CANALWAY CAVALCADE 2010

MAYDAY! MAYDAY! AT LONDON WATERWAYS FESTIVAL

Mayday! Mayday! Save Our System! is the cri de cœur from the organisers and the theme of this year’s premier Waterways event at Little Venice, this May Bank Holiday.  Waterways-loving actors Timothy West and his wife Prunella Scales will open the event and join boaters, the local community and waterways enthusiasts from all over the country, to illustrate how well-preserved and maintained waterways can provide enjoyment for a myriad of participants from all walks of life.

Canalway Cavalcade is a major festival in the national canal calendar. It will take place from Saturday 1^st to Monday 3^rd May at Little Venice in Paddington, the capital’s most iconic canal venue, and one of its major tourist attractions. 

During the event, visitors see the area at its best, full of colourful narrowboats, bunting, barges and cruisers.  The programme includes a wide range of activities for all the family.  There will be floating events, boat trips, food stalls and a licensed bar, a trade and craft show, music, theatre and puppets.  There will be children’s activities, ranging from Giant Games to a Teddy Bears' Picnic.  There will be a themed pageant of decorated boats, a procession of illuminated boats and a parade of historic and working craft.

Canalway Cavalcade's profits are donated to the Inland Waterways Association which passes them on to a range of waterway causes, mainly waterway restoration schemes and community boat projects. Admission to the event is free.

Creepy Capers at the Canal Museum

...calling all ghosties, ghouls and goblins to our Halloween Extravganza!

The National Waterways Museum Stoke Bruerne has a fun-packed week on offer at the end of October to celebrate Half Term and Halloween.  From Saturday 24 October to Sunday 1 November, there will special spooky goings on at the Museum with mask making, ghostly goings-on, a fancy dress competition and prizes for everyone taking part!

As well as checking out any ghastly ghouls haunting the canal museum itself, visitors can take a walk down the towpath to the entrance of the spooky one and three quarter-mile long Blisworth Tunnel.  Hand cut through solid rock over 200 years ago, some boaters travelling through have reported spooky goings on in the tunnel.

David Henderson, General Manager, says: “Come along and enjoy our Halloween Extravaganza at the Canal Museum this half term.  As well as enjoying the Museum’s displays and watching boats travel by, throughout the week we’ve got some special children’s activities aimed at all ages which are all free with museum entry.”

The Canal Museum is located in a restored corn mill alongside the Grand Union Canal in the beautiful village of Stoke Bruerne.  The Museum vividly tells the story of our inland waterways and the people who worked on them.  The fascinating insight into the transport system which was fundamental to the industrial revolution in Britain is complemented by the ‘living canal’ with its flight of locks, boats and historic Blisworth Tunnel.

For more information about the Museum, activities and events visit www.nwm.org.uk/stoke or call 01604 862229. Children must be supervised by an adult when taking part in museum activities.  Entry for children under five is free, for children aged 5 to 16 it is £3.10 and for adults it’s £4.75.  A family ticket which gives entry to two adults, a grandparent and up to three children is just £12.

Get Spooky down at Gloucester Docks

...calling all ghosties, goblins and little terrors!

The National Waterways Museum at Gloucester Docks is hosting a spooky Halloween cruise and workshop from 11.30am on 31 October 2009.  The day will start with a one-hour creepy cruise along the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal aboard the King Arthur, with snacks, drinks and games.

The boat trip will be followed by a Halloween craft workshop in the Museum, haunted with jokes, games and ghoulish face painting and the prospect of seeing the Museum ghost!

Doreen Davies, Waterways Museum General Manager, says:  “Dress up and come along to enjoy our special Halloween event at the waterways museum in the spooky old Victorian warehouse.  We will be giving a prize for the best Halloween costume and you might be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of our museum ghost, last seen in the local trade area! 

“We’ll start with a creepy cruise along the canal, setting off from the historic docks where many a ghastly ghost has prowled.  Afterwards we’ll go back to the Museum for our wicked workshop which will be on until the Museum closes at 4pm.”

The Waterways Museum, which charts the history of our nation’s inland waterways, is located in the heart of Gloucester’s historic docks.  Vibrant graphics and stimulating displays specially designed to appeal to children help to bring the fascinating story of our waterways to life.  In addition to exploring the Museum galleries, visitors can also experience a boat trip on the canal and find refreshment in the nearby café.

Entry to the Halloween workshop and creepy cruise is £8 per person and booking is advisable.  All children must be accompanied by an adult.

For more information about The National Waterways Museum Gloucester Docks and other special half term events visit www.nwm.org.uk/gloucester or call 01452 318201.  Ticket prices are: Adult - £ £3.95; Senior Citizens & concessions - £3.50; Children - £2.75; Family - £12; under 5’s – Free.  The Museum is open daily from 11am to 4pm.