Get ready for Burnley’s third canal festival

This year’s festival takes place over the August Bank Holiday weekend and will feature a whole host of fun activities.

A large collection of working, trade and pleasure narrow boats will be on display and there will be live music, street theatre, craft and food stalls.

Council leader Mark Townsend said: “The canal is a marvellous asset for Burnley and I’m delighted to see we are making the most of it. The Burnley Canal Festival is a wonderful event which brings in visitors from a wide area.

“The festival will be another great way to boost Burnley’s image. The town has been receiving positive coverage for its exciting transformations in recent months and events such as this can only add to our reputation as a vibrant town with a great lifestyle offer.

“I’m particularly looking forward to the giant puppet procession from noon on the Saturday.

“Visitors will also have the opportunity to see the huge regeneration project underway developing ‘OnTheBanks’ one of the largest heritage led regeneration projects in the country, sensitively regenerating this historic area to create a mixed use waterside leisure, business and education centre.”

All the festival events, barring the boat trips, are free. Pedestrian admission to the festival is free and 161 free car parking spaces will be available on Finsley Gate car parks a short walk from the site on the Saturday. Other outlying council car parks are free on Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday but Saturday charges will apply. The festival is centred on the canal with the focal point around the Inn on the Wharf.