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In pictures: Ely’s Aquafest attracts an ‘amazing crowd’




A highlight of the Ely calendar, not even the less-than-perfect weather could deter the crowds from turning out in their droves for this year’s Aquafest.

Aquafest 2023. Picture: Keith Heppell
Aquafest 2023. Picture: Keith Heppell

The 43rd edition of the fun-filled day included a fun fair, beer tent, burger bar, stalls, live music and, most popular of all, a hilarious raft race on the River Great Ouse.

It took place across two sites along the riverside, Lavender Green and Jubilee Gardens, last Sunday (July 2).

Aquafest 2023. Picture: Keith Heppell
Aquafest 2023. Picture: Keith Heppell
Aquafest 2023. Picture: Keith Heppell
Aquafest 2023. Picture: Keith Heppell
Aquafest 2023. Picture: Keith Heppell
Aquafest 2023. Picture: Keith Heppell
Aquafest 2023. Picture: Keith Heppell
Aquafest 2023. Picture: Keith Heppell
Aquafest 2023. Picture: Keith Heppell
Aquafest 2023. Picture: Keith Heppell
Aquafest 2023. Picture: Keith Heppell
Aquafest 2023. Picture: Keith Heppell
Aquafest 2023. Picture: Keith Heppell
Aquafest 2023. Picture: Keith Heppell
Aquafest 2023. Picture: Keith Heppell
Aquafest 2023. Picture: Keith Heppell

Viv Doji, Aquafest committee chair, said: “It went really well – I was really pleased with it. There was an amazing amount of people – the weather wasn’t overly good but that didn’t seem to stop anyone.

“All the stalls were doing a roaring trade, the acts on both stages were brilliant – it was a real festival vibe.”

Viv added that this year’s raft race was won by the brilliantly-named ‘Steffi Graft’ team.

This year’s Aquafest would have been the 45th time it had been staged, were it not for Covid.

“Last year it was quite quiet,” said Viv, “because I don’t think people had got back into the swing of things after the pandemic.

“But this year’s was just as good as it’s ever been. I think people were very happy to be there – all the feedback we had they said it was a really good event.”

Aquafest 2023. Picture: Keith Heppell
Aquafest 2023. Picture: Keith Heppell
Aquafest 2023. Picture: Keith Heppell
Aquafest 2023. Picture: Keith Heppell
Aquafest 2023. Picture: Keith Heppell
Aquafest 2023. Picture: Keith Heppell
Aquafest 2023. Picture: Keith Heppell
Aquafest 2023. Picture: Keith Heppell
Aquafest 2023. Picture: Keith Heppell
Aquafest 2023. Picture: Keith Heppell

Viv said that visitors next year can look forward to “much more of the same”. She added: “But hopefully we’ll get more sponsorship, more rafts…”

Aquafest is organised by the Rotary Clubs of Ely and is run entirely by volunteers, with support from main sponsors, Cambridge Commodities, Redrow housing, Whitings, and EMG Kia Motors.



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