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Saturn Arrives on the Montgomery Canal for Maesbury Festival

During the festival, Saturn will be on display with volunteers from the Saturn Project on-hand to talk to visitors about Saturn and her history. On the Sunday morning at 11am, Saturn will be horse drawn by Bilbo along the new section of the Montgomery Canal between Gronwen and Redwith Bridge, starting at Crofts Mill Lift Bridge. Saturn will deliver a Barrow of Boulders to the restoration volunteers working on the next section to help publicise the appeal.

This will be a milestone for this section which is normally shut-off to navigation to enable the new plant life to establish and due to there being no winding hole at the end by Redwith Bridge. Saturn will then be reversed back to Gronwen and re-moored as an exhibit at the festival. During the afternoon, the horse will be at the festival site and Sue Day will provide harnessing demonstrations.

This will be a unique sight and a great photo opportunity so make sure that you are at the festival on the Sunday morning.

The Maesbury ’10 Canal Festival takes place at Canal Central, Maesbury Marsh. Entrance is free and there is a full programme of events on both Saturday and Sunday starting at 10.00. Full details are available on the festival website at www.canalfestival.co.uk.

The Maesbury Canal Festival is grateful for grants received from Shropshire Council. The festival is sponsored by the Shropshire Union Canal Society and supported by the Friends of the Montgomery Canal and the Shrewsbury & North Wales Branch of the Inland Waterways Association.

There is a very full programme of activities for both days with a great selection of craft stalls and demonstrations, with many offering visitors the chance to have a go including blacksmithing skills, weaving, wood turning, canal art painting, jewellery making, felting, dyeing and much more. There will also be entertainment for our younger visitors as well as exciting craft activities and the chance to step aboard an old working boat.

British Waterways have very kindly agreed to provide a boat and we will be operating boat trips along the canal. We hope to be able to give our visitors a taste of what we find so wonderful about the Montgomery Canal.

Other exhibits include a display of vintage land rovers, morris dancing, penny farthing cycles (the very brave can have a go!) and a miniature steam railway. There will be a fun dog show on the Sunday and all are welcome to take part - there is a category to include all comers!

During the weekend, volunteers from the Shropshire Union Canal Society will be giving guided tours of the current restoration between Redwith Bridge and Prices Bridge. We understand that plans are afoot to have something very special to show visitors!

Live music features in the festivities, both during the day and at night. The Porthywaen Junior Brass Band will be performing, as well as the Border Beat and Wind Band. Other daytime performances will include local band The Pepperpots as well as acoustic guitarists, who will be busking for their keep!

On Saturday night we are delighted to be joined by Whalebone, who will be entertaining us with a mix of music with a bluesy riff, intermingled with traditional tunes with a rock flash! Canal Central will be providing the food and tickets for the evening are available at £12.50 each. 

Good food and drink also feature highly over the weekend. Local wines, cider and real ale will be on sale, with a selection of caterers for food and drinks in addition to the cafe at Canal Central.

Festival merchandise is on sale already, including mugs, t-shirts, postcards and fridge magnets. Details are available on the website or from Dawn Aylwin.

Entry to the festival is free during both days and there is something for everyone. For more information, please visit our website – www.canalfestival.co.uk or telephone Dawn Aylwin on 01691 830403.