Possibly the best free event in South Yorkshire this Bank Holiday weekend
Welcome to the website for the IWA 2009 Rally at Kiveton Park on the Chesterfield Canal.
With over 40 attractions and exhibits, a range of heritage craft demonstrations, food and drink, water-borne activities, narrowboats to see, there's only one place to be in Rotherham this Bank Holiday weekend (23rd - 25th May 2009) and that's the 2009 Inland Waterways Association Campaign Rally at Kiveton Park.
Bring all the family. Entry to the show is free (there's a £5/car parking fee which includes a ride on a vintage bus). Car parking is in Anston on Rackford Road (more information further down this page).
This event would not be possible without the assistance of our sponsors and good friends. Please visit their sites to find out more about the good work they do. We've also got a list of links to other supporting groups.
When is it?
Good question! The festival will start on Saturday 23rd May and run through to Monday 25th May. This is a Bank Holiday weekend, so there's no excuse for not attending! All we need now is typical Britsih Bank Holiday weather. Maybe not! Let's keep our fingers crossed for some sun!
Day one photostream
Did you get to day 1 of the Festival? The sun shone. The dignitaries were resplendent in their shining chains of office. The boats were their colourful best and over 3000 people came to visit us.
Here are just a few photographs from day one. if you'd like any full-sized images for your publication, please contact David.
Weather report
The BBC are giving the weather report as looking promising for the weekend. You know you want to come and visit, don't you!
The buildup continues
It's getting closer and closer to the Bank Holiday weekend. Boaters are arriving for the festival. There are several boats already moored up at Kiveton and many more making their way up from West Stockwith. We expect the lock keeper at West Stockwith will be increasingly busy over the news few days. If you're a regular listener to either Trax-FM or BBC Radio Sheffield, listen out for the festival's main man Geraint Coles over the coming days. He's in the process of recording interviews with both local radio stations for broadcast on the run-up to the festival.
The BBC interview is apparently on Radio Sheffield, 8.30am on Saturday.
Heritage attractions
As well as a wide range of heritage craft exhibitions, there's a steam-powered narrowboat to watch out for. If you want to find out about stonemasonary, blacksmithing or wood turning, there's ample opportunity to find out with demonstrations running throughout each day during the event.
Travelling to the event
If you're planning to visit this major national event, we'd like you to come by public transport. To give you a start, our travel page has lists of train and bus times. Alternatively, we have a car park and vintage shuttle buses to transport you to the festival site.
The Festival car park is in Anston, on the B6060 off the A57. The entrance to the car park is on Rackford Road. The B6060 is Ryton Road.
Car parking costs £5/car regardless of the number of people in the car and includes some related canal information leaflets and a free vintage bus ride to and from the event site in Kiveton.
Exhibitors
Our list of exhibitors is growing by the day. Check it out. There's bound to be something of interest to you!
The list was last updated on 14th May and it's even changed since then! We now know for certain that we've got the Sea Cadets giving canoeing demonstrations. Canoeing offers an easy and comparatively low cost way to get on to the water and get close to nature. After all, you can't get a narrowboat on your car roof rack (yes, we know you can tow them... don't pick on us!).
LATEST NEWS FOR EXHIBITORS
We're days away from the event, but there's still time to get in with your company or stall. Please contact Rod Auton directly if you want to exhibit. You'll need to visit our document library to download and complete the relevant forms. Get then back to us quickly though as time is ticking on... (the boat entry form is also on there - it may not be too late to get booked in)
Navigation
Our guide for navigating the River Trent is available now.
Photographs
Please also visit our gallery page which has some pictures from the Chesterfield Canal in the hope that you will be persuaded to visit!
Our webmaster has put together a set of his own photos on Flickr which you're also welcome to browse.
Thankyou
We would also like to give thanks to our kind sponsors and supporters without whom this event would not be possible.
