Kidderminster Canal Festival

Kidderminster is hosting its first ever Canal Festival this summer!

The canal side will come to life on 19^th-21^st August and residents and visitors are invited to the town centre to join the fun. Boat owners are especially encouraged to visit and moor up over the festival period.

Festivities will be centred on the canal at Weavers Wharf and will include the 'Dreamcatcher' passenger barge, offering trips along canal, and the 'Scorpio' working heritage boat, giving visitors the chance to explore the local industrial heritage of the canals. A number of trade boats, including The Cheese Boat, will also be moored in the town selling goods from the waterside.

A live entertainment stage will be set up close to the canal with acts showcasing local talent running throughout the festival.  A European market will add to the atmosphere offering continental goods and Kidderminster's regular town market will be extended to the Friday and Saturday. For those who like to explore the area, the District Council's walking coordinator will be guiding walks of the canal side around the town.

This event is a part of the ReWyre Regeneration Initiative which aims to improve the canal side areas in the town centre. The canal festival is part of a wider programme to improve the canal and has so far resulted in canal clean up days and a canal tunnel art project earlier this year.

Councillor Stephen Clee, Wyre Forest District Council's Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Regeneration said,

"This Festival is an excellent way to celebrate the canals and help to re-establish their importance in relationship with the heritage of Kidderminster. The canals have been an under-utilised feature of Kidderminster over recent years and our aim is to bring them back to life. We want to see boaters, locals and visitors enjoying this part of the canal network and encourage them to come and spend time in Kidderminster."

For more information visit the Canal Festival page.

This event coincides with Kidderminster Arts Festival (KAF 2010) which includes an exciting programme of events throughout August. The combination of events will create a bustling, lively town centre over the festival weekend. Check out what's on by reading the KAF 2010 programme or pick one up from the Worcestershire Hub at Kidderminster Town Hall.

Photograph shows the 'Dreamcatcher' passenger barge.

Date of issue - 8th July 2010