There are so many boating events throughout the canal system over summer. Many of them are canal festivals including stalls, beer tents, marquees, live music and boat trips.

The floating market returned to Birmingham at the end of June, bringing together more than 20 colourful boats selling food, clothes, books, gifts, canalware and arts and crafts. There are details of more floating markets coming up on the Roving Canal Traders Association website.

Other events coming up in July are the food and drink festival at Droitwich Spa, Hebden Bridge Arts Festival, The Rochdale Canal Boat Gathering, Ware Boat Festival, The Stratford River Festival, Knowle Canal Boat Rally, Blackburn Canal Festival, Cosgrove Canal Festival and The Standedge Tunnel Country Fair.

The next big boating event on the Grand Union is Blisworth Canal Festival, 9th – 10th August, offering the usual mix of music, boats, food and fun. 25,000 visitors turned up to last year’s festival. As
well as live music, visiting boats, stalls and children's activities, you’ll be able to see vintage vehicles, a dog show, and more. It’s quite an event! The festival is organised by Blisworth Canal Partnership and all of the proceeds from the festival go directly into projects to enhance the local canal environment.

On the same weekend there will be bicentennial celebrations at Crick Tunnel. The tunnel will be 200 years old on Saturday 9th August. The Crick History Society, in partnership with other societies, will be celebrating the 200th anniversary of the official opening of the canal from Foxton to Norton Junction, near Long Buckby wharf. There will also be a marquee on The Moorings car park.

Stoke Bruerne Canal Museum are hosting some family friendly activities such as pond dipping, wildlife walking and canal painting on Thursdays during the school holidays. These activities are free, while normal charges apply for visiting the museum. Then 16th and 17th August is Pirate Weekend at Stoke Bruerne.

Coming up in September is the Angel Canal Festival in London, and Slough Canal Festival, just west of London. For more details check out the Canal and River Trust Events Calendar.

If you’re thinking of buying a boat, then festivals and events are a good opportunity to look around and see what style and size of boat might suit you. If you’re thinking of selling a boat then now is a great time to sell. Contact Us now for some friendly advice or grab yourself the free ebook How to Sell a Boat: The Ultimate Guide.

Peggy
www.narrowboatwife.com

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Living on a Boat: The Boatshed Guide (free) / Don’t Make These 7 Mistakes When Selling Your Boat / How to Buy a Boat: The Ultimate Guide / The best blog articles of 2013/ Don’t miss: The Boatshed Grand Union Daily/ More articles.

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