Here’s a fun video tracing the history of the Thames in Royal events, and showing clips of various Jubilee celebrations throughout our Queen’s reign.

It’s a busy year for London’s largest waterway. If you’re a fan of the Thames, make sure you check out the following events:

• Head of the River Race, 17 Mar
• The Boat Race, 7 Apr
• Royal River at the National Maritime Museum, 26 Apr-9 Sep
• Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant, 3 Jun
• BT River of Music, 21-22 Jul
• Thames Festival, 8-9 Sep

Were you there? Add your photos to the Visit London Flickr Pool and tag them “Thames Festival” to appear above.

Rebeca Vallim, a singer from Rio de Janiero, tells us about the exciting Brazilian music scene in London for our World in London project.

How long have you been living in London?
Almost six years now. What I really like about living in London is all the different cultures in one place.

Where have you performed in London?
All around London, including Guanabara, Ronnie Scott’s, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Favela Chic, Pizza on the Park, Rose Theatre Kingston, On Anon, Barbican and The Green Note.

I’ve also performed at different London festivals, like Thames Festival, Carnaval del Pueblo, Summer in Holborn and Bloomsbury Festival.

What is your favourite place to perform?
It’s really hard to say!  Probably the Southbank Centre as they’re very supportive of artists, and encourage and promote Brazilian music, like with Festival Brazil this summer. The audience are great too, people aren’t busy drinking or chatting – they come to appreciate the music.

What is the Brazilian music scene like in London?
The Brazilian music scene in London is very varied, with rhythms from North to South of Brazil. It’s exciting, there’s so much happening.

You can hear all kinds of Brazilian music in London: bossa-nova, samba, maracatu, forró, samba-rock, pop, country, chorinho, samba-reggae and others…

Where do you go to listen to Brazilian music in London?
The last places I’ve been to hear Brazilian music were Guanabara for a concert by Diogo Nogueira, a great sambista of the new generation; Royal Albert Hall to see Gilberto Gil, an icon of Brazilian music; and Koko to see the great singer Maria Rita.

I also recommend the Tia Maria restaurant in Vauxhall, which has live samba and choro every Thursday.

So where can we see you perform?
I perform in a number of different bands: Rebeca Vallim & Band, Mafua de Yaya, Viramundo, Umpatacum and Maracatudo Mafua.

My next gig is Brazilian Night at Ronnie Scott’s Bar, upstairs at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in Soho, on 9 Dec from 8pm.

Last weekend the Mayor’s Thames Festival whipped up a blissful, celebratory spirit along central London’s riverside, helped along by good weather (I even managed to get a touch of sunburn), rhythms originating from the Balkans to Cuba, and plenty of cold beer.

The two-day long party surrounding London’s waterway featured an al fresco dance floor enjoyed by jive and swing dancers and a feast taking place all the way across Southwark Bridge in which diners where serenaded by mariachi singers.

To top off the weekend, samba dancers, drumming troupes and even a group of zombie walkers paraded down the streets from Victoria Embankment to the South Bank, celebrating the last of the summer.

Did you go to the Mayor’s Thames Festival? Tell us about it in the comments below.

The Thames Festival kicks off tomorrow with events up and down the river Thames. The big finale is on Sunday evening, when the riverside comes alive with a Night Carnival procession and fireworks over the Thames.

The area gets pretty crowded so it’s best to plan your viewing spot in advance and get there early. Here are our top recommendations:

• Blackfriars Bridge
• Victoria Embankment
• Riverside walkway near the Oxo Tower
• Oxo Tower Brasserie - open for dinner and drinks, with a set Festival menu (three courses for £45)
• Skylon Bar and Grill at the Southbank Centre – open for dinner and drinks

If you go along, don’t forget to add your pics to our Flickr pool.

Fryderyk Chopin arrived in London on Friday – not the composer but a ship named after him – which has moored on St Katharine’s Pier next to Tower Bridge.

The world’s second largest brig has arrived for the Mayor’s Thames Festival, which takes place from Saturday and I was lucky enough to be invited aboard.

At 40m in height, with a bust of the famous composer, an incredible 23 different sails and more than 130 guide ropes attached, it’s an impressive sight.

The young and enthusiastic crew – all students from Poland – will entertain Londoners and visitors with traditional dances, songs and acrobatics as well as guiding visitors around the ship during their stay in London.

Mr Rafał Szmytke, President of the Polish Tourist Organisation said:

“They’re the best of the best, hand-picked finalists of a national competition. They are young, creative, and passionate about telling the world about their cities, regions and the country.”

I spoke to crew member Michael Szynkarzynshi who told me:

“The whole course took about three months and there were almost 70 students from all around Poland from at least 75 universities and we were specially picked.”

He added “We had to send a special one-minute video presenting ourselves and the most interesting people were chosen.”

The students will be teaching visitors the Polonaise, a traditional Polish dance, leading up to a Guinness World Record attempt for the most people dancing the Polonaise at one time on Sunday 12 September.

Fryderyk Chopin will now  be at Canary Wharf until 12 September. The Mayor’s Thames Festival takes place this weekend.

Click on the video below to see the Fryderyk Chopin crew members in action.