What you need to know about Bristol Harbour Festival

The organisers of a city's waterfront music festival have said this year's edition is their "most ambitious" yet.

Thousands of people are expected to attend Bristol Harbour Festival when it returns to the city on 17 July.

This year's festival is set to feature hundreds of music acts across multiple stages, food stalls and other entertainment.

Noemi Antonelli, director at Swans Events, said: "This year's Harbour Festival is our most ambitious celebration of Bristol yet, bringing together more of the harbour, more communities, more culture and more opportunities for people to experience everything that makes this city so special."

The festival returns to the streets and squares around the city's historic harbour from 17 until 19 July.

Organisers have confirmed the timings for this year:

• Friday 17 July: 18:00 - 22:00 BST
• Saturday 18 July: 11-00 - 22:00
• Sunday 19 July: 11:00 - 19:00

The event is free and no ticket is required to attend.

Costing £18, organisers offer a VIP experience which allows people to gain access to a designated area located opposite the main stage.

As well as a raised view, the VIP ticket offers access to a seated area, an exclusive bar and a token for a free drink.

The action will take place across several stages and venues, as well as on the water.

The Harbour Stage will be headlined by Fedzilla, Sam and The Womp and Dr Meaker on Friday and RED, NGAIO, VC Pines, Too Many T's, Funke and the Two Tone Baby, Porij and K.O.G on Saturday.

Emerging local talent will take to the stage on Sunday for the Made in Bristol showcase.

The Bristol-based Diverse Artists Network will bring global music and culture to Queen Square as part of the new Diaspora Takeover.

The brand-new Dockyard Stage at the SS Great Britain will host international singers, dancers and musicians.

As part of the organisers' plans to have the event "return to the water" this year, people can watch flyboarder James Preswood perform his LED display, the boat parade or the rowing regattas, among other water-based spectacles.

This year will also include the introduction of a new busking stage at Cascade Steps, while Millennium Square will host folk and Americana on Saturday, and soul and funk on Sunday.

Thekla will host the festival's ticketed silent disco once again.

The event team has encouraged visitors to use public transport as part of its commitment to make it a "greener" festival.

Bristol Temple Meads is the closest train station, located about 15 minutes away from the heart of the action. From there, visitors can either walk, cycle or catch a bus.

Anybody driving can choose from various nearby car parks, such as Britannia, Millennium Square or the West End.

However, some roads around the festival - including Wapping Road, The Grove and Prince Street - will be closed to allow visitors to walk freely between the various stages.

Some bus routes will also be suspended while the closures are in place.

The performance areas and their surroundings will be busy, say organisers who asked pedestrians to "be patient and considerate of others".

A one-way system across Pero's Bridge from Anchor Square to Queen Square will be enforced at peak times, they added.

Although the temperature is forecast to cool down next week, Swans Events said there would additional measures in place to help keep attendees safe and healthy.

Free drinking water will be offered at designated points across the festival and complimentary sun cream will be available at all medical sites.

Shaded areas are limited, so all attendees are encouraged to take sensible precautions and wear appropriate clothing, drink plenty of water, apply sunscreen regularly and to take regular breaks in any available shaded areas if they begin to feel unwell.

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