The IWA National Festival & Boat Show run by the Inland Waterways Association is one of the key annual events on the United Kingdom's inland waterways. Generally referred to as the "National" it serves several functions: * As a publicity vehicle for the IWA and inland waterways in general * To raise funds for the IWA * As a social gathering for boaters from around the country * As a campaigning event The four functions of the event are to some extent conflicting and in recent years the campaigning aspect has been somewhat separated by the creation of an annual "Campaign Cruise".