Canal Events & Festivals 2014 - 2015

Canalway Cavalcade is a major event organised by IWA each year since 1983. It takes place over the early May Bank Holiday weekend, and combines a boat rally with a trade show and a wide range of activities and entertainments, and claims the title of London's premier waterway event.

As in previous years there will be various sorts of entertainment through out each of the days to keep you entertained and a wide range of stalls to keep you busy. There will also be various activities for children and their families. Coach Street Car park, Canal basin and Promenade. BD23 1LH

The Loughborough Canal and Boat Festival takes place over the May Day weekend each year and has been in existence since 1997. Hundreds of boats and thousands of people throng Loughborough’s waterway to experience the unique atmosphere the festival generates.

This event is in support of the restoration of the Lapal canal from its junction with the Worcester & Birmingham Canal through the Battery Park site, soon to be developed. The event will be a joint venture between the Lapal Canal Trust and the Worcester & Birmingham and Droitwich Canal Society support by the BCNS. Further details: contact Ray or Helen Jones 01564 772 155 or email: rally@lapal.org

The Titford Pumphouse Rally will be held at the top of the Titford Locks at Tat Bank junction. Real Ale Bar, (beer from "Ma Pardoe's - aka the Old Swan at Netherton), with stalls, music and fun. Come by boat to Tat Bank Junction (the top of the Titford Locks on the Titford Arm from the BCN Main Line), by train (a few hundred yards from Langley Green station) or by road to Engine Street, Oldbury, West Midlands, B69 4NL.

Boats, Mountain bike stunt team, Family entertainment, Bands, Historic re-enactment, Birds of prey, Morris Dancing, Children's entertainment, Stalls, Stands, Craft demonstrations, Live steam, Historic vehicles, Vintage engines, Boat trips, Bar, Refreshments. The festival is held every year at Moira. The impressive Moira Furnace forms the backdrop, and the site includes the restored Ashby Canal as part of the event.

The Rickmansworth Festival takes place on the third weekend of May every year and celebrates canals, the community and the environment. The 21st Festival, the highlight of the town’s annual calendar and the finale of Rickmansworth Wee, is being held on the 17th and 18th May 2014.

Exhibitors who attended the Crick boat show in 2013 will be sent trade space details for 2014. If you are interested in attending the Crick Boat Show as a trader and did not attend in 2013 please call Exhibition Sales Manager Ian Sharpe on 01283 742977 or email ian.sharpe@wwonline.co.uk. For any other queries, please speak to Rachael Maher on 01283 742962 or email r.maher@wwonline.co.uk

The Etruria Industrial Museum hosts a family-friendly summer festival. The colourful Etruria Canal Festival brings together narrowboats, canal boats and the Princess steam engine in a lively carnival atmosphere and everyone is welcome.

Check back to see if this event is on. The Festival is organised by the Cotswold Canals Trust with help from many other organisations.

Castle Gardens, Western Boulevard & Mile Straight. One of Leicester’s biggest free festivals featuring activities on and off the water. Highlights on the river include colourful boats from across the region, canoe demonstrations, boat trips and the popular arts & craft street market plus a variety of tempting food stalls. On land the festival continues to build on its reputation for great live music by showcasing some of the best bands and artists on the main stage. There’s plenty to entertain the whole family including children’s activities, arts & crafts, music and a children’s funfair in Bede Park. Castle Gardens hosts inspiring eco activities with the opportunity to have-a-go and learn new skills as well as providing a relaxing space to enjoy a picnic. Once again there will be an environmental focus to the festival with the involvement of various groups, bringing together workshops and displays, helping to raise awareness of environmental issues.

From 13th – 15th June 2014, the market town of Middlewich will be celebrating the 24th Anniversary of the Folk & Boat Festival! As in previous years, we will be offering an inviting selection of Main stage and Fringe music in various venues around the town, backed up by the colourful array of Narrow Boats along the canal. We are also proud to continue our tradition of Morris Dancing displays, a Celidh night, stalls, workshops and celebration of the rich heritage of Middlewich.

Folk on the Water - the RECIPE: take one medley of musicians and place into a large 8-berth boat. Add organic food, a glass of wine, assorted instruments and move gently along the Warwickshire canal.

This Festival is organised entirely by volunteers from Foxton Inclined Plane Trust (www.fipt.org.uk) who regularly give their time for free. By visiting our Festival you will be supporting them and most importantly helping them raise the £11m necessary to restore the historic Inclined Plane. There will be a real ale bar as well as a wide cross section of music from some of the best bands in the area.

This is the 12th of our hugely popular working narrowboats rally - the UK's largest! Well over 80 historic boats gather and take part in parades with commentary - stirring stuff! There is a real ale beer tent, exhibitors, traders & waterways artists, an open air Songs of Praise church service on Sunday, live music from bands & groups, Morris dancing, fast food, boat horse demonstrations, a theatrical presentation Admittance is free but if you bring your car there is a parking fee of £10.

We will be holding our Festival at Staveley Town Basin, S43 3XZ, on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th June from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. We will have all three of our trip boats and lots of entertainment, attractions and caterers. Further details will be put on this page over the coming months. Email festival@chesterfield-canal-trust.org.uk or ring 01246 477569 for further information or if you would like to have a stall or bring a boat.

Welcome to the 2014 Stratford River Festival. For a weekend in the summer, come and enjoy free family fun in Stratford-upon-Avon with music, narrow boats on the River Avon, craft and food stalls, family zone, charity stalls, illuminated boat parade and spectacular fireworks...

Crown Meadow will see the return of the Evesham River Festival on the weekend of Friday 11th July to Sunday 13th of July, 2014. Last year’s event was a big success and we could not wait to begin preparations for this year’s festival. The 2013 programme of activities included flypasts by the Battle of Britain Dakota and the Royal Navy, an illuminated boat parade and a very special fireworks display. Previous festivals have included live music, morris dancing, boat demonstrations and boating competitions. The festival is famous for its fancy dress, both for people and the boats. With fairground rides and activities like bouncy castles, there are plenty of extra things for the children to do. Also can be found are a range of stalls which included a beer tent, various food outlets and crafts

The Blackburn canal festival 12th & 13th July 2014 will be the 2nd festival to be held at Eanam wharf Blackburn. It was such a success last year that the committee have decided to make it an annual event. The fact that Blackburn was the hub of the canal as far back as the early 1940's, supplying coal to Whitebirk power station and wool up to Leeds and Bradford. If you have a boat or just want a family day out, come along and enjoy the festival with us, there will be plenty to see and do.

The Harbour Festival is one of the UK's largest public events and a chance for the city to showcase its rich musical and performance roots. Over 250,000 festival fans head down to the historic waterfront to party, dance and relax.

Blisworth’s waterfront will be full of trade boats and stalls selling everything from cheese to boat oil with 2 trip boats operating both days. The Playboat ‘Funion Bargee’ will also be moored and providing free play sessions. Saturday August 9th & Sunday August 10th 11am - 5pm both days *FREE MOORING *FREE PARKING *FREE ENTRY *FREE WALKS & TALKS

Come and join a week of FREE fun packed activities and discover the Rochdale Canal. Activities include guided walks, bike rides, canoe and angling taster sessions, boat rides, wildlife workshops, art and photographic competitions, fun days and much more

This annual festival is based around City Road Lock and Basin and along the tow path to Packington Park. There will be a variety of stalls, fun-fair, music, refreshments, boat trips and viewing of Community Boats. 11.00 a.m. to 5 pm, adjoining City Road Lock, Islington.

Fireworks on the night of the 1st. Real ale bar, barbecue, bonfire and live music as well. Come by boat, (Engine Arm Junction on the BCN Old Main Line, just above Smethwick Locks), by train (two hundred yards from Smethwick Rolfe Street Station, or by car to Smethwick Enterprise Centre, Rolfe Street, Smethwick B66 2AR.