Loughborough Canal Festival
Encyclopedia
The Loughborough Canal and Boat Festival is an annual event that is held in Loughborough
, England.
The festival was started as part of a campaign by the Loughborough Echo
in 1997 to draw attention to redevelopment plans which would have involved the infilling of part of the Canal System. The plans by Charnwood Borough Council were subsequently abandoned. The festival has been held every year since except for 2001 due to foot and mouth.
The festival is centred on a location known as Chain Bridge in Loughborough. This point is the intersection of the Loughborough Navigation, the Leicester
Navigation and Loughborough Wharf of the Grand Union Canal
.
The fair typically runs for the first weekend in May of each year and attracts boaters from around the country, many arriving a week earlier to secure moorings. During the weekend there are various stalls providing food, drink, music, entertainment and demonstrations. On the Saturday night the boats are illuminated.
The festival is now the largest to be held in the Midlands
with approximately 10,000 people attending.
Loughborough
Loughborough is a town within the Charnwood borough of Leicestershire, England. It is the seat of Charnwood Borough Council and is home to Loughborough University...
, England.
The festival was started as part of a campaign by the Loughborough Echo
Loughborough Echo
The Loughborough Echo is a paid-for weekly local newspaper owned by Trinity Mirror plc.-Biography:Founded by Joseph Deakin in 1891, the Echo has only had four editors in its history. It is based in the town of Loughborough, Leicestershire, England, and circulates in the town and the surrounding area...
in 1997 to draw attention to redevelopment plans which would have involved the infilling of part of the Canal System. The plans by Charnwood Borough Council were subsequently abandoned. The festival has been held every year since except for 2001 due to foot and mouth.
The festival is centred on a location known as Chain Bridge in Loughborough. This point is the intersection of the Loughborough Navigation, the Leicester
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
Navigation and Loughborough Wharf of the Grand Union Canal
Grand Union Canal
The Grand Union Canal in England is part of the British canal system. Its main line connects London and Birmingham, stretching for 137 miles with 166 locks...
.
The fair typically runs for the first weekend in May of each year and attracts boaters from around the country, many arriving a week earlier to secure moorings. During the weekend there are various stalls providing food, drink, music, entertainment and demonstrations. On the Saturday night the boats are illuminated.
The festival is now the largest to be held in the Midlands
English Midlands
The Midlands, or the English Midlands, is the traditional name for the area comprising central England that broadly corresponds to the early medieval Kingdom of Mercia. It borders Southern England, Northern England, East Anglia and Wales. Its largest city is Birmingham, and it was an important...
with approximately 10,000 people attending.