about the Festival
Coming the week after the Regatta and lasting 5 nights, audiences are treated to an event full of contrasting performances on whichever night they attend - the best in classical music, jazz, opera, comedy, dance, street theatre, rock and firework spectaculars like you've never experienced them before.
As always, one ticket gives access to up to six timetabled events each night (as well as the visual art galleries and ad hoc street theatre fun) and access to a choice of bars, eateries and a wide range of top quality catering concessions.
Sipping champagne overlooking the water whilst enjoying the Festival's sights and sounds - designer evening wear, banks of flowers, extraordinary sculptures, swirling lights and the sight of a hundred candle lit dinner parties taking place on the boats on the river will provide lasting memories.
Taking place between 7 and 11 July, this glorious Black Tie event is now one of the biggest, best-established and best-loved Arts Festivals in the country.
With its wonderful range of entertainment in a breathtaking setting on the banks of the River Thames and with some of the best wining and dining seen at any Festival, Henley Festival makes for an unmissable and highly glamorous party, with stars on stage and in the audience, too!
Our "open" times within the Festival Enclosure are:
- Wednesday: 6pm - midnight
- Thursday: 6pm - midnight
- Friday: 6pm - 1am
- Saturday: 6pm - 1.30am
- Sunday: 6.30pm - 11.30pm
Forging partnerships
Not only is The Henley Festival one of the country's 'must-do' summer events, it also runs a year round, nationally recognised 'arts-in the-community' service.
As in previous years, all net proceeds from Henley Festival 2010 will go direct to the Henley Festival Trust to finance charitable activity. Examples of this valuable, and much appreciated, work include providing: music and arts activity in local schools, instruments for promising young musicians and music therapy for brain-injured attendees at Headway day centre in Henley-on-Thames.
Last year's schools project Rings Around the World generated national interest when fully revealed in July, whilst our brand new orchestra is striding bravely into its third full year following a triumphant début in July 2008.
Beyond that the Festival continues to support a fantastic music therapy programme with local brain injury charity Headway; plus other projects continuing to take music, art, culture and all of the therapies these great art forms bring where it is needed.
Organisations Supported in 2008
- Nordoff Robbins funding for a sixth year of music therapy work with the brain-injured at Headway, Henley.
- Bishopswood Special School Art residency
- Chiltern Centre for Disabled Children Art residency
- Music in Hospitals Grant To pay for concerts at Townlands Hospital and Huntercombe Nursing Home.
- Langtree School Art residency
- Grants were also given to Langtree Sinfonia, HEDFAS and Henley Youth Festival, Henley Arts and Crafts Guild, Henley Symphony Orchestra, St Mary's Church Organ Fund, Henley Concert Singers, Henley Choral Society, Henley Round Table, and Remenham Thespians.
Picture shows Hayley Westenra
joining a music therapy session at Headway
