There are countless important rivers up and down the country, with the likes of the River Mersey, the River Thames and the River Tyne all well known to virtually everyone. Although the Wey River might not be quite as famous outside of the Surrey area, it is an important waterway to those who live nearby, which is why it is often celebrated by the local residents. That is especially the case on the 27th of September, when the Wey River Festival takes place in the heart of Guildford, with numerous different events taking place that will see people of all ages entertained.
What’s Happening
If you want something to do on Saturday the 27th of September 2025 that is family-friendly, you could do a lot worse than to head to Dapdune Wharf in the heart of the town. It is a chance to celebrate the great and the good things about Wey Navigations, with numerous different things taking place that promise to both amuse and entertain. There will be stalls up around the Wharf that will have everything from food and drink to crafts and children’s activities on offer. You can also watch some Morris dancers taking part in a traditional dance, or listen to the Alder Valley brass band.
This is a celebration of the Wey Navigations, yes, but it is also a chance to enjoy what Guildford has to offer in general. There will be free performances by Prologue Youth Theatre, for example, whilst those of you with a dog might want to enter it into the dog agility show, giving your four-legged friend a chance to show off their skills. The island will play host to games, crafts and sports, meaning that there will be something for virtually everyone to enjoy. The entire thing will then culminate in the colourful evening illuminated pageant, in which colourful boats will float down the river.
It’s About the Water
Whilst the Wey River Festival is specifically taking place on the Saturday, the Friday also has plenty to offer for the boaters amongst you. The Boaters’ Social takes place with live entertainment on the Friday evening, seeing a raffle taking place in order to raise money for the property. There will also be some barbecues lit up, giving you the chance to cook up whatever you feel like. Boaters are welcome to head along to the Wharf in order to meet some like-minded people and enjoy themselves, whilst boaters from outside the area are invited to get a seven-day visitor licence.
The Wey Navigations stretches from Thames Lock through Godalming, meaning that people unfamiliar with the Wey Navigations can make use of the time period to get to know one of the country’s most beautiful waterways. It heads on through some amazing scenery and SSIs, plus takes you on a journey through some fascinating industrial areas that pay tribute to the Navigation’s heritage. If you are a boater then you are positively encouraged to explore the area in order to understand for yourself why it is that the local people are so proud of it all.
A Free Festival
As far as the Festival itself is concerned, it is one that is free to enter. Whilst you will still need some money in your bank account in order to be able to buy some food and drink from the stalls or to pick up a craft or two, the actual Festival won’t cost you a penny to attend. That makes it a cheap way to entertain a family, thanks to the countless free bits of entertainment that are taking place during the day. Even if you don’t have a dog of your own, for example, you can still watch the agility show and marvel at how these animals can perform such amazing feats of movement.
The illuminated pageant that takes place on the River will leave the young ones in your life staring on in awe, as numerous different boats and other vessels travel down the Wey and light up the night sky. You can get free entrance into the area from 11am, whilst the pageant itself will draw to a close at around 8.30pm.
Obviously, that would be a long day if you’re there with young people from the moment the gates open, but it also means that you can dip in and out of the goings-on without having to worry about an entry fee each time you come back into the Festival area.
Why the River Wey Is Special
Given the fact that there is a Festival taking place in the River Wey’s honour, you could be forgiven for wondering what’s so special about it. In some ways, the answer is that there’s nothing any more impressive about it than any other waterway in the United Kingdom. Yet each area is also precious about its resources, which is why the people of Surrey, and Guildford in particular, are keen to celebrate the River’s offering. The Way and Godalming Navigations were built in the 17th century, making it one of the first rivers in England that was made navigable, thanks to the 12 locks that were built.
Another four locks were then added in 1764, allowing for commercial traffic to use the waterway. Although the commercial traffic began to slow down in the late 1970s into the early 1980s, it has remained an important part of Guildford’s history. The Wey Navigation was donated to the National Trust in 1964, used as a leisure route more than a commercial one almost ever since. Whilst the days of seeing the likes of gunpowder, wood and corn flour moved from the Chilworth Mills to the Thames might be over, the people of the area still celebrate the river’s importance.