What’s going on

Keep reading to find out more about the different activities going on, and how you can get involved. You can also follow K&A 200 on Twitter.

Download the K&A 200 t-shirt and calendar order form

Wednesday 3 February, Re-enactment of the canal's opening and celebratory boat trip
Join members of the Kennet & Avon Trust and other local enthusiasts as they take a trip down one of the canals most scenic stretches, between Hungerford and Great Bedwyn Wharf. Find out more at www.katrust.org

February to March, K&A 200 exhibition
Find out more about the waterway in the local area with a visit to this vibrant display in Frenchay Village Museum near Bristol. Entry to the musuem is free. The exhibition is open on Saturdays and Sundays and Wednesday afternoons. Get more information on this exhibition and the museum at www.frenchay.org/museum

Sunday 4 April 2010, The Devizes to Westminster International Canoe Marathon.
This annual event has taken place on the Kennet and Avon Canal and the Thames for more than 60 years. With 125 miles to be paddled in 24 hours, the event which is held over the Easter weekend, is a severe test of skill and stamina and an impressive feat for all of the 650 or so competitors. This year the race organisers and competitors will be joining us in celebrating the bicentenary of the waterway that forms their course. Find out more about the event on their web pages: www.dwrace.org.uk/

Saturday 8 – Saturday 15 May, The Ramblers’ Relay
Marking both the K&A 200 and the 75th anniversary of the Ramblers Association this walk will take in the 87 mile length of the navigation. Broken into manageable stages with plenty of handy pub, café and eatery-based stopping places on the way, there’s something for everyone on this 10 day long activity. Join in for as long or as little as you like, see the route schedule to plan your participation at www.ramblers75.org.uk/baton-walks or download your copy of the Ramblers' Relay route guide.

Monday 24 May - Saturday 29 May
A week of waterside bells ringing from Great Bedwyn to Bath will be coordinated by the Salisbury Diocesan Guild of Ringers. The group will travel down the waterway by boat and bells will ring in the towers that they pass. When the boat reaches the Caen Hill Flight in Devizes the group will ring a hand bell peal for the length of the flight. Find out more on the K&A Canal Trust website

Wednesday 26 May 2010, 7pm, an evening of speakers and bicentenary celebrations at Devizes Wharf
In symphony with the week of waterside bell-ringing this evening should chime with those who would like to find out more about the waterway and its restoration and are also interested in bells and bell ringing. If campanology and the canals strike a chord with you, come along and listen to two very knowledgeable speakers: Terry Kemp and Steve Coleman over wine and nibbles in the K&A Canal Trust Museum at Devizes Wharf. Tickets cost £7.50 and are available in advance from the museum or on 01380 721279 / office.manager@katrust.org.uk. Find out more at the K&A Canal Trust website

Sunday 30 May, RNLI Fun Day
Taking place alongside the historic Caen Hill Flight this fundraising activity will celebrate both 200 years of the canal and the work of this essential national charity. With stalls, activities, food, drink, music and performance this will be an un-missable community event. See more information at www.rnli.org.uk

31 May, 1 and 2 June, The Bradford on Avon Preservation Trust's Kennet and Avon Canal Bicentenary Exhibition.
This group is dedicated to campaigning for the preservation and restoration of the architectural heritage of Bradford on Avon. At the beginning of June they will be joining with the K&A Canal Trust to put on an exhibition celebrating the heritage of the waterway; its past and its future. Opening hours are 10am until 4pm over the three days. The exhibition will be held in the picturesque West Barn, alongside the waterway in Bradford on Avon. Find more information on the Preservation Trust's web pages www.bradfordheritage.co.uk

Saturday 5 June, Re-enactment of the 1799 opening of the canal at Great Bedwyn Wharf. Organised by the Great Bedwyn Parish Council and History Society, this event should give an interesting insight into the way in which the arrival of the waterway was welcomed in the local area two centuries ago. Find out more about the event and how to get involved on the K&A Trust's web pages: www.katrust.org

Sunday 13 June, Widcombe Rising
This annual street party will focus on the bicentenary celebration with a number of performances and activities taking on the theme of the anniversary. Find out more about what's going on this year at www.widcombe.net

Saturday 19 June, Reading Waterfest
This yearly event is a Mecca for the boating and waterway enthusiast, but with displays, stalls, activities, music, costume and dance there’s a great day out amongst the boats and bunting no matter what your canalling credentials. See www.reading.gov.uk for more information.

Saturday 26 June, The Barge Inn Bicentennial Bonanza
This popular pub in Honeystreet boasts an idyllic waterside setting and offers a warm welcome to boaters and passers-by alike. On the 26 June it will be marking the bicentenary of the canal it overlooks. With a weekend of music, entertainment and celebration there's no better time to visit this deservedly renowned local pub. Find out more on the Barge Inn's web pages.

July – August, Summer art workshop weeks at the Holburne Museum in Bath
The Holburne Museum, alongside the waterway at Sydney Place in Bath, are celebrating the bicentenary by giving each of their week-long summer art workshop themes a K&A Canal focus. With children's activities from puppet-making to t-shirt decoration for a range of age groups there's lots to get involved in. All workshops are £7 / £7.50. Find out more on timings and activities on the museum's website

Thursday 15 July – Thursday 30 September, K&A 200 exhibition at West Berkshire Museum
Trace this history and heritage of the waterway, from initial commissioning to completion, through disrepair to revival at this engaging exhibition to mark the waterway’s bicentenary. Find out more at www.westberks.gov.uk

Sunday 25 July, Newbury Waterways Festival
The Kennet & Avon Canal is a popular landmark in this picturesque market town. Get down there and celebrate the two centuries since its construction at this popular annual event. See more information on what's going on this year at www.newbury.net/events

28 - 30 August, IWA National Festival at Beale Park near Reading The Inland Waterways Association will be bringing their annual national event to Reading in August. This event - full of all the colour and character of the canals - will both celebrate the bicentenary and focus on the hundred-year anniversary of Tom Rolt's birth. Tom Rolt, IWA founder and author of 'Narrowboat' is widely credited with driving the first moves to establish leisure boating on our inland waterways and saving many of our canals from disrepair. The event will see IWA members re-enact Rolt's voyage on his boat 'Cressie' and celebrate the work of all those whose hard work has maintained the waterways network we have today.
Find out more on the IWA website: www.waterways.org.uk

Saturday 28 - Monday 30 August, Devizes Carnival
Join the festival that’s increasingly attracting attention on the international street arts scene, as it incorporates exciting performance, stalls, activities, and music and dance. Just a stone’s throw away from the canal and the Caen Hill Flight, we’ll be marking the K&A 200 at the event. See the carnival website for more information: www.devizescarnival.co.uk

Sunday 29 August, K&A birthday Bank Holiday, bank-side picnic in the park in Sydney Gardens, Bath
Come and join the Holburne Museum as they celebrate the 200th birthday of the waterway in Bath. Bring along your own picnic to this free, family day out and get involved in activities including canal trails, flower pot painting, hobby-horse and peg-doll making, magic afloat with shows from the Jubilee narrow boat, live music and much more. Find more information on the Holburne Museum’s website

Sunday 12 September, Guided heritage walks of Sydney Gardens and the Kennet & Avon Canal in Bath
Join local heritage experts on a guided walk of the waterway, and Sydney Gardens alongside it, organised by the Holburne Museum. Planned to mark the bicentenary of the canal, these scenic strolls should give participants an insight into the changing role of the waterway in the local community as well as the history of the area and how the canal has shaped it. Walks will start at 10.30 am, 12 noon, 2 pm and 3 pm. Places are free but must be booked in advance. Find out more on the Holburne Museum web pages.

Saturday 9 – Friday 15 October, Thatcham Festival of the Arts
Another local calendar highlight that will incorporate the bicentenary as part of its celebrations. Find out more at www.thatchamtowncouncil.gov.uk

Friday 26 November, Devizes lantern parade and Christmas light switch on
This annual festive celebration will this year make its way to the canal en route to the switch on in the market square. A hive of waterside activity at the wharf will welcome the lantern parade into the programme of K&A 200 events. Find out more at
www.devizes-tc.gov.uk

Last updated: 07/06/2010