Great first night for Manchester's first Float-In Movie

We'd moored up in Piccadilly Basin from Tuesday night in eager anticipation of Wednesday & Thursday nights events.

Manchester was having it's first ever float-in movie, and we wanted to be a part of it!

We awoke Wednesday morning to the sound of Kayaks arriving, and soon the canal was teeming with children Kayaking around our narrowboat.

Later on Atelier had their little white sheds open, and people were out rowing around the floating garden.  Imagine; people in Manchester City Centre, boating.  It was all kind of strange, but really quite lovely to see people doing outdoor stuff, and all for free.

The main focus of this years Canal Festival events are the 2 float in movies.  Last night was the first of two films being show; Captain America, chosen as it was filmed in the Northern Quarter.

Doors opened at 6pm, and people were literally flooding in from the start.  By around 6.30pm the car park was full of cars tuned in to the station that was broadcasting the audio to the film, and they were letting no more cars in.  Red and white deckchairs, picnic benches, and tables decorated with flower displays awaited those who came on foot.  Ning set up their mobile Malaysian Restaurant serving amazing noodles out the box.  The whole area was buzzing.  Even the residents of the local apartments were getting in to the spirit, with many people out on their balconies to catch this Manchester first.

Our roof was lined with cushions, which quickly filled with bums (in part because of the promise of Bollington Brewery real ale, as well as waiter service during the movie!)

Now Captain America wouldn't be my first choice for watching a movie, but to be honest it didn't really matter.  We had beer, good food, and great group of people around.  We watched some of the film, but unfortunately it's a really dark movie, which made it quite unsuitable for an outdoor screening.  Of course, you can understand it's choice, bearing in mind it's significance to the area, but it did mean that many people left half way through the film.

Not put off by the dwindling numbers, we stayed, chatted, drank, ate, and soaked up the night. There was a real feeling of "how cool is Manchester to do this". A free event on a tiny "there's no money left" budget, and a real feel good evening.

After the film, the audio/ visual team spent some time looking through tonights screening and adjusting the light and colour which has vastly improved the quality of the picture.  Expect a far superior movie-watching experience this evening.

Tonights movie is The Life Aquatic.  It starts at 8.30pm but get here soon after 6.  Even if you're not a fan of the screening choice, you'd be missing out not to be here.  The friendly crowd, lovely food, and fantastic surroundings, make for a beautiful after-work event.