Henley Season

Ahhhhh...the Henley Season.  When we first arrived last year people said, "You HAVE to attend the Henley Regatta, also the Henley Festival. You HAVE to go."  Far be it from us to go against the wishes of people who live here and know better right? The Henley season consists of back to back weeks of festivities.  First line of business, the Henley Royal Regatta.  It is a prestigious rowing event that has taken place in Henley-on-the-Thames since 1839.  It originally started out as a 3 day event but became so popular they extended it to 5 days/nights.  We were only there for one and it was just enough.  Think of the Charles River with bars, special enclosures, pop-up restaurants, night clubs, fireworks every night, and people lining the banks with picnics for about 1.5 miles for 5 days.  Oh and there is some rowing to watch.  

Henley Royal Regatta in the 1890's.

Also, do not forget you need to look smart.  

 Three days later, using all of the equipment, enclosures, and set up from the Regatta, the river bank transforms itself into a black tie event- the Henley Festival.  There are head liner bands each night that perform on a floating stage on the river, art stalls, street performers- you name it, it is there.  We went the night that the Jacksons were performing.  Yes, you read that right. I found this description of the festival and it sums it up really well:

A floating stage. The biggest names in music and comedy. Black ties. Sharp suits. Designer dresses. Celebrity chefs’ pop-up restaurants. Champagne sipped beside the Thames. An armada of pleasure boats. Dance. Street theatre. Art, sculpture and roving eccentrica. Explosions of flowers. Echoes of laughter. Fireworks. And more fireworks. Late night parties. Generous servings of decadence, garnished with sophistication. Welcome to Henley Festival – where more is more.

A magical annual event etched in the diaries and imaginations of those in the know, Henley Festival is your exclusive pass to five nights of unrivalled revelry. Taking place the week after the Henley Regatta, it’s one of the biggest and best-loved arts festivals in the UK.

Confession anyone?

Have you ever heard a Mariachi  band sing the song "Happy"?

Me either. 

"Beth, do you think this will fit in our house?" 

This guy was riding on something that looked like it was straight out of Thunder Dome. 

And he was a little freaky as well. 

I would best describe this event like 4th of July, Boston Harbor, on crack. 

And then...

Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Jackie.

I have to say that they weren't awesome but they weren't completely terrible.  They played a lot of  "new" stuff. Do people still buy The Jackson's music? And when they played what people wanted to hear it was a mash up of all of their hits- ABC, I Want You Back, I'll Be There. Granted, there were a handful of songs that never made it big back in the States but everyone here knew the words.  We felt a little left out-just kidding.  Then they went and did a very awkward tribute to Michael.  It was canned and the sincerity was lost. However, it did make me wish I had seen Michael in concert.   All in all, good and the best part about it was this entire night's profits went to charity. 

After the show, there were fireworks, two crazy men playing with lighting, the nightclub opened and everyone pretty much went down hill from there.  

Not us though- we (our livers) called it a night and called a taxi! 

Until next year Henley!