68 WHAT’S ON
www.towpathtalk.co.uk
WHAT’S ON
Compiled by Janet Richardson
Email details of your event to: jrichardson@mortons.co.uk or send details to: What’s on, Towpath Talk, PO Box 43, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6LZ
Anniversary celebrations at Middlewich
The chickens start spreading the news. PHOTO SUPPLIED
Start spreading the news
THE birth of a foal causes much excitement among the animals in Fowl Play – a Farmyard Adventure, Puppet Theatre Barge’s latest production. Chickens soon spread the news which leads to an unexpected turn of events brought to life by carved farmyard animal marionettes with exciting lighting and soundscape. The show is suitable for everyone from three years old upwards. Running until Sunday, July 12, there will be performances on Saturdays (11am and 3pm) and Sundays (3pm). Shows were also due to take place during the May half-term from Monday-Friday, May 24-29 at 3pm each day. Described as ‘one of London’s more elusive treasures’, the Puppet Theatre Barge is moored at Little Venice, Blomfield Road, London W9 2PF (Warwick Avenue tube station). It is an established 55-seat theatre with all modern facilities. Tickets: Adults £12, children £8.50, concessions £10, no booking fee. Contact the box office on 0207 249 6876 or online at www.puppetbarge.com
Historic boats moored along the Town Wharf. PHOTOS: JANET RICHARDSON
THIS year sees the 25th annual Middlewich Folk & Boat (FAB) Festival welcoming friends old and new to the canalside town in the heart of the Cheshire countryside. Mooring and live entertainment are free at this popular event from lunchtime on Friday, June 19 through to Sunday, June 21 – the longest day of the summer. Along the canalside and in the town centre, artists from around the UK and beyond perform to 1000s of visitors each day on the Live Stage, to which admission is free, and the Fringe, comprising 10 venues at pubs, clubs and hotels. Together with 100s of canal boats and its town centre setting, Middlewich FAB (folk and boat) Festival continues to provide a fabulous showcase of live entertainment.
Geordie legends Lindisfarne will open the festival in fine style on Friday night and Countryrockers Ward-Thomas are sure to entertain the Saturday night crowd, whatever their musical taste! Sundays `Party in the Park` features artists from the UK, Canada, Mauritius and New Zealand, before ska legend Neville Staple and his band bring the festival to a fabulous conclusion! Middlewich Council events manager Dave Thomson said: “Join us in June, there`s so much to see and enjoy and it’s free to moor! Reserved moorings are now full, but boaters are still most welcome to join us. “The floating market is also fully booked with a good variety of traders, all looking forward to
another busy weekend.” The market is sponsored by Towpath Talk. Mooring is on a first-come, firstserved basis. Boats arriving on the Trent & Mersey Canal from the south are advised to moor above Kings Lock or on the Middlewich Branch of the Shropshire Union Canal; those coming from the north are advised to moor above Big Lock, but not beyond Town Bridge. Boats arriving via the Shropshire Union Canal are advised to moor above Wardle Lock on the Middlewich Branch of the Shropshire Union or above Kings Lock on the Trent & Mersey Canal. Camping is available by the canal just five minutes’ walk from the town centre. For more details visit www.midfest.org.uk
The floating market at last year’s event.
Oyez! The town centre comes alive for the festival parade.
Join in the carnival fun at Long Eaton BOATERS are invited to Long Eaton Carnival which takes place over the weekend of June 20-21. They can moor alongside the parade route and join in the fun. The aim of the carnival is to meet, encourage and engage with the members of the community and at the same time raise money for local charities. This year’s theme is musicals so it should be a vision of colour with plenty of music, movement and dance. Artists, entertainers and boaters of all ages are welcome. The moorings on the Erewash Canal, along Tamworth Road, are not subject to time-limit restrictions at the moment and there is no charge for the carnival, even on the field itself. The carnival parade leaves at 11am and should pass the canalside moorings by about 11.15-11:30am. It then goes through the centre of the town, over the Derby Road canal bridge, before returning to the carnival field at about 1pm. Once the parade has reached the field, the event is formally opened. This year there are two arenas along with all types of entertainment and side stalls. There is a beer tent, of course,
entertainment, arts and crafts, animals… all that you would expect for a diverse and interesting day. On Saturday night in the beer tent there will be live bands to give the evening a great variety of music and cater for most musical tastes. There will be a small admissions charge for the evening – £4 per person. Sunday starts with a car boot sale and then there are various events on the field in the afternoon. Long Eaton is the first town on the Erewash Canal and was only a small village when the canal was opened to bring coal away from the coal mines at Ilkeston and Langley Mill. It now has two large supermarkets, a full range of shops and a selection of pubs and eating establishments. The shopping centre is recovering quickly from the recent recession and there are also markets in the town centre on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. If you plan to stay longer, there are brilliant bus services next to the moorings, which serve Nottingham, Derby and Ilkeston.
There is also a train station within 10 minutes’ walk. Unfortunately, there are no services for boaters on this stretch of moorings, but full facilities are available at Trent Lock, the first lock on the Erewash Canal, and so boaters may want to use them before going to the moorings which can be found under the road bridge and around a quite tight turn, the Sea Scouts buildings will be on the left hand side. Moor on the right anywhere along that straight stretch of the canal, and you will be able to see the road parade from the comfort of your boat. The carnival field is also on the left hand side of the canal, behind the large school, but to access it leave the towpath as you near the town and at the first set of traffic lights, turn left and there is a footbridge. (Just follow the crowds). If you don’t want to travel the Erewash after the weekend, there is a winding hole just through the next set of locks. You may need your Waterways key for some locks due to ‘inquisitive’ teenagers.
● For more up-to-date information on the carnival, please go to www.longeatoncarnival.org.uk or look Long Eaton Community Carnival’s Facebook page.