A summer of celebrations – Olympic, Jubilee, Big Dance and more – comes to an end with London’s largest free festival, held in London the banks of the Thames. This year’s event runs from September 8 to 9 – the closing weekend of the Olympics – from the London Eye to St Katharine Docks.
One of Europe’s most spectacular free festivals, the Thames Festival includes music, dance, river races, feasting and spectacle. On Sunday evening, the illuminated Night Carnival brings together more than 2,000 dancers, drummers and masqueraders along London’s Victoria Embankment. The carnival is followed by a spectacular firework finale, planned to be bigger than ever.
Adrian Evans, the festival director, said: “This year is going to be a true spectacular. The festival brings Londoners together to celebrate the things that make the city great and this year we’re proud to be London’s celebration of an incredible summer.”
Photograph: Matt Farrow
