BANBURY CANAL FESTIVAL will take place this weekend 4th and 5th of October, but there will be fewer boats.
For the canal around Banbury is closed, so stopping the usual number of boats taking part, Janet Friend reports.
Only two boats
Instead of the usual 18 trading boats at the festival, there will only be two, that are marooned there.
This popular festival usually draws thousands of visitors, with the organisers hoping that the many activities being presented will still draw the crowds even though the boat traders will not be there in force. The picture shows the boats at a previous Banbury Festival.
The festival this year will take place around Chamberlain Court Car Park with a market at Castle Quay North Two Car Park.
This year, acts such as The Lucky Pigeons and The Elephant and the Drummer, alongside performers from local dance schools, have been booked to appear on stages set up at the car park.
Music until 10pm
And the team at Banbury Music Mix have found several local bands and musicians to provide the soundtrack to the festival and will run live music until 10pm on Saturday night.
Unfortunately, Canal & River Trust made the decision to close the canal in August to conserve water in other key areas of the canal network following a prolonged period of dry weather.
This was a blow to Banbury’s famous Tooley’s Boatyard, whose team works hard throughout the year sourcing traders to occupy the stretch of the canal in the town centre. It also organises boat trips throughout the festival but was unable to get the boats there owing to the closed canal.