Watch: Iconic river documentary to be streamed online for 24-hours
The ‘Love Actually’ of river documentaries featuring raving protestors, a mermaid and a marriage to the river, Rave On For the Avon, will be available to stream on Surfers Against Sewage’s YouTube channel for 24-hours only.
Turning creativity and citizen science into a weapon against sewage pollution, Rave on for the Avon, is one of the most joyous documentaries we’ve seen, pouring joy and hope onto the sewage scandal. Now, after more than 90 screenings in cinemas across the UK, Europe and Latin America, Rave on for the Avon will be available to watch online on February 19th 2026.
Celebrating the power of community
The feature-length documentary follows Bristol’s wild swimmers and campaigners as they face illness, swimming bans, entrenched bureaucracy, and apathy from councils and water companies.
Offering a fresh perspective on the river pollution crisis, it offers a hopeful and creative community-led response. It captures a growing movement of locals who use joyful, theatrical protests to challenge the ongoing pollution of their river, including River Bride Mrs Meg Avon, mermaid Lindsey Cole, and dozens of swimmers, ravers and citizen scientists reclaiming the Avon as a living waterway.
“A brilliant and important film that celebrates the power of community action… An inspiring, rallying cry for change,” Kirsty, Surfers Against Sewage.
Ultimately, it’s a film about love. Love for the river, love for the natural environment, and love for the community of Bristolians who are connected by the river, from the channel-swimming mermaid to the 70-year-old man who swims to cope with depression.
Sometimes, the most radical response to pollution is to dance, swim and fall a little bit in love with a river.
Watch the trailer
On Thursday 19th February 2026, Rave On For The Avon will be available to stream for 24-hours on Surfers Against Sewage’s YouTube as part of a live-stream hosted by Finisterre at their flagship St Agnes Store. You can buy tickets for the online screening premiere and live Q&A here.
