CALENDAR
Dragon Boat Festival 2026 – The annual Dragon Boat racing tournament returns
Sunday 28th June 2026
On 28th June, taking place on Baltic Wharf close to the Cottage Inn, The Dragon Boat Festival is a full day’s event with up to 36 teams competing in heats, semi-finals and a grand final.
Organised by Bristol Breakfast Rotary Club, business and community groups come together in a racing tournament in Bristol’s Floating Harbour, all to raise money for chosen charities both nationwide and based in the South West.
Underfall Yard is a fantastic location to watch the teams race all day long! Grab a drink from our cafe and take a seat on our Knuckle to secure a perfect view down the Harbour to spot some amazingly dressed competitors!
To find out more information about the event and how to enter, please visit their website
Steam Boat School – Enjoy a wonderful introduction to the world of steamboating!
Thursday 16th July 2026
Organised by The Steam Boat Association of Great Britain, this is an event to introduce you to the wonderful hobby of Steamboating. Even if you have no ‘steamy’ knowledge, you will be welcome to join us for a fun, easy going day of gentle learning and practical experience.
The day will be centred at Underfall Yard and include a safety briefing, an introductory talk, a look at several different sorts of steamboats (no two steamboats are alike!), a slap-up lunch and then actual trips around the harbour in live steamboat(s). With Bristol Harbour Festival starting the next day, it’s a perfect way to get involved with the city’s maritime roots.
Find out more and book your slot by visiting their event page.
Yard Fest 2026
YARD FEST IS BACK FOR 2026! CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE
Yard Fest 2025 saw Underfall Yard transform into a place of fantastic music, local creative traders and makers, and a showcase of maritime machinery and traditional skills. We couldn’t have asked for a better weekend, and we’ve got the pictures to prove it! Thank you so much to Rae Hadley, Jefs and Max for volunteering their time to capture how great the weekend was!
Credit to Rae Hadle
Credit to Max
Credit to Jefs
£6,902 was raised through donations and beer sales from Bristol Beer Factory’s Brewed to Give initiative. This will directly fund the restoration and preservation of Underfall Yard and help us continue our mission of supporting maritime skills and businesses in the heart of Bristol.
As a working boatyard, charity, and heritage site, Underfall Yard is proud to support apprenticeships, independent maritime trades, and educational outreach. all while opening our site for tours, private events, and public engagement. Thank you to everyone who helped make Yard Fest 2025 a success, and to Bristol Harbour Festival for continuing to celebrate this historic part of the city.
The Bristol Sea Shanty Shout 2026
19th – 20th September 2026
Have your eye-patches and hook hands at the ready! We are once again partnering with the High and Dry Shanty Crew for The Bristol Sea Shanty Shout 2026!
Last year’s event marked a major change for the event: Based at our boatyard, as well as SS Great Britain, with a ticket concert by our Visitor Centre in the evening, and it was a fantastic success! We can’t wait to do it all over again with dozens of performances from shanty crews taking place across two days, giving all you pirate fans the best weekend for celebrating the story and tall tales of famous Bristol sailors!
More details will be revealed closer to the date. In the meantime, take a look at the official website
