Opening times: 10.30am to 5pm

Devon County Council is delighted to have been chosen as host for the 2008 IWA National Trailboat Festival. This annual festival is held at different waterways each year and provides an opportunity for 30-40 trailed boats to enjoy a boat rally, usually on a section of waterway which is not part of the canal network, highlighting the economic and social benefits that can come from canal restoration.

This year Devon County Council has decided to really ‘push the boat out’ and organise a spectacular canal and countryside fair, incorporating the National Trailboat Festival. This prestigious event will celebrate all of the fantastic improvements that have been completed on the Grand Western Canal in recent years. As well as attractions on the water, including horsedrawn and motorised boat trips, ‘A Grand Western Weekend’ will feature two music stages and a main arena packed with a fantastic array of musicians and performers to suit all tastes and age groups.

What's On

Saturday 24th May

Sunday 25th May

Steve Tucker’s All Star Jazz Band, playing popular swing jazz, blues, romantic ballads and New Orleans classics. Amazing daredevil mountain bike trials rider, Andrei Burton Award-winning local brass band, the Tiverton Town Band Traditional canal folk duo Keeper’s Lock The exciting Latin rhythms of the Blackdown Samba Band Female barbershop group Apple County Chorus Alec Hay performing original folk songs about the Westcountry waterways

Traditional swing and jazz band Lazy River Jazz Vamanos carnival band and dancers & samba workshop session Songs from the waterways with canal Folk duo Ramshackle Tiverton New Generation Majorettes Dog Agility Racing Local barbershop quartet Inachord Roaming stilt performance and circus skills workshop with Ali Oops Sunday evening at Sampford Peverell, 6pm – 10.30pm: PTFA Festival of Lights with hog roast, music and an Illuminated boat parade at 9:30pm through the village.Free entry

Other attractions taking place include a boat handling competition, canoeing demonstrations, roaming entertainers and an exciting infra-red sports battlefield. There will be a climbing wall, bouncy castle and loads of activities for younger children. The Otter Brewery will provide a full bar for the festival and there will be a selection of tasty catering options. Some 40 traders and charities have booked stalls at the event, selling a range of arts, crafts and local produce. For more information, please contact the Grand Western Canal Manager, Mark Baker Tel: 01884 254072 or email mark.baker@devon.gov.uk

Tickets

Advance Tickets are on sale at the Tiverton Tourist Information Office, Phoenix Lane, and Minnows Caravan Park, Sampford Peverell, until Saturday 17th May 2008.

Tickets	Full Price	Advance Price
Adults	£4	£3
Children	£2.50	£2.50
Family	£10	£8

Well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome.

How to get to the festival

The festival is being held at the Mid Devon Showground, off the A373 between Tiverton and Halberton.

Coming by car?	The Festival site will be well signedposted from Tiverton and the surrounding area. Free car parking will be available on site.
Coming by foot or cycle?	A free ferry service will operate between the towpath and the festival site,halfway between Crownhill Bridge and Tiverton Road Bridge (grid reference SS 997, 130).
Coming by bus?	A free Ring and Ride bus service to and from the festival will be operating on both days from locations within Tiverton. The Tiverton Ring and Ride Bus will be leaving the Tiverton Bus Station at 11am, 12 noon and 1pm. By prior request it will be picking up from: (1) Howden Road, (2) Heathcoates Community Centre, Kings Street, (3) The Shillands (4) Pinnex Moor Road (5) Beech Road. This bus will be dropping off at the same locations, leaving the festival site at 3pm, 4pm and 5pm. The Cullompton Ring and Ride Bus will be leaving Tiverton Bus Station at 10.30am, 11.30am and 12.30pm. By prior request it will be picking up from: (1) Canal Hill (2) Tidcombe School (3) Wilcombe Post Office (4) Horsdon Garage. This bus will be dropping off at the same locations,leaving the festival site at 2.30pm, 3.30pm and 4.30pm. To reserve a seat on either of the buses, please contact the Tiverton and District Community Transport Association on (01884) 242099.
Coming by train?	Most trains approaching from Taunton or Exeter stop at Tiverton Parkway train station (near Sampford Peverell). A regular bus service operates between the train station and Tiverton. Contact Travelline on 0871 200 22 33 for bus and train times.

Exhibitors

If you would like to exhibit at 'A Grand Western Weekend', please contact Joanne Roberts
Tel: 01884 254072, email joanne.roberts@devon.gov.uk

Information for Boaters/Camping & Caravaning Visitors

The Grand Western Canal in Devon is owned by Devon County Council and jointly funded by DCC and Mid Devon District Council. A British Waterways licence is not required but motorised boats wishing to visit for the Festival will require a valid Boat Safety Certificate (where appropriate) and Third Party insurance cover of £1,000,000.

Entry forms for trailboats and camping and caravan visitors are available from;

The Festival Entries Officer Hurleston Burrow Corner Tiverton Devon EX16 4PW Tel: 01884 855402 E-mail: tabra99@aol.com

or alternatively you can download the Booking Form.pdf (498KB - pdf help)

Latest News

Two great days out for local people

Over the past five years the canal has benefited from an extensive dredging programme and a new slipway. We hope visiting boats will enjoy the full extent of the 11 miles of water that are currently navigable and to that end have devised a programme that will include events in the villages of Sampford Peverell and Burlescombe, as well as the main Festival site near Halberton. Read more ..