ORGANISERS are promising that this year’s Festival Of The Rivers will be the biggest and best.

Top of the bill for the two-week waterfront extravaganza will be the annual Dragon Boat Race.

Other events will include a raft regatta, a floating theatre and a re-enactment of war-torn York from more than three centuries ago.

Gill Cooper, City of York Council’s head of arts and culture, said: “York’s rivers have played such an important role in the city’s history and are a key part of its character.

“The Festival Of The Rivers gives us a chance to celebrate the part they play in life in York, with a host of different activities to appeal to all age groups.”

The annual fortnight of water fun begins on Saturday, July 11, and runs until Sunday, July 26.

Teams are already in training for the Dragon Boat Race, when they will charge downstream in a spectacular series of heats to qualify for the final, cheered on by spectators lining the banks.

For those interested in a quieter life on the water, Tales From The River will be performed on a barge moored at King’s Staith.

Rowntree Park will celebrate its 88th birthday with a summer fair by the River Ouse and Marygate will be the venue for a raft regatta. The River Foss will be the venue for canoe sessions in the Foss Basin, hosted by York Canoe Club.

Off the water, Tower Gardens will play host to salsa classes and an evening Latino party, while Northern Historic will re-enact life in York in July 1644 when the Royalist-held city was besieged by Parliamentarian forces during the English Civil War. The city surrendered after Prince Rupert’s relieving army was defeated at the Battle of Marston Moor.

Full details of events will be released by the council through its website later this month. The council hopes the festival will further its campaign to make York more active culturally.