IWA Canalway Cavalcade returns to London’s Little Venice on Saturday 3rd May 2025 for the full early May Bank Holiday weekend. Each year we celebrate the best of life on the waterways in London and its community at IWA Canalway Cavalcade.

Canalway Cavalcade is IWA’s premier fund-raising event of the year, and is organised for the Association by Inland Waterways Enterprises Ltd, IWA’s wholly-owned subsidiary trading company.

Boat bookings are now full with a waiting list to fill any cancellations. Please contact Mike Moore on [email protected] or 07545 546865 for boat booking enquiries.

The event is fully booked for both exhibitors (i.e. stalls and caterers). Please contact [email protected] for trader enquiries.

There’s something for everyone at IWA Canalway Cavalcade; a vibrant canal festival in the heart of London’s waterways. Whether visiting by boat or on foot, it’s a splendid day out for you and your family. Soak up the atmosphere surrounded by colourful craft of all shapes and sizes, alongside a multitude of unique stalls, an on-site bar, and delicious foods for all appetites.

Each year we celebrate the best of life on the waterways and its community. With eclectic live music around the site, special boating activities like the legendary illuminated procession, and kids’ entertainment for all ages. You’ll also find amazing art from local schools on display, and plenty of opportunities to get involved at IWA Canalway Cavalcade. We are currently looking for volunteers for the event – could you be one? Get in touch with us for more information.

Event Opening Times: Saturday and Sunday 10.00 a.m. until 6.00 p.m. (plus illuminated boat procession, from 9.00 p.m. Sunday evening) and Monday 10.00 a.m. until 5.00 p.m.

Please note that the festival site is within London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone, details of which can be found on the TFL website.

IWA

IWA Canalway Cavalcade 2025

Canalway Cavalcade is IWA’s premier fund-raising event of the year, and is organised for the Association by Inland Waterways Enterprises Ltd, IWA’s wholly-owned subsidiary trading company.

Boat bookings are now full with a waiting list to fill any cancellations. Please contact Mike Moore on [email protected] or 07545 546865 for boat booking enquiries.

The event is fully booked for both exhibitors (i.e. stalls and caterers). Please contact [email protected] for trader enquiries.

Event Opening Times: Saturday and Sunday 10.00 a.m. until 6.00 p.m. (plus illuminated boat procession, from 9.00 p.m. Sunday evening) and Monday 10.00 a.m. until 5.00 p.m.

Please note that the festival site is within London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone, details of which can be found on the TFL website.

Details

General Enquiries

[email protected]

Trader Enquiries

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 07788 204442

The event is now fully booked for exhibitors (i.e. stalls) and caterers

Contact

For all other enquiries please phone: 01494 932730

Getting here

Please check your journey before travelling

Schedule of Events

Saturday

Sunday

Monday

Information

Children’s Activities

View event location

Location

Little Venice (W9 2PF and W2 6NE)

Blomfield Road, London W9 2PF, UK

Directions to IWA Canalway Cavalcade

The postcodes for IWA Canalway Cavalcade are W9 2PF or W2 6NE.

We’ve included some information to help you plan your journey; but works are often scheduled over Bank Holiday weekends. So, please check your route before you travel.

Nearest Tube

Paddington (Hammersmith & City line) station leads directly on to the towpath and Paddington (Bakerloo or Circle line) and Warwick Avenue (Bakerloo line). Both of these stations are approximately 5 minutes’ walk.

Nearest Rail

Paddington Station is less than 5 minutes’ walk. The footbridge over the platforms connects to the canal towpath. Follow the signs for ‘Little Venice’ , ‘Sheldon Square’ or ‘Grand Union Canal’. To find the footbridge from the main concourse, walk along platform 8.

By Bus

Bishops Bridge/Little Venice: routes 18, 46, 332.

Westbourne Terrace: routes 7, 23, 27, 36.

Warwick Avenue Station: routes 187, 414.

By Car

There is limited on-street parking in the area at weekends – be sure to check the signs.

By Boat

Little Venice is the junction of the Regent’s Canal and the Paddington Branch of the Grand Union Canal (GU). It can be approached from the GU main line at Bull’s Bridge (either from the Thames at Brentford or from the Midlands and beyond), or via the Regent’s Canal from the Thames at Limehouse or the Lee Navigation via the Hertford Union Canal.

Saturday

Event	Time	Location
Herbie Treehead “Music children’s show”	11.30am	Rembrandt Gardens
Arts & Crafts with Pirates	12pm – 1pm	Aboard Pirate Prince, Paddington Basin
Puppet show “Laika the Space Dog”	12.30pm	Rembrandt Gardens
Paddlesports with Pirates (45 mins)	1pm	Paddington Basin
Herbie Treehead Wizard Magic show	1.15pm	Rembrandt Gardens
Opening ceremony	1.30pm	Horsebridge
Arts & Crafts with Pirates	1.30pm – 2.30pm	Aboard Pirate Prince, Paddington Basin
Pageant of Boats	2pm	In the pool
Puppet show “Laika the Space Dog”	2pm	Rembrandt Gardens
Paddlesports with Pirates (45 mins)	2pm	Paddington Basin
Jazz in the pool	2.45pm	In the pool
Music on the wharf with Mandolin Monday	3pm	Bar marquee
Puppet show “Laika the Space Dog”	3pm	Rembrandt Gardens
Paddlesports with Pirates (45 mins)	3pm	Paddington Basin
Arts & Crafts with Pirates	3pm – 4pm	Aboard Pirate Prince, Paddington Basin
Jazz in the pool	4pm	In the pool
Herbie Treehead “Music children’s show”	4pm	Rembrandt Gardens
Paddlesports with Pirates (45 mins)	4pm	Paddington Basin
Arts & Crafts with Pirates	4.30pm – 5.15pm	Aboard Pirate Prince, Paddington Basin
Paddlesports with Pirates (45 mins)	5pm	Paddington Basin
Alarum Theatre performing ‘Isobel’s War’	6pm	Rembrandt Gardens
Cavalcade variety show – for boaters, volunteers, their friends & families	7.30pm	Bar marquee

Saturday 10-5pm Gerry’s Pompeii X artist Sienna Murdoch ‘What’s in the Box?’

Local canal-side garden and community arts charity Gerry’s Pompeii will collaborate with artist Sienna Murdoch to host a free and participatory tactile game. Visitors will be invited to reach through covered boxes and explore hidden objects using only their sense of touch. Without sight, players must invent stories about the objects, create new descriptive words for their textures, and draw what they imagine they’ve encountered. Your poetic participation contributes to an ongoing research project exploring our sensory perceptions and reclaiming touch as a meaningful, creative and speculative tool to explore life and art…

Sunday

Event	Time	Location
Communion Service	8am	Bar Marquee
Multi Denominational Service	10am	Bar Marquee
Boat Handling Competition (Part 1)	11am	in the pool
Paddlesports with Pirates (45 mins)	11.30am	Paddington Basin
Storytelling	12pm	Rembrandt Gardens
Arts & Crafts with Pirates	12pm	Aboard Pirate Prince, Paddington Basin
Circus Skills workshop	12.30pm – 1.30pm	Rembrandt Gardens
Paddlesports with Pirates (45 mins)	12.30pm	Paddington Basin
Blessing Of Boats & The Waters Of Little Venice	12.45pm	Starts at Horsebridge
Storytelling	1.30pm	Rembrandt Gardens
Jazz in the pool	1.30pm	In the pool
Paddlesports with Pirates (45 mins)	1.30pm	Paddington Basin
Arts & Crafts with Pirates	1.30pm	Aboard Pirate Prince, Paddington Basin
Circus Skills workshop	2pm – 3pm	Rembrandt Gardens
Paddlesports with Pirates (45 mins)	2.30pm	Paddington Basin
Alice in Wonderland’s Teddy Bears’ Picnic	3pm	Rembrandt Gardens
Boat Handling Competition (Part 2)	3pm	In the pool
Music On The Wharf With Mandolin Monday	3pm	Bar marquee
Arts & Crafts with Pirates	3pm	Aboard Pirate Prince, Paddington Basin
Paddlesports with Pirates (45 mins)	3.30pm	Paddington Basin
Storytelling	4pm	Rembrandt Gardens
Jazz in the pool	4pm	In the pool
Arts & Crafts with Pirates	4.30pm	Aboard Pirate Prince, Paddington Basin
Paddlesports with Pirates (45 mins)	4.30pm	Paddington Basin
Alarum Theatre perform Industrious Women	6pm	Rembrandt Gardens
Procession Of Illuminated Boats	9pm	In the pool

Monday

Event	Time	Location
Boat Handling Competition (Part 3)	11am	In the pool
Circus Skills	12pm – 2pm	Rembrandt Gardens
Arts & Crafts with Pirates	12pm	Aboard Pirate Prince, Paddington Basin
Awards Ceremony	1pm	the Horsebridge
Jazz in the Pool	1.30pm	In the pool
Arts & Crafts with Pirates	1.30pm	Aboard Pirate Prince, Paddington Basin
Alarum Theatre Growing up on a boat 1920s style	2.30pm	Rembrandt Gardens
Jazz in the Pool	3pm	In the pool
Arts & Crafts with Pirates	3pm	Aboard Pirate Prince, Paddington Basin

Children’s Activities

Rembrandt Gardens:

Throughout the weekend there will be activities for children to enjoy in the gardens. Wild over Waterways (WoW) will be in their dedicated tent throughout the weekend with a wide variety of canal themed activities for children to enjoy including wordsearches, quizzes, games and crafts. Outdoor activities will include puppet shows on the Saturday and circus skills on Sunday and Monday. In the case of wet weather, these will be held in the big marquee, where there will also be an exhibition on canals past, present and future. There will also be face painting, ‘Bubble of Fun’ on all 3 days. Alice in Wonderland will be welcoming you and your teddies to the Teddy Bears’ Picnic at 3pm on Sunday afternoon.

Herbie Treehead; (photo left) a modern-day comedy street clown. His absurd comedy has taken him to 45 countries. Unhindered by reality, this cult figure of Edinburgh Fringe, Successful Failure of TV and Glastonbury Festival institution, creates his outrageous one-man street performance extravaganza out of nothing. Saturday only.

Circus Skills workshop: You’re never too old or too young to run away with the circus!

The circus team from Other Half Productions are back, yet again, to facilitate this.

There’s diabolo, juggling, plate spinning and loads more! Other Half Productions have taught and performed on 5 continents, from Castles and Palaces to refugee camps. Sunday and Monday.

Storytelling – Shane Ibbs [photo right] is a regular family storyteller at many UK and Irish festivals, with international experience in Morocco, Sweden, Canada, Sri Lanka. Sunday only.

Puppet show – “Laika the Space dog” [photo below] with Puppeteer Lori Hopkins. This is the story of an ordinary dog who went on an extraordinary journey into space. Laika is stray dog who is trained up for an exciting space mission. The training is rigorous and Laika prepares to blast off! Laika The Space Dog is a lively family show that retells the story of the first dog in space (with a twist)! Inspired by the true story, this show offers an alternative to the tragic tale allowing Laika to zoom through the asteroid belt, meet Space apes and return to earth in a shower of glory. This production features puppets made by Naomi Oppenheim and original music by Martin Walsh. Saturday only.

Pirate Castle:

The Pirate Castle is a community boating charity located a stone’s throw from Camden Lock and Camden Market. Throughout the weekend there will be activities on and around ‘Pirate Prince’, moored by the Paddington towpath. On Saturday and Sunday, ‘Come and Try’ kayaking sessions will take place and throughout the weekend they will have arts and crafts sessions on board ‘Pirate Prince’ including making pirate boats and hats. Pirate Castle is the nearest centre to Little Venice where you can go for paddle sports, fully accessible boating and holiday scheme.

Saturday: Arts & Crafts with Pirates 12pm, 1.30pm, 3pm, 4.30pm Aboard Pirate Prince, Paddington Basin

Saturday: Paddle sports with Pirates (45 mins) 1pm, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm, 5pm Paddington Basin

Sunday: Paddle sports with Pirates (45 mins) 11.30am, 12.30pm, 1.30pm, 2.30pm, 3.30pm, 4.30pm Paddington Basin

Sunday: Arts & Crafts with Pirates 12pm, 1.30pm, 3pm, 4.30pm Aboard Pirate Prince, Paddington Basin

Monday: Arts & Crafts with Pirates 12pm, 1.30pm, 3pm Aboard Pirate Prince, Paddington Basin

Royal National Lifeboat Institution:

There have been lifeboats stationed around the coast of Britain for 200 years, the anniversary of which we celebrated in 2024. Many of you will have seen the programme ‘Saving Lives at Sea’ on television. There have been lifeboats on the River Thames since January 2002. These are at Teddington, Chiswick, Tower and Gravesend and they came about as a result of the Marchioness inquiry. We are currently working on a new station at Wandsworth Riverside Pier which will replace the Chiswick station in 2026. Members of the crew and other volunteers will be here on the Paddington towpath to teach children and adults about water safe including correct use of throw lines and lifejackets. There will also be other children’s educational activities and items to buy. They will be running a lifejacket ‘clinic’ on the Sunday where you can bring your lifejackets to be checked.

Puppet Barge:

Puppet Barge is located on the north side of The Pool, access is from Blomfield Road.

This year’s programme is ‘The Hare and the Tortoise’. The story of the most famous race on earth is beautifully brought to life using marionettes (string puppets). The Hare and the Tortoise is a production for all the family, featuring this classic story, plus many other tales from the famed storyteller Aesop. Expect Lions and mice, spiders and bears, there are storms to be weathered and always a few morals to take away!

Entertainment

Alarum Productions:

Alarum Theatre celebrates real life stories of women on the canals – through thoroughly researched and accurately presented performances, publications, and audio recordings. They are entertaining, informative and affordable!

You can join them on:

Saturday 6pm: Isobel’s War – Isobel joins the wartime women’s training scheme. Tales of cargo, calamities and cocoa!
Sunday 6pm: Industrious Women – it’s 1946, the start of the IWA and campaigning for the canals. Meet the accidental trailblazers.
Monday 14.30pm: Together with WoW – Growing up on a boat 1920s style

The Widgeon Theatre Boat:

The Widgeon Theatre Boat, a historical canal cargo-carrying coal boat built in 1937 – having moved across the British waterways carrying grit, coal and gravel – now carries art, theatre and music. Partnering with the Art Council of England, Widgeon moves from place to place staging community, local and celebrated artists.

Mandolin Monday:

This band are a firm fan favourite at IWA Canalway Cavalcade. They are a 5-piece band playing the mandolin, guitars, fiddles, tin whistles. Described as ‘slightly pirate’ they perform a whole range of Folk, Rock, Irish and Country music with awesome harmonies from 1000 years ago to recent numbers. Don’t miss their sets at 3pm on Saturday and Sunday in the Bar Marquee on Stone Wharf.

Awards

THE MARCUS BOUDIER TROPHY: For the best decorated privately entered boat in Saturday’s themed pageant.

THE RAY DUNFORD BUCKBY CAN TROPHY: For the best decorated boat entered by a waterway or community group.

THE CRUISE ELECTRIC TROPHY: For the best illuminated boat in Sunday evening’s procession.

THE GRAHAM CAPELIN AWARD: For the best entry by a boater who has not previously taken part in either the Saturday pageant or illuminated boats.

THE WESTMINSTER TROPHY: Donated by the City of Westminster for the winner of the Boat Handling Competition.

THE ROGER SQUIRES TROPHY: Presented by St Pancras Cruising Club in recognition of Roger’s 10 years as their Commodore. It is awarded to the best novice competitor in the Boat Handling Competition.

THE VIC TROTT MEMORIAL TROPHY: Open to boaters and non-boaters. Awarded to the couple in the best “Boaters’ Sunday Best” costume.

THE MIKE STEVENS MEMORIAL TROPHY: Goes to the Best Boat at IWA Canalway Cavalcade, selected from all the boat entries at the event. It is awarded in recognition of Mike’s outstanding contribution to IWA and IWA Canalway Cavalcade during his lifetime.

THE IDLE WOMEN SHIELD: Sponsored by Jan Knox, proprietor of Canal Experience Training School. The shield will be awarded to the best female entrant in the Boat Handling Competition.

Thank you to our supporters and volunteers

IWA Canalway Cavalcade is organised and staged entirely by volunteers from the Inland Waterways Association and funded by supporters. We are therefore very much indebted to those listed below, who help us make the weekend festival possible:

Bespoke Boating Solutions (Sarah Emmings)

British Land

Canal & River Trust

Canal Dream

DJC Sound Systems

Domino Marquees

Enchanted Swan Events

Hillingdon Narrowboats Association

Laburnum Boat Club

Linda and Dennis Anfuso

London Canal Museum

Nissan

Paddington Central

Powerday

PPL PRS Ltd

RNLI

Ros Beattie of the Battleship Building

Rotherfield District Scout Activity Support

Slash Arts

South West Herts Narrowboat Project

Templant Rental Power, Chelmsford

The Pirate Castle

Transport for London

Westminster City Council

Wood Hall & Heward

A special thank you to IWA’s Waterway Recovery Group, who help the site services team to setup and ensure the smooth running of the event.

Boat Listings

REMBRANDT GARDENS	DELAMERE TERRACE	PADDINGTON ARM
DOBBIN	NARNIA	ROGER
MINNIE	COURTNEY BANKS	LADY BLATHERWICK
MOONRAKER	LADY KATHLEEN
TROS-YR-AFON	GIFT HORSE	SOUTH TOW PATH
MOBIUS	MYRA D	PANACEA
SPRIG O WILLOW	MORANWYL PHYLLIS	TARA ROSE
THE CRAFTY DRAGON	RACHEL	HAWKER
NEMO	WIDGEON	LITTLE LAYLA
RHINO (W)	PURPLE EMPEROR	HALLMARK
JADE	RUM’A’GIN	ANNIE & WALT
HERON	ALADIN	WAKOMATA NDOTO
DUCKDOWN	SEPTEMBER SAPHIRE	MUSBEE DREAMING
SHUNA	PAPER MOON	EHAWEE
ANDANTE	THATSIT	FLORA DORA
PICKLES	MAGIC MOMENTS (W)	DRAGONFLY (1)
GREBE	TUNNEL VISION (W)	PARADIGM SHIFT
ATROPOS	GUELROSE	CHYANDOUR
DINAH MAY	RUSSIA	CHERIE
DORIS KATIA	ALBERT VICTOR	JESSIE (HB)
TREVOR		IQUITOS
BANTUM No4		NIMROD

SOUTH TOW PATH	SOUTH TOW PATH	SOUTH TOW PATH
PIPPIN	SILMARILLION	TARPORLEY
CHURWELL FORCE	TADWORTH	BIRMINGHAM
LUTRA LUTRA	BORDESLEY	WILLOW
SPUYTEN DUYVEL	LUPIN	URE
MIDDLESEX	THEO	FULBOURNE
SPEEDWELL NO 2	TINTAGEL	BILSTER
BEZZITOO	AZOLLA (W)	EMU
CHEDOONA	AUGUSTA	PEGASUS
CLEAVLAND	TONKA 2	LION
HOBGOBLIN	SALAR	CALDY
DICKS FOLLY		GREY HERON

Food and Drink

STONE WHARF

Carbonis – Steak, chicken, burgers, fries, calamari, breakfast

Carbonizza – Thin crust 10”/12” pizzas

Caribbean Hut – Traditional Jamaican food freshly cooked on site with the aroma of the family favourites such as curry goat, rice and peas, chickpea curry and more. The charcoal BBQ (jerk pan) is at the centre of our cooking, filling the air with the marinated jerk chicken and jerk pork.

Harissa & Lemon – Moroccan food

Jervis Bars – Full range of beers, wines and spirits plus Pimm’s Bar

La Crepe Des Délices – sweet and savoury crepes

Meliberry – Greek souvlaki

Mr Bombay – Indian street food

Quality Coffee for You – Unique coffee which is made manually using organic ingredients

Strips n Chips – buttermilk chicken strips and chips

The Real German Sausage – Hot dog

REMBRANDT GARDENS

Candy Floss, Popcorn & Confectionery Stall

WARWICK CRESCENT

First Come First Served Ice cream van

Mama Lolly’s Sauces – Hot sauces

Toops – dried fruits

Two Teaspoons Cookies

PADDINGTON TOWPATH

Cakehole Cake Bakery – Delicious handmade cakes and doughnuts

Churros Olé – Churros

First Come First Served Ice cream van

Flo and Frankies Fudge – Fudge and confectionery

Mercanti Di Calabria – Italian produce

Tukris Cakes – homemade cakes

Exhibitors

PADDINGTON CENTRAL

Art MKT – crochet and amigurumis based on Mexican roots

Button Bank – fair trade gifts from Nepal including purses, bags, keyrings & brooches, hand decorated coasters. Buttons for all types of crafts. Hair bows & finger puppets.

Canal & River Trust – charity

Golden Grass – Organic accessories made from real golden plant

Inkas Crafts – authentic Peruvian crafts, including textiles, jewellery and more

Inland Waterways Association

Lacorine Ltd – clothing and accessories

MARKETianguis – vibrant textiles, lovely toys and unique jewellery, all crafted with care by talented artisans

Medusa, Wixi Ltd – stunning collection of handmade 925 silver and beautiful gemstones

Wax Hands – children’s arts and craft

Well Hung Hammocks – hammocks and copper items

WARWICK CRESCENT

Ady’s Cards – 3D greetings cards, leather goods, tea towels and children’s books

Circular Revolution – community interest company that collects and composts brown waste from boaters all over Greater London

Crazy Carrot Craft – hand painted glass items, magnets and plant decoration, novelty gifts, lucky dips, scrunchies and other hand sewn/knitted fabric items

Handmade by Janet – glassware, woodware, jewellery, greetings cards, painted and decoupage

Imbaburamarka – arts and crafts from Ecuador

Janine Ferris Designs – high quality childrenswear

Jewel House Rocks – jewellery & accessories

London Wildlife Trust – charity

Lydia London – local artist selling art prints, cards and textiles

Mixy Fandino – specialist providers of fair trade, handmade jewellery, handbags and accessories from Colombia

Modern times vintage – vintage goods, selling bespoke handmade vintage cards and vintage gifts

Paula UmmPixies – bright joyful designs as luxury home textiles, stationery and accessories using organic cotton, recycled paper stocks and vegan dyes

WWF – wildlife charity

REMBRANDT GARDENS

Bubble of Fun – children’s rides

Face Painting – face painting and festival designs

The Candy Floss, Popcorn & Confectionery Stall

PADDINGTON TOWPATH

Ariacrafts – handmade goods from Peru and Ecuador

Bags n Bling – bags, socks, accessories

Inland Waterways Association South London Branch’s Famous Waterway Game – buy a ticket for a chance to win a bottle

London Canal Museum

Pirate Castle – children’s activities

RNLI – charity

UNDER THE FLYOVER

Biddall’s Funfair – children’s rides

Classy Art & Craft – wooden toys

Friends of St Mary’s Hospital – charity

Retail Therapy – jewellery and antiques

RSPB – charity

With A Love For Books – books

331G Liz Burrows – clothing, Hawaiian shirts, leather jackets

Sustainability & Recycling at IWA Canalway Cavalcade

Vision

Our vision is to have an environmentally sustainable IWA Canalway Cavalcade, which has no negative impact on the local environment in which it is held, and contributes positively to the local economy.

Specific Actions

We will decide our specific aims e.g. increase recycling to 75% or reduce power consumption by 10%
Nominate one responsible person
Embed environmental sustainability into our existing systems and processes
We will set dates for achievement of targets with milestones towards achievement
Set measures of success
Develop an action plan to achieve our targets
Communicate progress to our suppliers, contractors and partners

METHOD

By working with our partners, local authorities, local landowners, caterers, suppliers, entertainers and boat owners, we will seek ways to increase recycling rates, reduce ‘single use’ plastics and have a positive impact on air quality.

We Aim To

IMPROVE LEVELS OF RECYCLING BY:

Working with our partners to increase recycling points in the IWA Canalway Cavalcade event area
Providing attending boaters both with rubbish bags and clear recycling bags to allow them to separate their rubbish
Providing information about local recycling points via the Boaters Information Pack and our site PA system

IMPROVE AIR QUALITY BY:

Asking visiting boat owners to minimise the use of their heating stoves and use only smokeless fuel
Ensuring our on-site fuel supplier does not sell house coal or unseasoned wood to any of our attendees
Restricting the running of engines to two periods of two hours per a day to help reduce air pollution
Banning BBQ usage in the event area to help ease air pollution and to reduce fire risk

REDUCE THE USAGE OF PLASTICS BY:

Working with our bar and catering suppliers to ensure the use of non-recyclable plastics is kept to a minimum. In addition, we will ask that natural or biodegradable cutlery, crockery and liquid receptacles are used to service their customers wherever possible
Trialling the usage of display tools and accessories, which are kinder to the environment
Banning the sale of Helium balloons throughout the event site
No longer giving out plastic bags containing show information and leaflets
Encouraging volunteers to bring their own re-fillable water bottles
Asking our stall holders to refrain from giving away or providing prizes that are wrapped in single use plastics
Asking the catering concessions including the bar to allow the use of brought in liquid receptacles for service
Publicising the purchase of re-usable liquid containers for sale within the IWA marquee and Waterspace Office, and asking that they are sold wherever possible
Asking local outlets to allow the free use of tap water from their establishments
Asking stallholders to refrain from using plastic bags
Ensuring that any containers used for the selling of food are recyclable

REDUCE OUR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT BY:

Encouraging volunteers to use public transport when attending the event
Asking our children’s entertainers and activity providers to use products not deleterious to the environment
Restricting our usage of water for entertainment purposes to the children’s activities in Rembrandt Gardens. This water will be used to water park plants after it has been used.

Volunteer

Canalway Cavalcade 2025 will be held over the Mayday Bank Holiday (3rd to 5th May) and we are looking for volunteers to help out over the weekend, and with preparations before the event.

Could you be one? Please get in touch or use this expression of interest form.

North West London

Book now

05 Oct 2025

Guided Walk

Regent’s Canal, Kings Cross, Granary Square and St Pancras

Central London

Book now

19 Oct 2025

Guided Walk

Limehouse, Thames & Docklands

London Docklands

Book now

02 Nov 2025

Guided Walk

Regent’s Canal, Little Venice to Camden

Central London

Book now

16 Nov 2025

Guided Walk

Regent’s Canal, River Tyburn & Little Venice

Central London

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Details

General Enquiries

Trader Enquiries

Contact

Getting here

Schedule of Events

Information

View event location

Little Venice (W9 2PF and W2 6NE)

Directions to IWA Canalway Cavalcade

Nearest Tube

Nearest Rail

By Bus

By Car

By Boat

Saturday

Sunday

Monday

Children’s Activities

Entertainment

Awards

Thank you to our supporters and volunteers

Boat Listings

Food and Drink

Exhibitors

Sustainability & Recycling at IWA Canalway Cavalcade

METHOD

IMPROVE LEVELS OF RECYCLING BY:

IMPROVE AIR QUALITY BY:

REDUCE THE USAGE OF PLASTICS BY:

REDUCE OUR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT BY:

Volunteer

Events

Regent’s Canal, King’s Cross, Granary Square & Camden

Regent’s Canal, Islington to Kingsland Road

Regent’s Canal, Kings Cross, Granary Square and St Pancras

Regent’s Canal, Little Venice to Camden

IWA Towpath Walks – Four Hundred Years of the New River

Regent’s Canal: Mile End to Limehouse

Royal Victoria Dock – East India Dock

Grand Union Canal: Kensal Green to Little Venice

Regent’s Canal, Kings Cross, Granary Square and St Pancras

Limehouse, Thames & Docklands

Regent’s Canal, Little Venice to Camden

Regent’s Canal, River Tyburn & Little Venice

Waterway underfunding

Hundreds of miles of waterways – along with their unique heritage and habitats – are currently starved of funding and rely on constant lobbying by us to safeguard their future.

Sustainable Boating

We want boating on canals and rivers to be more sustainable and – even though the current overall contribution to UK carbon emissions is very small – we want to help reduce emissions on the waterways.

Waterways Heritage at Risk

Britain’s canals and rivers are a unique, living heritage. But that heritage is at risk – from urban development, lack of protection, loss of skills and knowledge and climate change.You can help Save Waterways Heritage.

Waterway restoration

Restoring the UK’s blue infrastructure – our inherited network of navigable canals and rivers – is good for people and places.

LOVE YOUR WATERWAYS

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Britain’s canals and rivers are a unique, living heritage. But that heritage is at risk – from urban development, lack of protection, loss of skills and knowledge and climate change.
You can help Save Waterways Heritage.