Illuminated boats on Chesterfield Canal

AS PART of the Canal Festival on the Chesterfield Canal in Staveley, there will be a parade of illuminated boats tomorrow (Saturday 28th May).

The parade will start in Staveley Town Basin at 9.30 p.m. and go through Mill Green and back again. Organisers expect that there will be at least 30 boats in the parade all of them lit up like Christmas trees.

Able to watch

Spectators will be able to watch from the canal towpath or from three bridges that the boats will go under. It will be easy to park in Staveley and walk down to the canal. (The picture by John Lower  shows a previous parade.)

Another event will be a flotilla of boats from the canal basin right up to Tapton in Chesterfield and back again on Monday 30th May. Ten miles, ten locks. You can join in by cruising on one of the five trip boats taking part. £15 return or £10 one way. Ring 07925 851569 to book.

Bank Holiday Week-end

These events are part of the Inland Waterways Association National Trailboat Festival which the Chesterfield Canal Trust will be hosting at Staveley Town Basin (S43 3XZ) over the Bank Holiday weekend.

There will be five trip boats in operation, including the brand new John Varley replacement, plus lots of entertainment, attractions and caterers.

Attractions

The Festival will include boat trips, canoeing, children's rides, learn to drive a digger, model boats, birds of prey, face painting, a climbing wall, vintage cars, belly dancers, fire eaters and eight live bands, dozens of stalls plus food and drink including a Real Ale bar run by Brampton Brewery.

The Festival will run from 10am to 5pm on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th May. Admission will be £3, free for under 12s.