AN event linking the towns at the heart of Cheshire's famous salt industry comes to Northwich on Thursday.
The second leg of the Salt Towns' Rally sees activities take place at Barons Quay on August 23, between noon and 7pm.
A cavalcade of canal boats will arrive in town from Middlewich, before setting off for Winsford and the Bank Holiday weekend's Offcut Festival.
While in Northwich, boaters will be welcomed by a range of artists performing on a purpose-built stage, as well as a circus skills workshop, facepainting and magic.
There will also be food and drink available at the free-entry family event.
The Hive and the River Weaver Navigation Society has teamed up to put on the event, and organiser Damon Horrill says it highlights the importance of commemorating the town's history and heritage.
He said: "The idea of the three towns working together on projects such as this have been long discussed given the shared salt mining heritage and waterways linking Middlewich, Winsford, Northwich. Together the towns are known as the Weaver Valley.
“The Salt Towns’ Rally sets out to highlight the fantastic waterways that link the three towns whilst campaigning for a boat lift in Winsford to raise boats from the end of the Weaver to the Middlewich branch of the Shropshire Union Canal so as to create The Weaver Valley Ring of Water, which will become the most popular stretch of water in the country for leisure boaters and tourists.”
Events in Northwich have been funded by the Northwich Business Improvement District (BID) and Barons Quay.
BID Manager Jane Hough has urged people to come and check out the Salt Towns’ Rally and take part in this historic event – the first ever UK waterways’ boat rally to take in three events across three towns.
She said: “With a music festival and plenty of activities for kids, as well as the spectacular sight of boats filling the River Weaver, it’s shaping up to be a great day out for all.
“Northwich would not be the town it is today if it wasn’t for the salt industry and great links to the waterways, so it is important to commemorate the town’s history and heritage and what better way than this Salt Towns’ Rally.”
Operations manager at Barons Quay, Lina Higuita, added: “We’re delighted to have the opportunity to be involved with celebrating Cheshire's rich and local history.
"We can't wait to welcome families to this wonderful event on the day.
“It’s so important to understand the incredible history of Northwich, which has made it the wonderful place it is. Such an interesting story should not be forgotten.”
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