NARROWBOATS will be on parade once again in Braunston next week.
The 17th Braunston Historic Narrowboat Rally & Canal Festival takes place at Braunston Marina over the weekend of June 29 and 30.
The popular festival – all profits from which are donated to canal and other local good causes – has established itself as the largest gathering of former canal working narrowboats anywhere in the country.
And the highlight will be the chance for festival-goers to see historic narrowboats parading in a figure of eight. Joining the parade this year will be two surviving motor-narrowboats which are both celebrating their 90 birthdays – the Panther owned and operated Coventry Canal Society, and the Python belonging to the Chesterfield Canal Trust.
Dry land attractions will include the Braunston beer tent – the Wet Dock, plus fast food and fun. Music will be provided by various folk and R&B groups, and on the quayside various morris dancing groups will be strutting their stuff.
On the Thursday night before the rally, there will be a return visit from theatre group Alarum Theatre with their latest production.
And on the early Saturday evening slot, and new to the rally, will be the Oxfordshire group The Boat Doctors, with their new show They Built Boats in Banbury – billed as “a rollicking evening of song and story celebrating the history of Tooley’s Boatyard in Banbury”.
Last year 83 boats attended from all across the canal network, and more than 7,000 waterway enthusiasts attended – some coming from as far afield as Australia, Canada and the USA.
Admission is £20 per car.
Visit www.braunstonmarina.co.uk for further details.
Boats galore at the entrance to Braunston Marina. Picture by Tim Coghlan.
