Linslade Canal Festival - 2011

Linslade Canal Festival 2011
Saturday 30 July at Tiddenfoot Waterside Park, Mentmore Road, Linslade.

On what was probably the hottest day in July, thousands descended on Tiddenfoot Waterside Park, Linslade for the Town Council’s ninth annual canal festival.  This FREE community event is located within a small country park and with easy access to the Grand Union Canal provided a unique setting for attractions and entertainment for the whole family. 

Throughout the day visitors had the opportunity to watch demonstrations of traditional rural crafts, such as Bee Skep making, Trug making, Besom Brooms, Corn Dollies, Basket making, Country Chair making and Love Spoon Carving. 

For the first time, Leighton Buzzard Railway Craft Club and Leighton Buzzard Art Society exhibited local arts and crafts along with one hundred and twenty exhibitors offering for sale a vast range of handmade products from jewellery, knit wear, hand painted canalware and wooden products to teddy bears.   

The Old FARTS (Family & Relatives of the Tractor Society) provided a colourful display of tractors and down by the lakeside, children had a splashing time, entertained by a vintage fire pump. Local Birds of Bray and Catanger Llamas were as popular as ever with both the young and the old.

A programme of musical entertainment took place throughout the day and featured local Ukulele Band, Uke’d, English Miscellany Morris Dancers, folk group “Beats Working” and Syndicate New Orleans 4 Jazz Band.  Nigel Roder, Children’s Entertainer and Storyroots provided entertainment for the younger audience amidst the stunning setting of the lakeside. 

Thirtyfour narrow boats participated including the largest number of working boats and trade boats ever to attend the event and Grebe Canal Cruises provided visitors with the opportunity to take a leisurely trip on the canal in their trip boat “Princess of the Chilterns”. 

The Town Council would like to thank everyone who participated and for helping make this the most successful event to date.  

Several items of lost property, including two artificial floral arrangements were handed in to the Information Point at the festival, if you think we may have something that you lost on the day, please contact 01525 631920.