Floating fun on the canal

The event on the Calder and Hebble Navigation encourages people to get out in the open and recognise the importance of the canal on their doorstep.

Over the course of the weekend, families had the chance to take part in a ‘Try-athlon’, giving various different activities a go.

Free workshops gave people the chance try their hands at circus skills, angling, wildlife spotting, craft activities and many others.

On Sunday, the Wharf hosted a traditional boat festival with stalls, boat rides and a boat-pull competition, where teams tried to pull a canal boat over a measured distance in the shortest possible time.

Boats were also judged on their appearance in the ‘best dressed boat competition’.

The event was organised in partnership with Calder Valley Marine, which manages the site; the Canal and River Trust and Groundwork Leeds – as part of Dewsbury Water Linked, a Big Lottery funded project.