A convoy cruise up a little-used backwater of the River Nene is one of the more unusual activities at the Inland Waterways Association’s Northampton Festival of Water which celebrates 200 years since the canal arrived in Northampton.
A convoy cruise up a little-used backwater of the River Nene is one of the more unusual activities at the Inland Waterways Association’s Northampton Festival of Water which celebrates 200 years since the canal arrived in Northampton.
The event, run by IWA’s Northampton Branch over the August Bank Holiday weekend and based in Becket’s Park, builds on the success of last year’s Saul Pageant, which in turn followed on after the demise of the IWA’s National Festival. It incorporates this year’s Westbridge Challenge, an annual IWA convoy up the short and seldom-frequented Westbridge Arm of the River Nene, as well as the more usual festival attractions of historic craft, a boat handling competition, and a parade of illuminated boats.
There will also be a boaters’ quiz, live music, morris dancing, a real ale bar, trade and canal society stalls. Public admission is free (and there is a water-taxi from Northampton railway station); boaters wishing to attend should book (see waterways.org.uk) – and can take advantage of special deal on River Nene visitors’ licences.
