Special Attractions
CMB 9
A welcome return visit to the Festival by this very special craft, Coastal Forces Motor Boat 9 is one of only a few WWI Royal Navy vessels still afloat, and is thought to be the only surviving WW1 torpedo boat. Originally conceived as unmanned and radio-controlled from the air, she was built by Thornycroft, pioneers in the design of high speed motor launches.
Gloriana
Manned by eighteen oarsmen, Gloriana carries on a centuries-old tradition of Royal row-barges on the Thames. At 92ft, she the longest row-barge ever built.
Gloriana was commissioned for the Jubilee River Pageant of 2012 to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.
WIN a place on one of two trips a day up the river and back.
Heroes of Dunkirk
L'Orage, leading the way across the Channel to Dunkirk for the "Little Ships" return ceremony.
Victorian Steamer
A familiar sight and sound at many a past "Trad", this wonderful vessel, the oldest steam passenger launch still in regular service, will be offering rides up and down the Regatta course and the Henley reach throughout the Festival weekend.
Tickets will be on sale at the Alaska pontoon on Upper Meadow.
WW1 Air Display
The Bremont Great War Display Team will be showing off their Sopwith Camel, Avro and Fokker Triplanes, replica veteran aircraft of WW1 in aerial formation.
Veteran Cycles
Members of the Solent Veteran Cycle Club and others have always provided a welcome diversion at these events and will be out in force again this year. They also provide an unusual bankside version of the Illuminated Parade on Saturday evening.
Welcome aboard!
A chance to sample life aboard a trad boat. A number of boats will be "on show" with their skippers offering guided tours and maybe even a trip round the block. Look out for the notice boards on the bank.
THE ILLUMINATED PARADE
A highlight of Saturday evening, while the band takes a break, is the Illuminated Parade. Traditional boats adorned with all manner of imaginative illuminated designs, sail slowly by into Henley town and back, providing a shimmering conclusion to the day's events. On the bank owners of vintage cycles put on their own spectacular version of this popular display.
The Crooked Billet pub is famous for its visiting bands and musical stars. So on Friday night this year at the Trad, local band "The Covered" will return to tempt boaters and visitors to dance 'til midnight after a very good dinner.
Saturday’s band is the great local Rock’n Roll band: Highly Strung. So get your dancing shoes on and brush p your jive! party night as usual: with a break for the illuminated parade.
On Sunday, we will have a program of Jazz. Lawlors “Annie & the Doughboys” will play before the 5pm Awards Ceremony, and afterwards from about 6.00 pm, internationally acclaimed boogie-woogie-rhythm’n blues pianist Ben Waters brings the weekend’s programme of live music on the Crooked Billet stage to a spectacular finale. Boogie, bop & dance with Ben, or listen from your table with a bite from the Crooked Billet kitchen or just enjoy the show with a drink from the bar.
As is the tradition at all Trad Festivals, revelries cease at midnight on Friday and Saturday evenings
and an official SILENCE is observed on Fawley Meadows until 7 am next morning