Celebrating River Joy: Aquarium IMAX Screening & Exhibit Launch Afterparty

Our last Bristol screening of the year and River Joy exhibit launch, will celebrate World Rivers Day this September.

On Saturday, 27th September, we will gather to enjoy the film and participate in a Q&A session with Director Charlotte Sawyer & Mrs Meg Avon. Afterward, the Aquarium foyer will transform into our creative playpen for a vibrant DJ night afterparty. This event will also launch a special art and photography exhibit titled River Joy.

Tickets for The Rave On For The Avon film screening and The Avona Exhibit Launch are sold separately on Headfirst.

Bristol's new river spirit puppet, Avona, will join us on the dance floor, adding a unique charm to the evening.

The River Joy Photo and Art Exhibition

The River Joy exhibit will free to the public the following day, Sunday, 28th September.

Wander through a curated selection of photography capturing Bristol’s Avon-loving community in action by Bristol Artists. From photography capturing dawn swims to contemporary artwork to video instillation, this artwork tells the story of grassroots activism harnessing art to spark change. Contributions from

Nic Kane, Charlotte Sawyer, Felicity Flashman, Aggie Nyagari, Becca Drazin, Mrs Meg Avon, Saskia Tomlinson, Jemima Homer, Eva Perrin, Katie Holloway.

Join us for this incredible celebration of community, art, and the river we all cherish. We can’t wait to see you there!

Our last screening at Bristol's Aquarium Megascreen was a delightful event. It featured comedian Jayde Adams and the citizen scientist group Conham Bathing, along with a puppet guest, the Goddess of the Wye, who makes a special appearance in the film.

The River Community Gathers

Rave On For The Avon, Conham Bathing, Avona are coming together to create a river spirit puppet. This initiative aims to continue the campaign for the Bristol Avon. The campaign is captured in the feature-length documentary Rave On For The Avon, which is growing and evolving in exciting ways.

You can meet Avona at our final Bristol screening of the year on Sat 27th Sep at Bristol Aquarium's Megascreen.

Rave On for the Avon is an independent wild swimming documentary that explores a community’s fight to save their beloved bathing spot. It showcases unique, daring, and distinctly Bristolian approaches. Having been seen by over 4,000 people at more than 75 screenings, the film highlights the deep love the community has for the Bristol Avon and their commitment to protecting it. For upcoming screenings, visit our website.

The Guardian gave our film four stars, stating, “Campaigning never looked so fun and friendly as it does in this joyous documentary about Bristol’s clean water campaigners.” ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Outdoor Swimming Society praised Rave On for the Avon, calling it “a beautiful new film” that explores the importance of rivers in modern life, all set to a Bristol soundtrack.

The River Joy exhibit is generously sponsored by House & Co

Pete, Owner of House + Co Property tells us

“As a local independent business, we’re proud to once again support this brilliant community project. Bristol has always had a deep connection with its waterways, and the Avona puppet is a wonderful way to celebrate that, while raising awareness of how important it is to protect our rivers for future generations. We love seeing creativity bring people together around such an important cause, and we’re delighted to play a part in helping it flourish.”