A wonderful day out in store for all! Image from Lichfield and Hatherton Canal Restoration Trust.

Lichfield and Hatherton Canal Restoration Trust are busy preparing for their Heritage Gathering call and vintage festival which is running on both Saturday and Sunday this weekend (23-24th September 2017), and takes place at their Huddlesford base, near Lichfield.

There will be boats, vintage and classic vehicles, stalls, food, displays and all the usual fun and games. This is a great show and previous years have been excellent, and well worth the visit.

I had a great time at the last of these previous events in 2015, and I’m looking forward to this one immensely. You can see a gallery of images from 2015s event at the foot of this post.

All funds raised will help support the canal restoration project, whose volunteers are currently beavering away on the route of the lost line between Barracks Lane, Ogley Hay and The Boat restaurant, on the Lichfield Road at Summerhill, opening the route for walkers, as well as the more general restoration work to restore the old canal, particularly at Borrowcop on the A51 at Lichfield.

If you’re into history, canals and craft, keep that weekend free!

Lichfield and Hatherton Canal Restoration Trust originally wrote on the excellent Lichfield Live!:

Heritage Gathering Highlights Vintage Boats And Classic Cars

Lichfield canal enthusiasts are hoping to emulate the success of 2015’s Huddlesford Heritage Gathering when this year’s event is held in September.

The gathering, held biennially and organised jointly by Lichfield and Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust and Lichfield Cruising Club, brings together historic boats, floating traders, private boats and classic vehicles, with exhibitors and displays on the field, near Huddlesford Junction on the Coventry Canal.

Fun for all the family includes Emma’s Crafty Kids, funded through the Staffordshire Community Foundation, boat trips and rides on a steam train and a traction engine, face-painting, and the chance to operate one of the Trust’s diggers.

A host of entertainers will be providing music on stage throughout the weekend, with tickets sold separately for an evening event featuring Wildfire Folk and Chase Mist and including a pig roast.

Budding musicians can book themselves in for one or two 15-minute sessions at Busker’s Corner on either or both the days.

Floating traders will be offering everything from home brew to cheese and antiques to sweets, while exhibitors on the field and in the marquee will be showing off jewellery, leather goods, farm and garden produce and a variety of arts and craft.

There will also be a chance to see a display of birds of prey and to meet some weird and wonderful wildlife.

Music, entertainment, food and a bar will be available all day, and a Sunday service will be held at 9.30am by the Boaters Christian Fellowship led by David Litchfield.

Huddlesford Heritage Gathering will be open to the public on September 23 and 24,  from 10am. Admission is £4 with children under 12 free if accompanied by an adult. Tickets for the evening entertainment will be sold separately for £15. Car parking is free.

For more information visit www.lhcrt.org.uk/hhgnews.htm.

For more information visit the Trust website at http://www.lhcrt.org.uk/hhgnews.htm.

You can keep in touch with the Trust on Twitter as @LHCRT1, on Facebook or on their website.