Water Fest celebrates 900th anniversary of Reading Abbey

This summer, Reading Water Fest celebrates the 900th anniversary of Reading Abbey on Saturday, June 19, between 11am and 5pm

Originally one of Europe’s largest royal monasteries, Reading Abbey was founded by King Henry I of England. Reading Water Fest will be the flagship event for this landmark year.

Water Fest, Reading’s largest free town centre-based community event, will feature a mix of arts, culture and heritage, through live and digital performances, activities and workshops. The Abbey’s illustrious history will be brought to life with the Forbury Civil War Camp and Medieval Village where people can experience the sounds and smells of the Quarter’s history.

This one-day event will take place within the Forbury Gardens, Abbey Ruins and along the River Kennet, celebrating the Abbey’s rich 900-year history and its environmental and heritage connections with the waterways.

The event will be delivered in a stringently Covid compliant way. Workshop and interactive activities will be booked in advance and numbers will be limited. Safety measures necessitate a ticketed system, with reduced capacity and staggered arrival times. It is anticipated that there should be plenty of tickets to go around, but the public is encouraged to sign on early to avoid disappointment. During the event the gardens and abbey will be closed to the general public.

Details on how to book a free ticket at this event are on What’s On Reading https://whatsonreading.com/waterfest900 A range of online activities will also be on offer to complement the live event.