Banbury Canal Festival to celebrate town’s history, heritage and culture

Despite current drought conditions, which have forced the closure of the Oxford Canal near Banbury, the festival will go ahead as planned.

Like last year’s festival, canal boat traders will once again take to the dry dock at Tooley’s Boatyard to sell their homemade crafts, canal-themed gifts and more.

Visitors will be able to buy from traders in one of the oldest canal dry docks in the world and speak to boaters about their experiences of life and work across Britain’s inland waterways.

Alongside the dry dock, the festival will include returning attractions, including the market underneath Lidl’s car park, activities, rides, live music, food, drink and much more.

Boat rides put on by Tooley’s Boatyard will also be running up and down the stretch of the Oxford Canal on which Tooley’s sits, while staff from the boatyard will be on hand to speak to visitors about the importance of the canal in Banbury’s development.

Cllr Shaida Hussain, Banbury Town Council leader and chair of the council’s resources and events working group, said: “Banbury’s canal is one of its most historic and beloved assets, and we’re looking forward to celebrating it once again at this year’s Canal Festival.

“At the same time, we know that this is a particularly difficult period for canal boat traders. By working with Tooley’s Boatyard to welcome them into the dry dock, we can give them an opportunity to continue trading and also spread the message of the difficulties faced by canal communities due to the recent weather conditions.

“Banbury is an incredibly supportive town, and I’m certain that residents will be out in force to show their support for traders and businesses who rely on the canal for their livelihoods.”

In the past, thousands of visitors have attended the festival, which was recently extended to two days, transforming it into a full weekend celebration of Banbury’s unique history with Britain’s canal network.

The Canal Festival will take place from 11am to 5pm on Saturday, October 3, and Sunday, October 4, along the stretch of canal between Castle Quay and The Mill Arts Centre.

For more information, visit: https://banbury.gov.uk/event/banbury-canal-festival-2/