Burnley Canal Festival 2023

Enjoy a free, family friendly event at the Burnley Canal Festival on Sunday 27 August. Join them at the beautifully refurbished Finsley Gate Wharf and along the towpath nearby.

The festival is a chance to get involved with lots of family-friendly and creative activities, or you can simply relax and listen to the performers on the music stage, or browse the arts & crafts on sale at the Makers Market. It’s a day to make some special memories.

Get hands on with drop in workshops such as paper flower making, postcard printing, screen-printing and monster making! (to mention only a few). Suitable for all ages.

Have your face painted or choose a henna art (mehndi) design. Both free.

Families will love the Ragtag Roadshow, a pop-up scrapstore, studio and stage which invites people of all ages to reuse, create and play! You can even take part in their Creative Catwalk at the end of the day to show off the things you’ve made.

Watch engaging live ‘walkabout’ performances, including the amazing bubble man (Paris Bubbles), Mother Nature (who, with the help of her fox, is on the hunt for litter louts), and the giant sloth family! Enjoy a diverse line up of live music, from silver bands, to Bollywood and jazz to indie folk rock.

There are opportunities to get on the water with a free narrow boat ride and canoe taster sessions (limited availability). You can take a break on the painted library boat, Furor Scribendi, which hosts the UK’s largest collection of short stories.

Don’t miss going on an adventure with the Towpath Explorers. Explorers of all ages, and their families, can sign up and test their mettle while exploring some of Burnley’s unique canalside. Help the Explorers defeat the dastardly ‘Chimneys’ at their own games (literally)!

Do make time to visit the Makers Market, full of unique works of art and crafts, plus artisan foodstuffs made by the people selling them. Treat yourself or buy for a friend.

Whatever you do, don’t miss the food court (behind the main building). Loaded fries, authentic Indian street food, hot drinks, and of course, ice-creams. In the FGW pub you can find a huge variety of alcoholic and soft drinks.

Burnley Canal Festival is a fantastic chance for Burnley locals and visitors to get together and celebrate the fantastic resource that is the Leeds Liverpool Canal, and Burnley’s unique canal-side heritage.

For a FREE, family friendly, day out, head to the Burnley Canal Festival at Finsley Gate Wharf, from 11am-5pm on Sunday 27th August.

Full details on the website: https://burnleycanalfestival.org/about/ Burnley Canal Festival is co-produced by Mid Pennine Arts and The Super Slow Way.