The 2025 Crick Boat Show, sponsored by Haven Knox-Johnston and held across the late May Bank Holiday Weekend 24-26 May at Crick Marina, near Daventry in Northamptonshire, is the UK’s biggest inland waterways festival and offers a fantastic day out by the water for boat owners, aspiring boat owners and all who love a day out by the water.
The annual event, organised by Waterways World in partnership with the Canal & River Trust and Crick Waterside & Marina, is expected to attract over 26,000 visitors. The event starts with Trade & Preview Day on Friday 23 May for advance ticket holders only.
As well as being the canal world’s biggest marketplace, showcasing the inland waterways industry with over 200 exhibitors, Crick Boat Show offers visitors dozens of boats to view, free boat trips, live music, children’s activities, a real ale bar, and a wide variety of food and drink stalls. Entry to the show is free for children aged 16 and under on Saturday 24, Sunday 25 and Monday 26 May.
Here are the Top 10 things to do at this year’s show:
1. Celebrate 25 years of Crick Boat Show at the Crick Awards* To mark the Show’s 25th anniversary, on the evening of Friday 23 May the first Crick Awards Ceremony will take place in the Masterclass Theatre. The Awards will celebrate the exhibitors, visitors, volunteers, Crick Show team and the inland waterways industry as a whole, with eight award categories, including Best New Product and Longest Serving Volunteer. Tickets must be purchased in advance.
2. Get expert advice on boating The Show’s free Boat Ownership Seminar programme features advice from Waterways World’s Technical Editor Mark Langley for both new and experienced boaters. Seminars include advice on buying a new or second hand boat, living afloat, boat maintenance and greener boating.
3. View the latest new boats from the UK’s top builders of canal boats More new boats (narrowboats and widebeams) will be on display in one place than at any other time anywhere in the country, showcasing all the latest lifestyle extras, space-saving ideas and green technology. From king-sized-beds, mood lighting and solid oak kitchens, to underfloor heating, electric engines and solar panels.
4. Vote for your favourite boat Visitors to the show can vote for their favourite narrowboat and widebeam boat at the Haven-Knox Johnston Marquee on the Quayside. Everyone who votes is entered into a prize draw to win a £100 Marks & Spencer voucher and voters can also enter a draw to win a year’s free boat insurance from Haven-Knox Johnston. The result will be announced mid-afternoon on Monday 26 May.
5. Enjoy a free trip on an electric boat Visitors to Crick can take a free boat trip along the Grand Union Canal aboard ABC Boat Hire’s electrically-powered day boat ‘Day Break’. The half-hour trips run every 10 minutes from 10.10am each day of the show. Visitors can book their free trip at the Trip Boats Marquee on the Quayside when they arrive at the show.
6. Take a boat handling lesson Two-hour boat handling training sessions with RYA accredited trainers from Watercraft and the Narrowboat Skills Centre will be taking place at the Show (24-26 May). Lessons will cover the basics of casting off, mooring up, boat etiquette, rope handling, boat jargon and lock navigation. Sessions are charged at £45 per person. Places are limited so advance booking via crickboatshow.com is essential.
7. Listen to live music Fifteen live bands will be performing throughout the show in the Crick Tavern, for the show’s Music Festival sponsored by Aquavista. ABBA Revival will headline on the Saturday evening (24 May), and Dann Budd as Robbie Williams will headline on the Sunday night (25 May). Evening entertainment, which is included in the price of the same day ticket to the show, runs from 7.30pm to 11.30pm.
8. Sample Real Ale & Cider Choose from over 50 cask ales, 20 ciders and perries, and 20 gins at the Real Ale & Cider Festival in the Crick Tavern Marquee, sponsored by Lee Sanitation.
9. Step back in time Thanks to sponsorship from Norton Canes, the Historic Narrow Boat Club (HNBC) will be displaying nine historic working boats at the show, including the Canal Museum at Stoke Bruerne’s cargo carrying ‘Sculptor’ and the tug/icebreaker ‘Sandbach’.
10. Find out what it takes to keep canals alive National waterways charity Canal & River Trust is hosting a series of afternoon Spotlight Talks in the Canal & River Trust Marquee where visitors can find out more about the amazing 2,000 mile network of canals and rivers in the charity’s care. Topics will include: how locks are kept topped up with water; and volunteering with the Trust. The charity will also be hosting a Boater’s Forum on Saturday 24 May, and Disabled Boaters Forum on Sunday 25 May, where people can ask the boating team questions and find out more about its Better Boating Plan.
The Show will open from 10am until 6pm on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 May. And until 5pm on Monday 26 May. On Trade & Preview Day (Friday 23 May), the Show will be open from 10am until 6pm.
For Saturday 24, Sunday 25 and Monday 26 May, adult tickets are £19.00 on the gate, £17.10 if purchased in advance. Entry for children aged 16 and under is free on Saturday 24, Sunday 25 and Monday 26 May. Three-day adult tickets are £43.00 on the gate, £38.70 in advance. Tickets for the Trade & Preview Day on Friday 23 May are only available in advance priced at £27.50 each.
For more information and to book tickets, camping pitches and moorings, visit www.crickboatshow.com or call 01283 742970, Monday to Friday 9am to 3pm.
*The 25th Awards Evening takes place at 7.30pm on Friday 23rd May in the Masterclass Theatre. Your Awards Evening Ticket admit you into Crick Boat Show from 6pm if you do not have a Preview Day ticket. Doors open 7pm. Premium Seats are priced at £35 (first four rows), Standard Seats at £25.
