Plenty to do at Crick Show

Published: Friday, 29 March 2019

THERE will be plenty to do at this year's Crick show, regarded as the biggest inland waterways festival.

This takes place on the 25th, 26th and 27th of May at Crick Marina on the Leicester Section, being told that nearly 300 exhibitors from across the canal world have signed up.

CrickExtra trade day

This annual event is organised by Waterways World in partnership with Canal & River Trust and Crick Marina, and this year is the 20th show, that will have an extra Trade & Preview Day, held on Friday 24th May, before the show opens to the public.

But prospective buyers can enjoy the preview day, with their being able to book the viewing of boats, with tickets at £18 but only a limited number available.

Lifestyle extras

For the public, there are the boats to examine, with over 40 of them on view, many with all the latest lifestyle extras, space-saving ideas and technological developments, from king-sized beds, baths and drinks fridges, to LED lighting, underfloor heating and solar panels.

CrickBThere is the opportunity to get expert advice on boating either on buying a new or used boat, selling a boat, and general boat maintenance. And boat handling lessons with a qualified boat trainer are available to book in advance.

Voting

People are able to vote for their favourite boat, with everyone taking part  entered into a prize draw to win a £100 Marks & Spencer voucher and Waterways World subscription. The winning boat exhibitor receives a trophy and a bottle of champagne.

There is plenty of music with a record of 15 live bands performing throughout the show in the Wheatsheaf Bar Marquee, with ‘Los Pacaminos featuring Paul Young’ headlining on the Saturday evening and Dolly Parton tribute act ‘Dolly and Moonshine Runners’ performing on the Sunday night.  Evening entertainment, which is included in the price of the same day ticket to the show, runs from 7.30pm to 11.30pm on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th May.

Retail therapy

Of course Crick Show give the opportunity for some retail therapy, with  the very latest in boating products and services, as well as crafts, gifts, clothing, jewellery, hats, hand bags, plus gourmet food and drink.

For those interested in historic boats, the show offer visitors the chance to see how the working boat families lived when canals were the transport arteries of the Industrial Revolution. Historic boats attending the Show include ‘Raymond’, the last wooden working boat to be built in the UK, and ‘Sculptor’ that carried goods from London to the Midlands.

Boat trips

 Visitors to Crick can take a free boat trip along the Grand Union Canal aboard canal boats run by volunteers from the LNBP Community Boating. The half-hour trips run every 10 minutes from 10.10am each day of the show. Visitors can book their free trip at the trip boats marquee on the quayside when they arrive at the show.

Children aged 16 and under can visit the show for free and take part in a variety of special activities in the Canal & River Trust Marquee, including traditional Roses & Castles painting and finding out about the wildlife that lives on our waterways.

Tickets

Adult tickets are £16 on the gate, £13.60 if purchased in advance. Entry for children aged 16 and under is free each day except Preview Day (Friday 24th May). Senior citizens and concessions are £14.50 on the gate, £12.30 in advance. Three-day adult tickets are £32.00 on the gate, £27.20 in advance. Three-day senior citizen or concession tickets are £29.00 on the gate, £24.70 in advance.

Tickets will be sent out in May and delivery is free of charge. Advance tickets can be ordered by phone until 4pm on Friday 17th May 2019 and online until midnight on Sunday 19th May.

Camping pitch prices start at £35.00 for one night for a 6m x 6m pitch for a tent and car. Mooring costs start at £1.50 per foot.

For more information and to book tickets, camping pitches and moorings, call 01283 742970, Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.