3rd edition of Grachtenfestijn dedicated to Canal Parade ‘Late Summer Carnival’

The Grachtenfestijn Foundation is organizing the Grachtenfestijn event on Sunday, September 13. For participants and visitors, it offers a beautiful view of the Diepenring in Groningen with many boats, decorations, and music. During the 1^e At the 2013 edition, around forty boats participated, and last year that number was already nearly eighty. This year, the foundation therefore hopes to surpass that number. Everyone with a boat is cordially invited to make it a fun day on the water together! The objective of the Grachtenfestijn Foundation is to put Groningen more firmly on the map as a water city by creating an experience on and around the Diepenring.

The Canal Parade will take place on Sunday, September 13 between 13:00 and 15:30. This year, the route has changed compared to the last two editions. The starting location for all low boats (they can sail the full Diepenring loop) is at the Hoge- en Lage der A at 13:00. The taller boats (higher than 1.60m) start from EMG Faktors/Kromme Jat on the Eems Canal at 13:45 after the smaller boats have passed and turned around. From there, it is a standing-mast route to the endpoint: Reitdiephaven/ReitdiepPop.

Choirs
The Grachtenfestijn Foundation facilitates a number of choirs at various locations along the route, who will perform their repertoire for visitors and participants of the Grachtenparade. The choirs can be seen/heard at the Ebbingebrug (from 13:00), Poelebrug/Schuitendiep (from 13:00), EMG Faktors/Kromme Jat (from 13:30), and at the Rondvaartbedrijf Kool jetty (from 13:30).

In addition to the choirs, the Grachtenfestijn Foundation hopes that (hospitality) entrepreneurs along the route will naturally open their terraces to visitors again and organize a side event themselves, such as music or other entertainment along the quay. Side events can be registered via info@grachtenfestijn.nl

Register for the Canal Parade?
At this moment, the Grachtenfestijn Foundation has already received around 40 registrations from participants. Everyone who has a small boat, canoe, or rowboat is very welcome to join the parade. The boat that best embodies the ‘Late Summer Carnival’ theme (decorations, music, etc.) will win a great prize (to be announced later!). You can register via info@grachtenfestijn.nl stating your name, address, type of vessel, lxbxh, email address and telephone number.

Drifting in your inflatable boat on the Hoge- and Lage der A
New to the Grachtenfestijn Groningen is the rubber boat version of the Canal Parade. This initiative is for participants who only have access to a rubber boat. It originated in Amsterdam and Utrecht. Anyone with a rubber boat can float along the A on Groningen's Diepenring after the motorized boats of the 2015 Canal Parade have passed. Hospitality businesses along the Hoge- and Lage der A are organizing this initiative on Sunday, September 13, starting at 3:00 PM.

Dutch National Bols Flair Bartending Championship at ReitdiepPop final location
This year, the parade ends in the Reitdiephaven. The ‘ReitdiepPop’ event is being organized there on the same day. This is a new event organized by a number of enthusiastic local residents. During this event, after the parade sails in, the Grachtenfestijn Foundation is organizing the Dutch National Bols Flair Bartending Championship (starting at 4:00 PM). This promises to be a grand event featuring the very best flair bartenders in the Netherlands. There is a lot at stake for the participants, as the winner of the National Championship will represent the Netherlands at the IBA World Finals in Tokyo in October 2016.

Full Canal Parade Route 2015
Start Hoge- en Lage der A (13:00) – Vissersbrug (13:00) – Kijk in ’t Jatbrug (13:05) – Ebbingebrug (13:15) – Maagdenbrug (13:20) – St. Jansbrug (13:25) – Poelebrug (13:30) – Steentilbrug (13:35) – Start EMG Faktors/Kromme Jat (13:45) – Trompbrug (14:05) – Oosterbrug (14:10) – Herebrug (14:15) – Werkmanbrug (14:20) – Emmabrug (14:25) – Museumbrug (14:30) – A-brug (14:35) – Plantsoenbrug (14:45) – Herman Colleniusbrug/water tower (14:55) – Pleiadenbrug (15:20) – End of Reitdiephaven/ReitdiepPop (15:30).

Kool Boat Tour Company offers those interested who do not own their own vessel the opportunity to join the parade of the ‘Rondje Groot Groningen’. For just €12.50, you can sail along on the ‘Ommelaander’. Music on board is also provided, featuring live music from an accordionist. For information, please contact info@rondvaartbedrijfkool.nl.

These 2^e  This edition of the Grachtenfestijn is made possible in part by Makro Groningen (main sponsor) and Het Fonds (GCC).

For more information and the complete program at www.grachtenfestijn.nl or follow us on via facebook.com/grachtenfestijn or twitter.com/grachtenfestijn