Hundreds of people are expected to flock to a three-day festival to celebrate life around a Shropshire waterway next month.
The Norbury Canal Festival will run from May 2 to 4 at Norbury Junction on the Shropshire Union Canal between Newport and Stafford.
Organised by the Shrewsbury & Newport Canals Trust in conjunction with the Norbury Junction Inn and Norbury villagers, the event will raise funds for the Trust’s £1.5 million appeal to convert historic warehouses at Wappenshall Junction, near Preston-upon-the-Weald-Moors, into a visitor centre and community hub.
The festival is expected to attract boaters from far and wide and this year promises more arts, trade, craft and food stalls than previous years in the garden of the pub and along the canal towpath.
There will be a gathering of modern narrowboats and restored working boats with a private boat open to visitors to look inside to see what life is like on board. Organisers will also choose a Best Dressed Boat at the festival.
Other activities running across all three days include a beer festival, barbecue, fairground rides and bouncy castle, canal boat rides, and an interactive programme for children called Wild over Water to help them learn about canal life and its history in an entertaining way.
Saturday afternoon will feature a special performance from Simon Airey from Corner Exotics with a children’s show based around his exotic animals.
Two evenings will feature live entertainment – Jammin’ at the Junction – with three piece covers band Vavoom and the Lydia O’Dowd Band performing on May 2 and the Paul Gibson Band and Stone Cold Sober on May 3.
Entry to the Canal Festival is free with tickets for Jammin’ at the Junction £5 in advance from the Junction Inn or £7.50 on the night.
Shrewsbury and Newport Canals Trust chairman, Bernie Jones, said: “The canal festival is always a really great weekend of entertainment for the whole family.
“We have more on offer than ever before with more stalls and activities being organised all the time. It’s a great way to find out more about life on the waterway and canals and support our appeal to breathe new life into Wappenshall Junction at the same time.”
Parking, at £2 per vehicle, will be available opposite the Junction Inn with a new direct pedestrian access from the car park to the festival towpath. For up to date information, visit www.sncanal.org.uk or www.norburyjunction.com
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