Express & Star

Parkhead Canal Festival returns after four-year break

A popular canal festival which attracts up to 12,000 visitors is returning to the region after a four-year break.

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A popular canal festival which attracts up to 12,000 visitors is returning to the region after a four-year break.

Dudley's Parkhead Canal Festival, which is a biennial event, had to be cancelled in 2010 amid fears of a water shortage.

This was due to repairs being carried out on the Chasewater dam, but organisers are now gearing up for this year's event which will take place on September 29 and 30. Steve Bingham, chairman of the organising committee, said: "We were very disappointed when we were forced to cancel in 2010.

"It means it has been four years since we last held the festival in 2008.

"So it is all hands to the pump for this year's event. We normally get around 10,000 to 12,000 people if the weather is good."

The event is being organised by Dudley Canal Trust and Worcester/Birmingham & Droitwich Canal Society.

Many narrowboats and working boats will be moored up between Dudley Tunnel and Blowers Green Pumphouse in Peartree Lane.

Other attractions will include vintage vehicles, steam engines, stationary engines, fairground organs, model boats, trade and craft stalls, beer tent, catering stands, horse boat demonstrations, and a dog show.

There will also be canal boat trips and one tunnel boat trip per day.

The Great Dudley Duck Race will be started by the Mayor of Dudley Melvyn Mottram at 3pm on September 30.

There will be free car parking off Hollyhall Road, Dudley, or parking can be found down Narrowboat Way off Peartree Lane, Dudley. Admission to the festival is free and the event runs from 10am until 5pm.

In 2010 the Chasewater Dam was drained as part of a £5.5 million repairs scheme.

It affected the water levels in the canals it feeds across the region. But the work was needed to ensure the earthworks dam, originally built in 1799, remained safe.

For further information about the festival call 01384 236275.

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