Spain isn't the only place to go if you enjoy a good fiesta...A waterside festival isn't just about boats and water, there's plenty of colourful and alternative activity, flags and fun... The spirit of festival is at the heart of our colourful waterways - any excuse will do for a boat gathering or a canalside party! As you would expect from any good festival, there's usually ice-cream, veggie burgers, hot dogs, the aroma of ground coffee beans and, of course, the indomitable beer tent.
But what makes a waterways' festival ultra special is the chatty canal culture that pervades. It's a gathering on land and water. After you've peered into every boat, and even been for a quick ride in one, if you have time to wander round the stalls, you'll be able to buy anything from a wacky badge, a hat, or fudge, to exclusive canal arts and crafts. The 'Cheese Boat' might also put in an appearance! There's always grassy space for the kids to do what kids do, and they might even bump into Rosie & Jim! (Or the new Braunston boaters, Bert & Betty) It all boils down to a full day's entertainment with something for everybody, a lot of wandering around and utterly harmless loitering - but wear comfy shoes!
Waterside festivals - Bags of family fun... Listings for 2010:
1-2 May: Norbury Junction Canal Festival - Norbury Junction, Shropshire Union Canal
August TBA: Kirkintilloch Canal Festival - Forth & Clyde Canal
Boat gatherings & rallies - A good excuse for a get-together or a fundraising rally
26-27 June: Inland Waterways' Association Tom Rolt Centenary Celebration Rally - Chester, Shropshire Union Canal
Boat shows - Lots of new boats to dream over, & stalls with everything to do with boating
29-31 May: Crick Boat Show - Crick, Grand Union Canal
Quirky celebrations - British eccentricity, canal folklore & much more
24-25 April: Cuckoo Festival (Event Day 24 April) & Standedge Tunnel Legging (Legging of horseboat through Standedge Tunnel April 25 - See the horseboat which will have been transformed into a dragon, come out of its lair in the tunnel. St George will rescue the maiden tied to the boat's towing mast and he will slay the dragon to save all the visitors to Standedge Visitor Centre at Marsden) Contact The Horseboating Society - Marsden, Huddersfield Narrow Canal
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Narrowboat owners are always ready with any excuse to get out the Brasso, and waterside festivals are a magnet for moored up oneupmanship! As far as your eye can walk, stem to stern, it's all about camaraderie & gongoozling (canal lingo for 'onlooking').
