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The charity making life better by water

Easter Historic Boat Gathering

Starts: 3 April 2026

Ends: 6 April 2026

10am-4pm

National Waterways Museum South Pier Road Ellesmere Port Cheshire CH65 4FW

Our Easter Historic Boat Gathering is a four-day family festival when a fleet of colourful narrowboats and barges takes centre stage across the site.

Enjoy family fun and live entertainment at this year’s 50th anniversary Easter Historic Boat Gathering. Welcome a stunning fleet of historic narrowboats and barges as they take centre stage across the museum site, bringing the locks and docks to life throughout the bank holiday weekend.

On Good Friday between 11am & 2pm, crowds gather outside the museum’s Waterside Café to watch the spectacle of more than 40 historic narrowboats arriving. The procession is followed by the mare ‘Flower’, pulling GIFFORD, accompanied by her owners wearing traditional canal costume, creating a fitting start to the weekend ahead.

There’s so much to see and do all weekend from boat trips, horse boating, harnessing and lock demonstrations, to live music, workshops, traditional crafts, stalls and activities.

All activities are included in your museum annual pass or day ticket unless otherwise stated. Book your tickets online to enjoy a 10% discount:

Day Tickets

Annual Pass

Registration

Owners of historic narrowboats wishing to attend the event can register via our online form.

Phone: 01513555017

Email: [email protected]

Last Edited: 21 January 2026

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