*** Sadly, this event has had to be cancelled, as Hertfordshire County Council has issued a closure order for a large section of the towpath on the River Lee through Ware, including the entire site on which the Festival was to be held, on the grounds that the state of the towpath is now so dangerous as to constitute a danger to the public. ***

Join us at the beautiful and historic market town of Ware on the upper reaches of the River Lee as they wend their way through the middle of the town, overlooked by the unique and iconic Victorian gazebos.  You’ll find activities provided as part of the boat festival (Friday evening river-side barbeque / Saturday afternoon themed boat parade and boat handling competition / Saturday evening “Haslam’s hijinks” quiz / Sunday river-side boaters’ service and “coffee and cakes”) but plenty else to see and do as the boat festival runs alongside the wider Ware Festival activities.  The river has played a key part in the development of the town, in particular providing a means of transport for agricultural products – especially malted grains from the 140 malthouses of the 19^th century – into the heart of London, but before then represented a boundary between the Danelaw and Anglo Saxon lands and – further back still – provided a crossing point of the River Lea for the Roman Ermine Street.

Booking is now open.  You can either apply by downloading an application form or online.  The online booking form is set up by the event organisers on a private website that is outside IWA’s control.  IWA’s privacy statement and terms do not apply to this online form, and users enter any data at their own risk.

Please join us for the festival – wherever you have come from, you will be warmly welcomed.