Rickmansworth waterways trust

The Rickmansworth Festival takes place on the third weekend of May every year and celebrates canals, the community and the environment. Now going for over twenty years (the 2013 Festival just finshed was the twentieth), it's the highlight of the town’s annual calendar and the finale of Rickmansworth Week.

The top attraction for many is the wonderful array of canal boats from across the country - a terrific spectacle, with at least 100 craft of many types and histories moored along the towpath up to four deep. But there are things to do, see and enjoy whatever your interests, and whatever your age.

The Rickmansworth Festival started as a purely canal based event in 1993, as part of the British Waterways “Canals 200” celebration that year.

The first was on a large scale, incorporating the Aquadrome as the main location for land based activities. Subsequent Festivals were much smaller, but they steadily grew in size and scope. At least 20,000 people now come each year. 

The Festival now occupies part of the Aquadrome, the towpath between Stockers Lock and Batchworth, and the area round Batchworth Lock. You’ll find a range of music and performing arts, displays and presentations, traders, boats and catering.   

If you're planning to visit the Festival, click here for more information - it will be updated for 2104, but this gives you the idea.

If you want to take part as a performer, trader, exhibitor or boater, click here - again, it will be updated in January 2014, but it will be very similar. 

You can get involved in the organisation – click here

Videos of 2012 and 2013

If you want a closer look at all there is to do take a look at videos taken by Rickmansworth Councillor Les Mead covering the Saturday and Sunday of the 2012 Festival.

We also have a new video for 2013 produced and donated by local photographic company Alternative Images Photography.  Take a look at their website and facebook pages. 

Our Sponsors

We are most grateful for the help and contributions, often over many years, of our Supporters and Sponsors. Without them the Festival could not happen, and the work of the Trust would be very greatly affected.

They include:

 

You can support the Festival directly – click here