This weekend’s celebration in Banbury honors its historic canal. Castle Quay, Lock29, Tooley’s Boatyard and Mill Arts Centre will all host events along with a covered market under Lidl as well as charity stalls.
Narrow boats will be on display, with trips available from Tooley’s and the Museum. There will also be a festival theatre tent and music from local bands.
September 30
After an absence of one year, this weekend will mark the return of Banbury’s popular canal festival! Celebrating its crucial role since 1778 when trade and business was brought from industrial Midlands into Banbury to create jobs and wealth, this two-day waterside event will include floating markets, fairground attractions, arts performances, charity stalls and community stalls, boat trips as well as food and drinks; plus visits to Tooley’s Boatyard as well as Banbury Museum and Gallery!
Notable highlights will include taking part in a canal tour led by experienced volunteer guides. There will also be fun canal-related games like sack races and arm wrestling as well as talks, stories, University Challenge and poetry performances.
2nd October
This two-day event, taking place Saturday and Sunday, serves to remind visitors that Banbury Canal opened in 1778 was an integral component of its development as it brought trade, business, and wealth.
This festival promises to be bigger and better than ever at Castle Quays’ renovated facility, featuring trips on historic boats, community stalls, roaming traders, talks, stories and children’s shows as well as Tooley’s Boatyard–one of the oldest working dry docks on Inland Waterways listed as Scheduled Monument.
Bob Wilson Funfair will return to Bridge Street Park, The Mill car park and Chamberlaine Court car park this weekend and Dance Banbury will showcase an exciting line-up of performances and workshops. In addition, narrowboat vendors selling goods along the towpath make taking a stroll worth your while!
Why Visit Banbury Canal Festival in 2023?
This year’s event promises to be bigger and better than ever, offering something for everyone at its full-day program. A covered market will be located in Lidl’s car park with charity stalls and live performances by local musicians; Tooley’s Boatyard on the town side will serve as starting and finishing points for 45-minute boat trips on both canals.
Festival attendees will also experience dance workshops and performances by acclaimed local companies, while Bridge Street Community Garden hosts children’s activities. Plus there’s the Kilsby Theatre Boat Project: the restoration of an aged Fellows Morton and Clayton narrowboat into an immersive community theatre space!
Things to do
Banbury Canal Day will return this October as an impressive floating market with two days of festivities on both days, which promises a unique shopping experience for visitors to Oxfordshire town Banbury. This two-day festival promises even bigger festivities this time round!
Visitors will have plenty of attractions and activities available to them at this year’s festival, from community stalls and roving trader boats along the towpath, historic trip boats, arts & crafts tent and much more!
Tooley’s Boatyard hosts an evening musical performance by The Three Idle Women. These musical performers share a passion for Oxford Canal life, quirky instrumentation and close harmony singing – creating stories through song.
Since 2013, this group of women have been writing original material, rearranging traditional songs, performing together and writing new material themselves – writing new material themselves as well as writing new material together and performing it live!
The Banbury canal team strives to ensure an inclusive environment free from harassment or microaggressions by inviting all to report any concerns directly by visiting The Stewards Office or medical tent.
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