Canoefest 2025 schedule
23rd – 26th May
Please note our 2025 programme could change without notice
(This event relies on volunteers, water levels, weather.)
Festival Timetable
Friday
- 15:00 Arrivals
- 17:30 Bar open / Providers meeting
- 18:00 Dinner
- 19:00 Event opened in marquee
- 19:15 Saturday options / sign up sheets out
- 19:30 Pub Quiz
- 23:00 Bar closed / Site Quiet
Saturday
- 07:00 Wake-up stretches and breathing
- 07:30-08:30 Breakfast
- 08:00 Providers meeting
- 08:45 Daily briefing for all participants
- 09:30 Trips & Workshops
- 12:30 Lunch
- 14:00 Trips & Workshops
- 17:00 Back to Site
- 17:30 Bar open
- 17:45 Sunday options / sign up sheets out
- 18:00 Dinner
- 18:30-19:15: Evening talks
- 20:00 Ceilidh: Blind Panic
- 23:00 Bar closed / Site Quiet
Sunday
- 07:00 Wake-up stretches and breathing
- 07:30-08:30 Breakfast
- 08:00 Providers meeting
- 08:45 Daily briefing for all participants
- 09:30 Trips & Workshops
- 12:30 Lunch
- 13:30 Try-a-Boat, Trade Stands, Games
- 17:30 Bar open
- 17:45 Monday options / sign up sheets out
- 18:00 Dinner
- 18:15: Happy Half Hour
- 18:45-19:45 OCA AGM
- 19:45: Happy Half Hour
- 20:00: Band: Let Luce
- 23:00 Bar closed / Site Quiet
Monday
- 07:00 Wake-up stretches and breathing
- 07:30-08:30 Breakfast
- 08:00 Providers meeting
- 08:45 Daily briefing for all participants
- 09:30 Trips & Workshops
- 12:30 Lunch
- 14:00 Providers Debrief
- 15:00 Event Closed
Trip and workshop programme
Friday
Arrivals and set up (no trips or workshops)
Saturday
Trips (a selection from)
- BC Field to Newby Hall [4 miles]
- Newby Hall to Aldwark [9 miles, 2 locks]
- Boroughbridge to Linton on Ouse [12 miles]
- Aysgarth Bridge to Bolton Hall Bridge [14 miles]
- Holbeck Stream / Ings Drain
- Ripon Loop [7 miles, 3 locks]
- Leeds-Liverpool Canal [7 miles, 4 locks]
- River Ouse into York
- Rivers Ure / Aire / Nidd / Ouse / Tees
- Givendale Lake
[Note: travel time varies, money could be needed for car parking]
Half day workshops
- Open Water Skills Development
- Rescues
- What’s in my Cook Bag ?
- Getting Started
- Punk your Portage Trolley
- Improving technique and efficiency
- Connectivity and Power Transfer
- Trad Skills : Poling and Lining
- Solo Skills
- Tandem Skills
- Trip and Expedition management
- Tandem Turns
- Cast Iron Cooking
- 5-a-side Chess
Sunday
Half-day trips (a selection from)
- Newby Hall to Boroughbridge [5miles]
- Ripon Loop [7 miles, 3 locks]
- BC Field to Newby Hall [4 miles]
- Holbeck Stream / Ings Drain
- River Nidd
- River Ouse
- River Ure
[Note: travel time varies, money could be needed for car parking]
Half day workshops
- From two, to a crew
- Poling basics
- SUP skills
- Nature trail afloat
- Expedition cooking
- Use of hammocks
- Boat handling and manoeuvring
- Sailing
- Paddling with families
- White Water Safety Skills
- Tandem Canoe Skills
- Creative Collage: 75 years
- Tarps and Emergency Shelters
- Rescues
- Paddling Solo when it’s windy
- Rafting
Monday
Half-day trips (a selection from)
- Local to site and further afield..
- Leeds-Liverpool Canal [7 miles, 4 locks]
- River Nidd
- River Ouse
- River Ure
[Note: travel time varies, money could be needed for car parking]
Half day workshops
- Solo Skills development
- Knots for Canoeing
- Eddy Hopping
- Tarpology
- Paddling for the Wobbly
Trade Stands
Session Leaders
We are thankful to the following
- Adrian Cooper
- Ben Mohan Spencer
- Brian Ward
- Chucky Davison (Good2Go)
- Colin Sermons (Rock River Coaching)
- Dave Hipwell Coaching
- Dave Janes JNR (Paddle International)
- David Hopwood
- Diane Hopwood
- Don Paddler
- Geoff Potts
- Ian Culver
- Ian Richards
- Josey Mohan Spencer
- Louise Rickard
- Lucy Downer
- Marie Dobson (Rock River Coaching)
- Matt Haydock (Paddle International)
- Neil Gantley
- Neil Hemingway
- Paul Knight
- Paul Lister
- Ray Goodwin
- Suzanne Hemingway
And many others unlisted
Canoefest 2025 Team
Canoefest has been put together by:
- Dan Spry
- Paula Fairman
- Marion Quemby
- Sally Ward
- Mark Gittoes
- Sarah Wallis
- Dan Abel
- Ian Culver
- Gary Rice
- Paul Hutley