This weekend you’ll find Phil from Boatshed in Little Venice at the Canalway Cavalcade.

This free event, organised by volunteers from the Inland Waterways Association is London's biggest waterside festival. There will be decorated boats in a parade and a Punch and Judy show in Rembrandt Gardens. Phil is involved in organising the boat handling competitions. As is usual at boat festivals there will be a real-ale bar, and a selection of food stalls.

This unique waterway boat gathering has been taking place at Little Venice since 1983, and runs for three days. It opens with a ceremony at 2.00pm on Saturday, followed by a themed pageant of decorated boats at 2.30pm. On Sunday festival highlights include a boat handling competition, a blessing of the boats by the Bishop of London and a Teddy Bears’ Picnic. In the evening there will be music followed by a procession of illuminated boats.

On bank holiday Monday there will be another boat handling completion, an awards ceremony, and a procession. Boat festivals are a great chance for gongoozling; gazing at the boats and chandlery stalls, painted canalware and waterways books. If you' ve never owned a boat before it's a great chance to meet other boaters in "real life" and find out more about canal-life. If you've never sold a boat before you may have some questions for Phil if you bump into him.

Phil will be in his Waterspace uniform as he is Deputy to Waterspace Manager Mark Saxon, ensuring boats are safely moored in the correct places, and helping boaters as required.

So if you want to talk about buying or selling boats you will find Phil on the towpath, or on board narrowboat Persephone, moored on the south towpath at the festival. He's always happy to offer brokerage advice or just chat about boats!

IWA Cavalcade is this weekend, 30th April to 2nd May 2016. The nearest tube stations are Warwick Avenue or Paddington. If you can't make this weekend, Phil will also be at Rickmansworth Festival on 21st and 22nd May.

Peggy

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