by Andy Gray

agray@thekmgroup.co.uk

Boat owners say they are determined to party this weekend despite the absence of the River Festival.

Around 20 colourfully decorated vessels from around the county are moored in Maidstone for what would have been the town’s blue riband river event.

The festival was cancelled this year to make way for the town’s Olympic Torch celebrations, but it isn’t going to stop a flotilla of fun-seekers holding a gathering of their own.

Justine Cowell, 34, who set sail from Gillingham, said: “Every year boat owners come here as a fraternity and we make our own entertainment.

“It’s a chance for us to meet up with old friends, play music and drink beer on our boats.

“For us, it’ll be like going to back to basics because this is how the festival used to be before it became a big thing.”

Scheduled to return in 2013, last year’s festival was the 32nd official event to be held in Maidstone.

Traditionally it takes place on the last weekend in July. With boats lining the river by Fairmeadow – many bedecked in bunting – it led to rumours an unofficial event was being held in its place.

But David Blair, 68, from Sheal’s Crescent, Maidstone, said boat owners were just following their own tradition.

He said: “We’re doing what we’ve always done, meeting up with old friends.

“Our boats are all licensed and we’ve paid to use the lock and travel along this stretch of river.”