Festival by train using the Tamar Valley Line (Plymouth to Gunnislake), by bus (route 79/79A), or by car.
Where can I park?
Due to the recent significant rainfall and bad weather only hardcore parking will be available for the festival, with a free park and ride service running from Callington College in Callington and the Bedford Hotel Bus Stop in Tavistock.
Please note that there will be no festival parking available in Calstock – except for Blue Badge Holders who can park in the Quay Car Pak in Calstock.
Buses will leave every 15 minutes and begin with departures from Callington and Tavistock at 9.45 am. The last buses back will leave Calstock at 5.45pm.
The park and ride service will be running from:
Callington College, Callington: park in the College Car Park or in one of the public car parks in Callington (charges may apply) and catch the free Tamar Coach (orange and white) park and ride bus from the main entrance of the college. Please note the coaches are not wheelchair accessible – Blue Badge parking is available in Calstock.
Public car parks in Callington
Callington College – limited free spaces
Aysshton Gardens Free Car Park New Road Car Park (South) Cornwall Council long stay, pay and display (JustPark app)
New Road Car Park (North) Cornwall Council long stay, pay and display (JustPark app)
Bedford Hotel Bus Stop, Tavistock: park in one of the public car parks in Tavistock (charges may apply) and catch a free Tamar Coach (orange and white) park and ride bus from this stop which is on the same side of the road as the Bedford Hotel . Please note the coaches are not wheelchair accessible – Blue Badge parking is available in Calstock.
Public car parks in Tavistock
Short-Stay
Guildhall Car Park, pay and display
Russel Street Car Park, pay and display
The Wharf car park, West Devon Borough Council, pay and display (RingGo app)
Whitechurch Road parking, pay and display
Long-Stay
Bedford Car Park, West Devon Borough Council, pay and display (RingGo app)
Brook Street, West Devon Borough Council, pay and display short- and long-stay options
Riverside Long Stay, West Devon Borough Council, pay and display (RingGo app)
Please note – Blue Badge parking is available at the Quay Car Park, Calstock.
How do I keep up to date with news about the Festival?
Updates will be made to this web page and on the Tamar Valley National Landscape’s social media accounts.
a festival that aims to nourish our community, bringing together people, culture, and nature, to create waves of joy and unity.
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