Many narrowboaters who usually drift around the southern Grand Union canal will be cruising towards Northampton next week in anticipation of this year’s Blisworth Canal Festival, (9th – 10th August.) 25,000 visitors turned up to last year’s festival for the stalls, beer tents, marquees, live music and boat trips and more are anticipated this year.

If you’ve never been to Blisworth it’s just up the Cut from Stoke Bruerne and is home to the iconic Blisworth Tunnel. The festival is organised by Blisworth Canal Partnership andall of the proceeds from the festival go directly into projects to enhance the local canal environment. The seven directors of the Blisworth Canal Partnership all live in the village of Blisworth and although the organisation only formed in late 2009 they have already achieved a lot in their local area. Visit www.blisworthcanalpartnership.org to see how previous events have funded improvements to the local environment around the Grand Union canal.

What’s On?

Children’s activities at the festival include a funfair and pony rides. Boat-lovers will see 1,200 feet of trade boats, and two trip boats, one going to the mouth of the Blisworth tunnel and the other going to the Northampton Arm. In the festival field there will be vintage caravans, vintage tractors, vintage army vehicles, historical re-enactors, and a dog show, plus the usual traders and food stalls. Around the village where there will be a rare breed farmyard, rural crafts, a sheep shearing demo, owls, parrots, a glass bee hive, a have a go bell tower, an art gallery and a traction engine. On Sunday you will be able to visit the Open Gardens.

Curiouser and Curiouser…

I love to just stroll down the towpath at festivals, looking at trade boats and historic workboats. Some of the more unusual traders appearing this year include The Therapy Boat, NLP Hayfever relief treatment, and Connie the Vintage Travelling Tearoom. Connie is a gorgeous 1965 vintage caravan converted into a travelling tearoom. The Therapy Boat is home to Louise Yeoman who uses neuro-linguistic programming to retrain her client’s immune systems not to respond to pollen.

So, for a festival with a difference this one is not to be missed! It’s also easy on the budget, offering free parking, free mooring, and free entry (except the open gardens). It’s also a great place for people watching. What kind of boater are you? (Check out The 7 People You May Meet at a #Canal Festival and see if you’re on our list!)

Blisworth Canal Festival 8th – 9th August 2015, 11:00 am - 5:00 pm

PS. If you’re interested in buying or selling a canal boat see the full list of festivals where you can find Boatshed Grand Union this summer at: Canal Boat Festivals 2015: The Ultimate Guide

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