Waterway events to look forward to in 2019

What’s on in 2019: key events to look forward to on Britain’s canals

If you are planning a canal boat holiday in 2019 it might be worth having a look at what wonderful events are taking place along Britain’s historic waterways over the next 12 months.

Perhaps you can arrange your next Anglo Welsh narrowboat holiday to coincide with one of the colourful canal festivals taking place this year.

You’ll find everything from narrowboat rallies to waterside food, folk and music festivals with fun for all the family.

We will try to keep you updated on any highlights throughout the year. As a starting point, here are just some of the best events taking place along the canals of England and Wales in 2019.

7^th April

Drifters’ National Open Day 2019: Bases across England and Wales

Get a first-hand insight into why canal boat holidays are such an enjoyable way to slow down and unwind when 20 canal bases across England and Wales offer visitors the chance to jump aboard for free. Narrowboat hire companies including Anglo Welsh will be hosting short boat trips from 11am to 4pm. We will be running boat rides from our bases in Trevor, Bunbury, Great Haywood, Wootton Wawen and Tardebigge. No booking is required.

4^th May to 6^th May

Canalway Cavalcade, Little Venice, London : Regent’s Canal

Taking place in Little Venice since 1983, the Inland Waterway Association’s Canalway Calvacade is one of the biggest and best canal festivals in the UK. Hundreds of narrowboats and other canal craft decorated with bunting line up along the Grand Union and Regents Canal providing the backdrop to a weekend of live music, dancing and fabulous food and drink. A highlight is the boat ‘pageant’ which sees boats competing for the best décor with a different theme each year.

Nearest Anglo Welsh base: Oxford

4^th May to 6^th May

Skipton Waterway Festival: Leeds & Liverpool Canal

Thousands of visitors descend upon Skipton over the May Bank Holiday to see dozens of decorated narrowboats line the canal basin and surrounding towpaths. There will be a full programme of entertainment over three days with children’s activites and rides, as well as craft stalls and delicious food and drink.

Nearest Anglo Welsh base: Silsden

4^th to 7^th May

St Richard’s Canal Festival, Droitwich

Launched in 2007, this family festival which takes place across Vines Park in Droitwich and the historic town centre, has grown to include street markets and exhibitions, live entertainment and a vintage car rally alongside the canal boat gathering. The festival culminates with ‘The Great Droitwich Duck Race’ at 4.30pm on the Monday afternoon.

Nearest Anglo Welsh base: Tardebigge

18^th May to 19^th May

Rickmansworth Canal Festival: Grand Union Canal

This celebration of canals, community and the environment brings hundreds of traditional narrowboats and other craft from different eras together from across the country. At least 20,000 visitors come to Rickmansworth to enjoy the boats, music, performances, displays and colourful range of traders.

Nearest Anglo Welsh base: Oxford

25^th May to 27^th May

The Crick Boat Show: Grand Union Canal

Britain’s biggest inland waterways festival with more than 27,000 visitors last year, the Crick Boat Show bring together over 280 exhibitors, dozens of boats of all ages, dimensions and styles, talks by boating experts, boat trips and boat handling taster sessions all topped off with great live music and food and drink to get everyone in a celebratory mood. Now in its 20^th year, this boat show is a great day out for all the family.

Nearest Anglo Welsh base: Stockton

31^st May to 2^nd June

Beale Park Boat & Outdoor Show: River Thames

This is a must visit for anyone who loves boats in all their forms, with three days of ‘simply messing about in boats’ in this beautiful lake next to the River Thames. Visitors can admire classic boats, wooden boats, fibre glass boats, motor boats, sailing boats and much more with boat trips and rides. For any members of the family less keen on boats, there is also a vintage vehicle rally and many more land-based activities to enjoy.

Nearest Anglo Welsh base: Oxford

13^th June to 16^thJune

Middlewich Folk & Boat Festival: Trent & Mersey Canal

Enjoy live music on the canalside main stage to the backdrop of hundreds of narrowboats. Fringe music events can also be enjoyed in up to 15 venues dotted across the town over three days as well as Morris dancing performances, a Celidh night, craft workshops and a rich variety of stalls celebrating Middlewich’s heritage.

Nearest Anglo Welsh base: Bunbury

6^th July to 7^th July

Stratford-upon-Avon River Festival: River Avon

Narrow boats, including one of our own from Anglo Welsh, congregate from far and wide to enjoy the live music, craft stalls, market traders and food and drink sellers which bring the banks of the River Avon to life over two fun-filled days. The live music and street performances are topped off by a spectacular illuminated boat parade and firework display on the Saturday night.

Nearest Anglo Welsh base: Wootton Wawen

24^th August to 25^th August

Burnley Canal Festival: Leeds & Liverpool Canal

Live music, arts and crafts, fairground rides and of course boat trips are just some of the reasons to visit the Burnley Canal Festival. The town’s historic waterside blossoms with a busy programme of performances and workshops for all ages from puppet making to circus skills, alongside a tempting array of food and drink stalls.

Nearest Anglo Welsh base: Silsden

Further events with no fixed date yet for 2019

June

Leicester Riverside Festival: River Soar

This festival sees a whole host of family friendly activities line the banks of the River Soar. A narrowboat rally provides a colourful backdrop to the event where visitors can enjoy boat trips, live music and attractions such as a petting zoo, as well as a bustling street food market.

Nearest Anglo Welsh base: Stockton

July

Linslade Canal Festival: Grand Union Canal

Usually at the end of July, this one-day festival celebrates canal life, conservation, the countryside and the traditional rural crafts. Along the canal an eclectic mix of working, historical and trade boats display their wares alongside the colourful pleasure boats which visit to soak up the festival atmosphere. Old English crafts can be admired alongside food and drink stalls all to a backdrop of live folk and country music and performance.

Nearest Anglo Welsh base: Oxford

September

Oxford Canal Festival: Oxford

This canalside festival brings together live music, art and crafts, a dog show, boat rides, walks, talks, films, fairground rides and some healthy competition in the form of the ‘canal Olympics’. Canal boats line up to sell their wares or simply look decorative. All the money raised at the event will towards a community narrowboat restoration project.

Nearest Anglo Welsh base: Oxford

If you would like further advice on getting to any of these, or other, events, please don’t hesitate to contact our team on 0117 304 1122 or via our website: www.anglowelsh.co.uk/contact-us/.