The biggest splash of the summer

The Big Splash

The Big Splash will take place in Carlisle's Rickerby Park on Saturday 1 September and promises to be a fantastic (and free) family fun day. The event marks the culmination of this summer's Eden Rivers Festival and it will be an opportunity for all ages to enjoy a celebration of the river.

Rachel Purdon of Eden Rivers Trust, one of the organisers of the event, says:

The Festival has been running since June with all sorts of events. The aim was to bring together the great things the Eden Valley has to offer - heritage, wildlife, walking, cycling, fishing and canoeing - and the Festival has attracted people of all ages, backgrounds and interests. We are really hoping that The Big Splash will bring everyone together to enjoy a great celebration of the river and its life with a big emphasis on fun.

Attractions will include a storytelling water vole, waltzing toilets and a River Pirates Raft Race as well as games, music, crafts and chances to try out river-based activities such as canoeing and fishing. There will also be opportunities to explore the wildlife of the river with experts from across Cumbria and to find out more about conservation projects and the work of the Discover Eden partnership.

It should be a fantastic family day out  and one that will be just as much fun whatever this summer's weather has in store.

The Big Splash starts at 10am with events and attractions running throughout the day until 4.30pm. There is no entry charge but parking at Rickerby Park costs £3 for the full day further information on public transport options is available from www.traveline-cumbria.co.uk (external link).

A lot of The Big Splash activities have a strong conservation and environmental thread so we're encouraging people to think green on how they get to the event as well.