Canal Events & Festivals 2018 - 2019

IWA Canalway Cavalcade is a unique waterway boat gathering organised by IWA volunteers, that has been taking place at Little Venice since 1983. Admission is Free. Join us over the early May Bank Holiday weekend. There will be activities for all the family with a boaters’ gathering, a pageant of boats, trade shows and stalls, live music, kids’ activities, competitions, Morris Dancers, a real ale bar, a wide variety of snacks and food.

May Bank Holiday weekend 5th to 7th May 2018! Skipton's annual Waterway Festival takes place around Skipton and on the Canal Basin (off Coach Street). The event runs over the whole weekend and will be opened by the Mayor of Skipton Town. Dozens of narrowboats and other craft will line the Basin and the surrounding towpaths - all themed to help celebrate the Canal's landmark anniversary - and there will be a full programme of entertainment throughout each of the three days. Entry to the Festival is free. Once again, this year's Festival is benefiting from financial support from the Skipton BID!

The Rickmansworth Festival takes place on the third weekend of May every year and celebrates canals, the community and the environment. The 25th Festival, the highlight of the town’s annual calendar and the finale of Rickmansworth Week, will be held on the 19th and 20th May 2018. The top attraction for many is the wonderful array of canal boats from across the country - a terrific spectacle, with at least 100 craft of many types and histories moored along the towpath up to four deep. But there are things to do, see and enjoy whatever your interests, and whatever your age.

The Moira Canal Festival is a family event held every year on the restored section of the Ashby Canal, at the historic Moira Furnace Museum, on the North West Leicestershire and South Derbyshire border. It aims to raise awareness of, and money for, the restoration, extension and maintenance of the Ashby Canal.

The Erewash Canal Preservation & Development Association (ECP&DA) are holding their 50th anniversary rally at Langley Mill on the Erewash Canal over the weekend of the 26th -28th May 2018. There is plenty to do and see for everyone including trade boats, historic boats, trade stalls, real ale bar place much more...

BEALE PARK BOAT & OUTDOOR SHOW 2018 JUNE 1, JUNE 2 & JUNE 3 10AM-6PM FRIDAY & SATURDAY, 10AM-5PM SUNDAY BEALE PARK, LOWER BASILDON, READING, BERKSHIRE RG8 9NW “BRITAIN’S MOST RELAXED BOAT SHOW…” Classic Boat magazine ENJOY A WEEKEND OF ‘SIMPLY MESSING ABOUT IN BOATS’

The Etruria Canals Festival is back for 2017 and will be taking place Saturday 2rd and Sunday 3th June 2018 10am-5pm. The event is free to attend. This year’s festival will continue the traditions of the annual community event which is one of the largest free events in Stoke-on-Trent, regularly attracting thousands of visitors to the junction of the Trent and Mersey and Caldon canals in the middle of Etruria. The festival will bring the canals of Stoke-on-Trent alive with a historic boat parade along the Trent and Mersey canal from Etruria towards Burslem. Music and dance will complement colourful historic canal boats moored along the towpaths of Etruria. Lots of activities for children and adults will be on site and a good time is guaranteed for all.

Open 10.00 am to 11:30 pm on Saturday & 10.00 am to 5 pm on Sunday Festival entry £7.00 per adult per day and accompanied children are Free! Follow the signs for the Free Festival Car Park and then walk along the canal, past the brightly coloured boats.

As every year, the two-day FREE celebration for all the family is organised by Stratforward - Stratford-upon-Avon's Business Improvement District, which represents over 465 town centre shops, cafes, restaurants and other businesses. Since it was established the Stratford River Festival has grown to become one of the region’s leading free festivals. 2017 was a record breaking year bringing over 70,000 revellers into the beautiful town of Stratford-upon-Avon.

An offshoot from the Fenny Poppers Festival, the town’s annual summer festival on the same day. Contact rosemaryasmith@uwclub.net for more detail

The Brecon Beacons is one of the most inspiring locations in the world. Surrounded by miles and miles of mountains, forests, waterfalls and rivers, the Settlement is your opportunity to make the most of Green Man’s magical surroundings.

Saturday 25th to Monday 27th August 2018 The annual Festival of Water comes to St Neots, Huntingdonshire over the 2018 August Bank Holiday Weekend. A weekend of fun for boaters, campers and all who love spending time by the water. There will be attractions for all the family and boats lining the mile of River Great Ouse that flows past Regatta Meadow.

This year the Trust will be staging the 35th annual Open Weekend. The event which runs from 10 am until 5 pm on both days will attract many canal boats which will be moored along the historic Stourbridge Canal. There is free admission to the site and there are a number of attractions which include classic vehicles, traction engines, amusements, canal boat trips, fairground organs and a craft fair in the Bonded Warehouse. Mark your diaries now so that you can attend this wonderful local event with something for all the family. Public parking needs to be found ‘on street’ in nearby locations within easy walking distance of the Bonded Warehouse site.