Blisworth Canal Festival

BLISWORTH CANAL FESTIVAL 2011

Even the showers couldn’t dampen the success of this year’s canal festival. Visitors flocked in and enjoyed all that Blisworth had to offer. Boaters couldn’t recall when they last saw so many trade boats in one place and visitors loved all that the waterfront had to offer. Villagers next to the boats opened their gardens and the local allotment society added colour to the event at Candle Bridge with their display of produce .......and chickens! Their 200 jars of home-made chutneys and jams sold out before the end of the first day!

Our focus on the word ‘FREE’ was enthusiastically received with so many positive comments about is being a refreshing change. There was no charge for parking, mooring or entry with free walks, talks and children’s activities. People did just what we intended. They came and enjoyed our canal and village, and they used the extra money to donate to the variety of national charities that we invited and treated themselves at one of the 100 trade stands on offer.

Our local blacksmith drew lots of attention as he demonstrated his craft whilst his father in law kept people enthralled with his story telling canal-side walks. Children and adults alike enjoyed having a go at the model boats and in the laser shooting arena. The children’s fairground rides were kept busy and the trip boats ferried people along the waterway non-stop.

Our local groups and organisations were out in force. The Heritage Society provided a wonderful guided walk which received rave reviews as did their census record boards around the village and display on an old work butty. These offered an insight into the history of some of our historic buildings and dwellings and drew the attention of countless visitors. Blisworth Art group transformed the Village Hall into a welcoming gallery, showcasing the amazing talent in the village. The Scouts sold cakes, stitchware and bric a brac, the WI plants and the Church and Chapel teams kept visitors fed, watered and entertained. These alongside the many craft stalls, trade stands and exhibitors spread around seven village venues kept visitors enthralled.

This was a truly community driven event with all of the money raised going back into a community led canalside project.
As a not too insignificant aside and as resistance to name dropping is low, Tony Hales, Chairman of British Waterways had unknowingly decided to attend the event and tracked down one of the Directors of the Canal Partnership. He showered praise on the high standard of the event, particularly singling out the fantastic whole village approach and the strong community involvement.
There is an old saying that there is no rest for the wicked, traders and exhibitors are busy trying to book for next year and new ideas are already being put forward by villagers!