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The Crick Boat Show and waterways festival is an event which has been held annually at Crick Marina in Northamptonshire, England, since its inception in 2000.
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Crick boat show 2015
Location
The show takes place every year on the Grand Union Canal at Crick Marina. This is located on the Leicester Line, to the north of Crick Tunnel, on the level section of canal between the tops of the Watford flight and the Foxton flight. The site is close to junction 18 on the M1, and the event has traditionally taken place on the last bank holiday weekend in May. However, in 2012, it was moved to the first weekend in June, to coincide with the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of Queen Elizabeth II.
Facilities
The Show was first held in 2000, when it was organised by British Waterways, and has been held every year since then. Responsibility for its organisation was shared with Waterways World Magazine in 2011, who also organised the 2012 show. The Diamond Jubilee weekend enabled the show to be held over four days in 2012, rather than the traditional three days, and the show attracted more exhibitors than ever before. Despite wet weather for some of the weekend, the event was well-attended, attracting some 24,000 visitors.
The show offers opportunities for boatbuilders and sellers to market new and second-hand boats to those interested in buying a boat, as well as those looking for ideas for boat interiors or fittings. A series of seminars were held, covering subjects such as the launch of the Canal & River Trust, boat maintenance and canal restoration. In addition to boat-related activities, which included rides on several trip boats, there was a beer tent, twenty bands performing over the four days, and a Victorian fairground offering free rides to children.
The 2012 show was attended by 171 exhibitors, representing 30 boat builders and fitters, 40 offering boat equipment and chandlery, 14 suppliers of engines and electrics, 8 offering brokerage and insurance, 27 in the leisure category, 31 displaying art, crafts or selling food, 8 representing publications, 12 canal societies or other charitable organisations, and 1 which did not fit into any of these categories.