The River Pageant

In 2025, Rotary Clubs of Christchurch and Boscombe & Southbourne launched the spectacular Christchurch River Pageant as a fantastic floating fund-raising event for three local charities and raised over £2500 which we distributed equally between them. This year, we hope to make this river spectacle bolder, brighter and better. Once again, we are asking you to come along, participate and dig deep, in order to help us make it an outstanding success and a marvellous addition to the Christchurch Calendar of Events.

The 2026 Christchurch River Pageant is likely to feature a floating procession of kayaks, SUPs, boats and the odd surprise. Participants are encouraged to dress themselves and their boats to impress!

Why We Are Running the Event

Stour River is at the heart of our community, and the sea is in our blood. Three seafaring charities have made the river their own for their very different purposes. One to help people to learn to sail and have fun in doing so, and the others to provide a space of recovery and recuperation for survivors of cancer, helping them restore and improve both their physical and mental well-being.

This event raises essential funds so that these charities can continue their support to local people and improve their lives. Your support truly matters.

Our local charities:

Hengistbury Head Outdoors is a recently created charity whose goal is to take over the disused Hengistbury Head Outdoor Education Centre and run it as a facility for local people to participate in a wide range of outdoor activities and sports.

Bourne Water Dragons (BWD) is an inclusive dragon boating team on the River Stour for all cancer survivors, enabling them to stay active and enjoy themselves by participating in local dragon boating activities which have been shown to aid cancer recovery.

Pink Champagne Breast Cancer Survivors’ Dragon Boat Team was established by a group of breast cancer patients alongside the breast cancer team at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital. Dragon Boating is excellent exercise for Breast Cancer Survivors and has been shown to improve physical and mental wellbeing for those who take part regularly.

Donations

You can donate to our charity fund without taking part in the pageant. Should you wish to take part though we would encourage you to consider the following donations:

Stand Up Paddleboards, Kayaks, canoes: £5

Small Boats: £10

Large Boats: £25

Corporate entries: at your discretion

Registration

If you own a boat, are a canoeist or paddleboarder, or fancy making your own raft then come and join the pageant.

For more information and to register please see https://christchurchrotary.org.uk/christchurch-river-pageant/