THERE will a nursery rhymes theme to Skipton's ever-popular Waterway Festival due to take place this bank holiday weekend.

Around 10,000 visitors are expected to make their way into the town on Saturday, Sunday and on Bank Holiday Monday for the 14th annual event.

A true family event and one of the busiest on the Skipton social calender, it will feature a variety of entertainment each day, plenty of stalls, and dozens of boat owners dressing their vessels and themselves to get into the festival spirit.

The festival will be launched tomorrow (Friday) with a concert at the newly-refurbished Skipton Town Hall featuring new orchestra in residence, Skipton Camerata, playing Handel's Water Music, in addition to Richard Strauss and Mozart.

Joint organiser Zoe Clarke, of Pennine Cruisers, said it was all steam ahead for another successful weekend.

"We are hoping the nursery rhymes theme will attract many families down to bring out their inner child, and having spoken to a few of the local boaters they seemed happy with the theme and are already thinking about how to dress their boats up," she said.

The festival will be centred around the canal basis and Coach Street car park, and it has the support of town businesses, schools, community groups, Craven District Council and Skipton Town Council.

A free park and ride service will run from the HML car park, Gargrave Road, with vintage buses bringing people into the town.

There will be a treasure hunt for children, supported by businesses in Coach Street. and various stalls, children's activities and boat trips.

Fellow organiser Leanne Kendall said: "As well as our very popular and regular stalls, such as birds of prey, showfood, Bark-ing mad wood turners, vintage engines, we are pleased to introduce some new stalls this year - Twisted Chilli who have an array of dry spice packs to make delicious curries and Out of the blue who make handmade gifts and treasures."

Live entertainment will run from 10am to 5pm every day and will include the Accrington Pipe Band, the Northenden Pipe Band, Briggate Morris dancers, 400 Roses dancers and the Furness Morris dancers.

Singer Madeline Brown will be returning to the event on Sunday to perform songs from the 1940s, and on Monday, another festival favourite, Bloxed Beats, will be back.

Newcomers this year will be Barnoldswick band Suburban Symphony, playing on Saturday, and Colne duo New Rendition, who will play on Monday.

The event will also include the popular raft race on Sunday, when anyone over the age of 18 can enter a team.

There will also be the illuminated procession of boats, with around 20 this year taking part, finishing in the Canal Basin at around 9.30pm on Sunday.

"We would love to see as many people as possible over the weekend, hopefully guessing which nursery rhyme the boats are themed to," said Leanne.

For more details, telephone 01756 795478 or email info@penninecruisers.com