entertainments & Children's Activities

We have a full programme of entertainments and activities for everyone to enjoy: from competitions and processions on the water, bands playing on the pontoon in The Pool and musicians in the Stone Wharf Bar Marquee.

Rembrandt Gardens

Throughout the weekend there will be activities for children to enjoy in the gardens – Face Painting, Bubble of Fun, Punch & Judy, Storytime with Marisa Knight on Saturday and Sunday and the Teddy Bears’ Picnic at 3pm on Sunday afternoon. Marisa will be reading from her books about Monty and Dart - Montgomery and Dartington –who live on Blomfield Road, overlooking the pool of Little Venice. The characters have adventures both locally and in the city. Copies of the books will also be available to buy. Storytime will be at 2pm on Saturday and 11.30 on Sunday.

Alarum Theatre Company

As a theatre company, Alarum celebrates real life stories of women on the canals and is passionate about restoring women’s voices to their rightful place in history. They achieve this through thoroughly researched and accurately presented performances, publications, and audio recordings. They bring entertaining, informative and affordable performances to venues around the waterways. 2023 sees them branching out to work with the village and canal communities of Braunston to explore the 1920s - including the famous Boatmen’s Strike of 1923!

www.alarumproductions.org.uk

Saturday 5pm: A Century of Boatwomen

Sunday 5pm: Ramlin Rose; the Boatwoman’s Story

Monday 2.30: Could you live on a working boat?

Church Army

Many visitors to our IWA Canalway Cavalcade weekend over the years have enjoyed meeting Graham Nunn, who led the Church Army team for 30 years, but who very sadly died in 2021. This year we will not have any Church Army presence but we look forward to welcoming them back in 2024.

Electric Barge

Unfortunately, the Electric Barge will not be putting on any children’s activities this year but we hope they will be able to join us again in 2024.

Pirate Castle

The Pirate Castle is a community boating charity located a stone’s throw from Camden Lock and Camden Market. This weekend they will be putting on a display in the pool at 12.15 before the opening ceremony on the Saturday, with the Youth Club demonstrating their skills and letting us see what can be done in kayaks; and the ‘Upper Deckers’, aged 50+, showcasing their group and demonstrating the Pirates encourage anybody from 8+ onto the water. Throughout the weekend there will be activities on and around ‘Pirate Prince’, moored by the Paddington Towpath. On Saturday and Sunday there will be ‘Come and Try’ kayaking sessions and throughout the weekend they will have Arts and Crafts sessions on board ‘Pirate Prince’.

Royal National Lifeboat Institution

There have been Lifeboats stationed around the coast of Britain for nearly 200 years. Many of you will have seen the programme ‘Saving Lives at Sea’ on television. Last year we celebrated having Lifeboats on the River Thames for 20 years. These are at Teddington, Chiswick, Tower and Gravesend and came about as a result of the Marchioness enquiry. Members of the crew and other volunteers will be here on the Paddington Towpath to teach children and adults about water safety including correct use of throw lines and lifejackets. They will also be running a Lifejacket ‘clinic’ on Sunday where you can bring your lifejackets to be checked. Replacement cylinders and activators will be available on sale. There will be children’s educational activities, meeting Stormy Stan and dressing up as a Lifeboat Crew member.

Teddy Bears’ Picnic

All Teddy Bears are welcome to come for a picnic at 3pm on Sunday. We will be colouring bear pictures and listening to stories as well as having our picnic.

The Puppet Theatre Barge

The Puppet Barge is located on the north side of The Pool, access is from Blomfield Road. This year’s programme is “The Blue Pool of Questions” a brand new production for all ages fusing puppetry, storytelling and live music. The performance combines Arabic and English storytelling with humour and imagination to tell the tale of a man who asks too many questions.

Performed using tabletop puppetry and the rarely seen black light theatre technique. Inspired by two Palestinian short stories by Maya Abu Al-Hayat and Yara Bamieh. Created for the Puppet Theatre Barge by Osama Al Azza and Stan Middleton.

Suitable for ages 4+

Duration: 50 min, no interval.

Scan the QR code to book your tickets now. Late comers will not be admitted to the show.

Widgeon Theatre Boat

Will bring their circus workshop and other fun entertainments to Rembrandt Gardens at various times during the weekend

For times and locations of all activities and entertainments please refer to the What’s Happening section on pages 13-15