Although it's the shortest month, February can seem like it will go on forever.The weather is often cold and wet, and the evenings are dark.So, now's the perfect time to think about the spring and summer and the events you could enjoy on a relaxing narrowboat holiday on the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal. Here are some of this year's events:

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March

‍Enjoy the beauty of the garden at Llanover House during its spring open afternoon on March 25 (between 2pm and 5pm). You'll pick up amazing ideas for herbaceous borders and planting near streams in this gorgeous garden created in the 18th Century by Benjamin Waddington. It contains thousands of shrubs, trees, perennials, and bulbs. The open garden event is run under the National Garden Scheme. Visitors will enjoy home-made teas in which will raise funds for St Bartholomew's Church in Wales, Llanover, and there will be traditional Welsh dancing from Gwerinwyr Gwent. A rare plant fair will also be held at the garden on September 16. Llanover House also runs a garden school and several courses. Find out more here.

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‍April

‍Storytellers and avid readers will love the Abergavenny Writing Festival (April 19 to 21). The town will see a range of workshops, storytelling events, readings, performances, and talks, at venues including the King's Arms Hotel and Broadleaf Books. Find out more here.

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‍May

‍Art-lovers will adore visiting the beautiful town of Crickhowell on the bank holiday weekend of May 26 to 28. The town hosts its tenth annual Crickhowell Open Studios weekend, where art studios are open to the public who can view and buy work created by local artists. The area is renowned for artists of exceptional quality, working in oils, acrylics, watercolours, collage, printing, and sculpture. Free guides to this year's event will be available from April 28 onwards at sites such as CRiC. You can find out more here.

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‍June

‍This year's Abergavenny Arts Festival which is on June 29 to July 1 has a varied programme - everything from music, comedy, poetry, and pottery to sculpture, jewellery, and photography. There's something for everyone! The theme of this year's event is 'Water', reflecting Welsh Tourism's '2018 Year of the Sea'. There will be exhibitions and performances, along with workshops where visitors can have a go themselves. Find out more here.

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‍July

‍There's something magical about shire horses, and you can see that magic at close quarters at the Abergavenny Shire Horse Show on July 7. If you love horses, you simply cannot miss this show at Bailey Park. Find out more here.The pinnacle of the agricultural calendar in Wales is the Royal Welsh Show at Llanelwedd. This year's show, from July 23 to July 26, will be full of livestock competitions, family fun, and showpiece events such as the Welsh cobs day and carriage driving. Find out more here.

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‍August

‍Brecon Jazz Festival is celebrating its 35th year in 2018, so the festival which has gained recognition across the world is expected create even more of a buzz than usual. The festival runs from August 10 to 12.The event is a truly community one, taking in several venues across the town including the Guild Hall, Castle Hotel, and Wellington Hotel.You can find out which acts will be appearing, when they are announced, here.For lovers of the countryside, don't miss the Llangynidr Agricultural Show on Sunday August 26. The event packs in horticultural, craft, and agricultural competitions, family fun activities, sheep shearing, and cookery demonstrations. Find out more here.Our Roadhouse Narrowboats season begins again on the 24th March, and we're expecting our holiday slots to fill up quickly. So, it's worth booking your next Roadhouse narrowboat holiday as soon as possible! Check out availability using our booking form.