The Canalway Cavalcade is a waterways boaters’ annual gathering that has been taking place at Little Venice in north London for over thirty years.
Organised by volunteers of the Inland Waterways Association, the Cavalcade was started in 1983 and runs over the entire May bank holiday weekend around Little Venice, close to Warwick Avenue tube. Admission is always free.
The event sees an array of barges and narrow boats gathering at the festival, and once you’ve finished watching people pottering around in boats, you can head off to the food stalls or check out the real-ale bar.
There’s also lots of independent stalls lining the canal if you feel the need to spend.
Over this May Bank Holiday weekend (2nd – 4th May 2015), a series of events took place, including Morris dancing, live jazz bands and boat handling competitions.
Every Sunday there is an illuminated procession of boats. Sadly, I missed that, so below is some footage from 2012’s display:
View of the Regent’s Canal, looking south west towards Paddington.
Painting the boat.
Into the short tunnel that runs underneath Maida Vale and into Regent’s Park.
Queue for the boat trips.
Watching the action.
Decorated narrowboats filled the Paddington branch of the Regent’s Canal.
Flags galore.
Old working boat.
Along the Paddington branch.
Under the Westway.
Watching a boat go by.
The weather was good, and there was loads of people eating on the grass, lending something of a mini festival vibe to the day.
Kids area.
These looked great fun. Why weren’t they invented when I was that age?!
Bridge decoration.
Ducks on a barge.
Wandering troubadour.
Narrow boat detail.
Bridge detail.
Chat about the Canalway Cavalcade on the forums.
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