Norbury Canal Festival

THIS year the Shrewsbury & Newport Canals Trust has again teamed up with the Norbury village community and the Junction Inn to jointly organise the annual May Bank Holiday Canal Festival, writes John Myers.

Last years Festival was the most successful yet, with over 10,000 people attending, and we are hoping to match that again this year on May Bank Holiday Weekend, 3rd, 4th and 5th May.

 

More stalls

The Festival will be open from 10am each day. We are planning for more traditional stalls than ever before, with some along the canal towpath and others alongside Norbury Wharf, as well as in the garden of the Norbury Junction Inn. Refreshments will be available from the pub, the wharf and from stalls around the site. Other attractions will include boat trips on the canal, a fairground and bouncy castle and a WI tea stall. Radio Stafford will again be transmitting from the event. On Sunday the Burton Borough Brass Band will be playing in the marquee and the traditional canalside church service will be held on Sunday afternoon

Over the week-end there will be a gathering of boat traders, modern narrowboats and restored working boats. Visitors will have the opportunity to look inside some of the boats to see what life is like on board

Activities

There will be plenty of activities to keep children occupied including the always popular Wild over Water interactive games relating to canals, learning about canal life and its history in a fun way

Each evening in the large marquee we have a variety of acts. Tickets for Saturday and Sunday will be £5 in advance or £7.50 on the night. They can be bought in advance at the Junction Inn. On Saturday evening we will be Jammin at the Junction with Driftwood, playing acoustic music with a big dollop of soul, plus two supporting bands.  On Sunday evening we have the Blues Brothers Band then on Monday Mal Edwards and friends will be singing traditional canal songs

There will be plenty of parking available in a field near to the Junction Inn and two shuttle buses for those who prefer to ride to the event