Burnley Canal Festival returns on Sunday 24th August

The 2025 edition of Burnley Canal Festival is now confirmed for its regular date at August Bank Holiday weekend.

Organisers announce that after an extensive fundraising campaign, including on Crowdfund Lancashire, Sunday 24 August will see the return of this free, family friendly, multiple award-winning event.

Festival goers of all ages will be able to try out a huge variety of hands on, creative activities, to chill by the water and listen to the performers on the music stage, or to browse the arts & crafts on sale at the Makers Market.

The Festival will offer something for all the family. The popular programme of drop in workshops is designed to be suitable for all ages. Have your face painted and watch amazing bubble displays. Meet the Green Man and hear his stories.

Enjoy a diverse line up of live music, from silver bands, to folk and blues – they’ll even be a chance to dance! Visitors will be able to get on the water with a free narrow boat ride (but limited availability for this very popular feature).

The amazing Exbury Egg, now a permanent feature at the Wharf, will host a game of Egg Bingo! Festival goers with stories to share of the old Wakes Weeks should make a beeline for the specially designed booth, where the team will offer a warm welcome and a photo opportunity in a Kiss Me Quick hat! For the intrepid, young and old, there’s the chance of 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. Inside the Wharf complex, a Makers Market will offer an enticing range of unique works of arts and crafts, plus beauty products and artisan foodstuffs made by the people selling them.

Visitors will be able to treat themselves or buy for a friend. A food court will offer wood fired pizza, authentic Indian street food, barbeque, hot drinks, and of course, ice-creams. The FGW pub will offer 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, join us at the Burnley Canal Festival at Finsley Gate Wharf, from 11am-5pm on Sunday 24 August.

Full details on our website: https://burnleycanalfestival.org/about/

Burnley Canal Festival is co-produced by Mid Pennine Arts and The Super Slow Way and hosted by Finsley Gate Wharf Ltd. BCF 2025 is made possible by support from the Lancashire Culture & Sport Fund, the Big Give, The Super Slow Way and individual donations