Rickmansworth Canal Festival at Batchworth Lock is run by the Rickmansworth Waterways Trust and celebrates canals, the community and the environment.

Festival director David Montague said: “We are looking forward to a very good weekend.

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“We had a real challenge in terms of financing but managed to get to a break-even budget about a week ago.”

He explained that the festival normally breaks even by January, but despite financial pressure has managed to come together with help from donations, sponsors, and local councils.

The top attraction for many is the array of canal boats from across the country, with at least 100 craft of many types and histories moored along the towpath up to four deep.

Other attractions include music acts across several stages, a tug-of-war competition between boats, and around 130 stalls selling a range of goods.

Entry is free but donations are welcomed and sorely needed, organisers say, to help put the festival on as it celebrates its 30th anniversary, having run annually since 1993.

The main festival car park, costing £4, is accessed from Stockers Farm Road, although it is within walking distance of free parking in Rickmansworth town centre.

What's on?

Saturday May 20

Aquadrome Main Stage

11.15am - Berry Lane Dance Classes - Dance Classes for adults and children

11.30am - CK Theatre School - Theatre school for children and young people

12pm - Festival Opening Ceremony

12.15pm - Blag Youth Theatre - Drama and singing classes for kids from 7-17

12.50pm - Love to Dance - over 50s dance group

1.40pm - Metatrons - Deliciously fuzzy Indie rock from Hitchin

2.35pm - Glass Minds - 6 piece Alt-Rock

3.40pm - Kick Pistol - St Alban's based alternative rock band

4.45pm - Tumblewood - Country & Americana | Classics & Originals

Evening at the Aquadrome - Hosted by DJ Jarley

6pm - Coley - Performing upbeat covers

7.10pm - Pump Handle Blues Band - Blues, jazz and rock

8.20pm - Shame and Scandal SKA - Reggae and ska covers band

9.30pm - The Four Horsemen - Rock/pop covers

Close 10.30pm

Aquadrome Beer Tent Stage

1.20pm - Chris Lawley & Friends - Traditional Folk

2.10pm & 3.15pm - Rollin’ K.J. Foley - One man Rockabilly blue machine

4.20pm & 17.35pm - Axel La Courte - Instrumental wild, gypsy blues

6.50pm - The Antipoet and Friends - Comedic beat poetry

8pm - More from The Antipoet

9.10pm - And the last bit from The Antipoet (Parental Advisory)

Close 9.30pm

Batchworth Lock Stage - Mellow music in a lovely setting

11.00am - Watford Phoenix Choir - A community choir for everyone

11.50am - Minnie Birch - Acoustic folk pop duo

12.40pm - ZiPP - ZiPP goes solo: highlights from three albums

1.20pm - Abbie Gathard - singer/songwriter

2.10pm - Fluid Love - Karate Disco

3pm - Pluckwits - St Albans based ukelele band

4pm - Callum Granger - Local Americana singer/songwriter

5pm - The Batchworth Buoys - General manager & volunteers from Rickmansworth Waterways Trust singing golden oldies

Close 5.50pm

Environment Field - Open Mic stage 11am to 5pm

Batchworth Sea Scout Arena – access across the bridge from the Tow Path

1pm - Valentine - Indie/pop rock

1.45pm - Ollie Bond - Soft Rock

2.30pm - Magari - Indie Rock

3.15pm - Last Orders - Indie Rock

4.30pm - Glassminds - Alternative Rock

6pm - Flutatious - Psy-folk

Close 7.30pm

Sunday May 21 

Aquadrome Main Stage

11.20am - Collective Dance - Local performing arts school

11.45am - Beyond Performing Arts

12.15pm - KSD Street Dance - Kids street dance group based in Northwood

12.50pm - Kings Langley Community Choir Acappella Choir

1.25pm - Barraca Flamenca - Local flamenco dance students

2.15pm - Lou’s Sextet - mainstream jazz, swing, latin & blues

3.10pm - Indie Choir- Indie bangers

4.10pm - Swanvesta Social Club - nine-piece Anglo-Cuban band

Close 5.30pm

Batchworth Lock Stage - Mellow music

11am - Gospel Manna Choir - Gospel singing group

11.50am - Talia - English/American Pop, Spanish and Brazilian

12.40pm - Lemon Tuesday - Local choir

1.20pm - K2 Music Events - Bollywood music

2.10pm - Tom Craven -Acoustic

2.45pm - Lauren Rich - Singer songwriter

3.30pm - The Papersnakes - Singer songwriter duo - originals + some covers

4.20pm - Missing The Ferry - Folk Irish band

Close 5.30pm

Environment Field - open mic stage 11am to 5pm

Batchworth Sea Scout Arena – access across the bridge from the tow path

12pm - Funkmaster Fred - Classic House

1pm - Ben Cox - Disco

2pm - Scott D’Souza - Ibiza Classics

4pm - DJ Chakra - House, Techno and Electronica

Close 6pm

Jan Knox and Dave Wright co-hosted a tug of war competition involving canal boats last year

Other Events to look out for

Phoenix Morris performing throughout the festival area.

Canal boat tug-of-War at 2.30pm on both days.

Historic Narrow Boat Roger and other historic boats.

Medieval Living History displays.

Three Rivers District Council Environmental Fair.

Parade of small boats from Batchworth to Stockers Locks at 5pm Saturday.