Excitement Mounts as Burnley Canal Festival Approaches!

The latest newsletter from Arts Development at Burnley Council features an article on the forthcoming Burnley Canal Festival, which will get into full swing on Friday 7 September.


Creative Alliance Newsletter No 59 reports that many colourful canal boats will be moored along the Leeds and Liverpool Canal between Burnley Wharf and Sandygate Square and we're hoping that lots of them will be decorated especially for the event, which is part of Burnley’s Heritage Open Days celebrations.

This photography from 2001 by Mike Clarke, historian and canal expert, gives a glimpse of what we can look forward to.

Visitors to the Festival will be able to tour the historic canal boat ‘ The Kennet’, visit the Weavers' Triangle Visitor Centre and listen to live music at Sandygate Square and the Inn on the Wharf.

Crafts stalls and children’s activities will take place on both days and there will be guided walks to learn more about the canal.

Canal boat trips aboard Pendle Explorer will run regularly throughout the day on the Canal along the remarkable ‘Straight Mile’ - which is Burnley's own "Wonder of the Waterways World".

On Saturday 8 September, an exciting outdoor film show will take place among the atmospheric buildings of the Weavers’ Triangle and a spectacular ‘Boatglow’ and fireworks display will light up the night as a grand finale to the weekend.

Burnley Canal Festival - Programme of Events

Here's it is - the Programme of Events for the Burnley Canal Festival! Get the dates in your diary now - it's going to be a fantastic weekend for all the family to enjoy.*

Friday 7 September

12 noon                       Boats start to arrive at the Weavers Triangle and moor up
2.00 – 5.00 pm           The Weavers’ Triangle Visitor Centre is open

2.00 – 4.00 pm            Oak Mount Mill Engine House is open

4.00 – 5.00 pm            The official Opening of the Canal Festival – Weavers’ Triangle Visitor Centre and wharf

6 – 7.00 pm                 Live music at Inn on theWharf from the WAS Band. This group of young musicianswith strong folk roots make music inspired by the canal

8.30 – 10.30 pm           Outdoor Cinema – SandygateSquare will be transformed into an outdoor cinema! The exciting film programme will include Sam Hannah’s local Burnleyfilms, historic canal films like "Barging Along", and the premiere of acontemporary new film "Triangle" about Burnley by local film makers.(Bring a seat or picnic blanket and warm clothes.) Go down the page for the full programme of films

9.00 – 11 pm                 Live music at Inn on the Wharf from Emmott & the Folkestra
11.00 – 1.00 am            Canalaroke & DJ at Inn on the Wharf 

Saturday 8 September

11.00 am – 5.00 pm      The heritage boat The Kennet open for visits

1.00. am – 5.00pm       The Canalside Association Open Day - Lindsay Street – includes an
                                    exhibition of rope-making as it was done on the canal
2.00 – 5.00 pm             The Weavers’ Triangle Visitor Centre is open – includes lace-making
                                    demonstrations
12 noon                         Guided Walk  - A tour around the Weavers Triangle, focusing on the 

                                     canal and its buildings with historian Mike Clarke – meet outside

                                     Inn on the Wharf
11.00 am, 12.15 pm, 1.30 pm, 2.45 pm and 4.00 pm – Pendle Explorer Boat Trips along the Canal

11.00 am – 4.00 pm       Canal Stalls & Family Fun at  Sandygate Square - Artists and crafts  stalls, ‘Best  Decorated Boat’ Competition, refreshments, family creative workshops, heritage projects, and much more

1.30 – 4.30pm               Family Canoeing Lessons – The Straight Mile near Tesco. Try a free taster canoeing session. Outdoor Elements are hosting FREE fun taster sessions in Canadian style canoes. 

2.00 – 4.00 pm              Oak Mount Mill Engine House is open

5.30 – 7.00 pm               Live Music at Inn on the Wharf including the Gisburn Singers, and Liam Robinson singing songs inspired by the water and Burnley          

7.30 – 9.00 pm              Boat Glow Procession and Fireworks –Join us to admire the amazing array of decorated canal boats and watch them illuminated by a spectacular firework display

                                    Get the best view at Sandygate Square!

9.00 – 11 pm                 Motown Classics & DJ at Inn on the Wharf

Festival Ends

 

Sunday 9 September (other events)

  

2.00 – 5.00 pm              The Weavers’ Triangle Visitor Centre is open

2.00 – 4.00 pm              Oak Mount Mill Engine House is open

2.15 pm                         Towpath Guided Walk – Brian Hall leads this walk through one of the best

                                      preserved industrial areas in Britain - meet at the Weavers' Triangle Visitor

                                      Centre

*Please note there may be changes to the programme. 

 

Outdoor Cinema Programme - Sandygate Square 

Friday 7 September 8.30 pm

A film programme that gives a glimpse of life on the canal, and Burnley the town

"Walking"                  This experimental short film about Burnley and its people was produced as a means of exploring a changed urban landscape. Made by Dave Halsted & Lisa Thomas 2011.

"Life Saving Class"    Made in 1945 by local film maker, Sam Hannah, this short film features Burnley and the canal. See if you can work out where it was filmed.

"Billy of the Barge"   This 1930 silent film has a dog come to the rescue of a family on a canal boat. Imagine Lassie on water!

"Barging Along"        This is a classic early film  from 1942 showing life and work on the canal.

"Triangle"                   A premiere of this Burnley made film that is an examination of visual repetition of the industrial forms that makes the Weavers Triangle. significant to us. Made by Dave Halsted & Lisa Thomas 2012.

"New Fields of Industry" A fascinating film showing the industrial and economic aspirations for the  area back in the 1950s. Look out for lots of bits of Burnley. Sam Hannah 1957.

"Weavers Navigation’ This clip from a longer film beautifully shows working life on canals in the 1950s.

Thanks to the North West Film Archive for their help.

Parking

Please use Council Car Parks for parking:

King St, Sutcliffe St, Parker Lane, Elizabeth St, William Thompson, Cow Lane.

On the 8September Saturday 10.00 am – 6 pm parking is free at some car parks. 

On the Friday and Saturday evening charges will apply.

Disabled Parking

There will be designated disabled parking in Caledonian Mill Car Park on Saturday 8 September for people attending the festival.

Location  

Most events will take place along the canal from Wharf on Manchester Road to Sandygate Square, which is a 5 minute walk along the canal from the Weavers' Triangle Visitor Centre, or can be accessed via Hammerton Road. Look out for the signs.

Road Closure

Please note that Sandygate Road will be closed temporarily in the evenings between 7.00 pm – 9.00pm during Friday and Saturday 7 and 8 September.

Thanks

The Festival has only been made possible by the kind help and enthusiastic support of Hapton Valley Boats, Lee Shepherd and the Litter Boat Volunteers, Foulridge Cruises, Reedley Marina, The Canalside Association, Weavers’ Triangle Visitor Centre, Inn on the Wharf, The Prince’s Charities, 2BR, Leeds Liverpool Canal Society, The North West Film Archive, The Canal & River Trust, Burnley Borough Council, the Heritage Lottery Fund and every volunteer who has given time and energy to make the event a success.

This Festival is funded and supported by:

                                                               

Calling Canal Craft, Canal Heritage and East Lancashire Heritage Oraganisations!

Burnley Canal Festival being held on 7 and 8 September this year will promote Burnley's canal, the heritage of Burnley associated with the canal and local crafts and canal activities.

On Saturday 8 September, there will be space for up to 30 stalls on Sandygate Square and you are invited to apply now if you are interested in having 

• a stall or craft that has a link with the canal and its heritage
• a stall that promotes canal crafts and associated crafts
• you are an organisation or stall that promotes the heritage of East Lancashire

If you are interested in having a stall - you need to fill in a stall holder’s form and return it to us as soon as possible. Contact us either by calling Burnley Canal Officer on 07917 068325, Twitter @burnleycanal, Facebook Burnley Canal or by email and we'll send you further details and the stallholder's booking form.


You will need to carry your own insurance and have a risk assessment - details of these are also set out in the stallholder’s form. 

Unfortunately we cannot accept stalls on the day without a pre-confirmed pitch. 

Charges for a Stall

Dependent on the type of stall you are intending to have, there are differing charges.

• If you are a registered charity and are not selling goods there will be no charge for a stall.
• If you are a craft stall/trade stall and selling goods as part of a business there is a £15 charge payable before the day.
• If you are a commercial food or refreshment stall or outlet you need to provide evidence of relevant food hygiene certificates and there is a £25 charge payable before the day.

Access to the Site

Unloading and setting up pitches will be between 9.00 am – 10.00 am. Stalls will clear the site between 4.00 pm – 5.00 pm. As no cars will be allowed on site, so unloading will take place next to the road on Sandygate Square. No parking is provided but there are many public car parks within easy walking distance of the site. No pets, please. 

Festival Stewards and Staff will be available throughout the day to give official guidance and direction to stallholders.

Would You Like To Be Burnley Canal Festival Ambassador?

Fred Talbot and Emma ,Burnley Canal Officer, filming a piece about the Launch

It's business as usual for Burnley Canal Communities Project after the excitement of the launch of the Canal & Rivers Trust in Burnley and we are back to concentrating  on our day-to-day activities of promoting and maintaining the Leeds and Liverpool Canal in Burnley and the surrounding districts. However, preparations for Burnley Canal Festival have been continuing  thanks to the efforts of volunteers like Tracey, who has been working hard contacting organisations and stall holders who are taking part in the Festival in September.

Whilst we were having a sit down and a cup of tea during the celebrations last week, Tracy explained why she wanted to volunteer as a Burnley Canal 'Festival Ambassador'...................

"I am helping with the Burnley Canal Festival as I would like to learn more about Burnley Canal as well as doing something useful for the community.  I am not a northerner but a midlander so to find out about where I live is important to me.

The Festival will bring together all sorts of people from different walks of life.  They will see that the canal is not just a strip of water that goes through the town but a piece of history.  They will see how the canal is important to life today and in years gone by.  Hopefully it will show people what life was like on the canal and the hard work that was involved.  It should be a educating experience as well as a fun time for the family."

If you would like get involved as one of our volunteers (who will be known as Festival Ambassadors) working with us to make the Festival a huge success story for Burnley, please get in contact

Festival Fever!

Preparations are well under way for this year's Burnley Canal Festival which takes place on Friday 7th and Saturday 8th September. Many boats have already booked their place in the Weavers' Triangle area of the canal and if you would like further details about a mooring, please contact Lee at Hapton Valley Boats  as soon as possible.

There's lots of  things to do for all the family on both days with free children's workshops, kayaking lessons and canal craft and local charity stalls. The heritage boat The Kennet will be open to visitors and there'll be boat trips on The Pendle Explorer .  

Aboard The Pendle Explorer

The celebrations carry on into the evenings with an outdoor cinema, fireworks and a boat glow. 

Festival Volunteers

There's such a lot going on that Burnley Canal Communities Project is looking for two keen Festival Volunteers!

If you would like to help out with publicity, promotion, social media, and events organisation please contact us. It's a chance to gain or improve on your skills in administration and event management and have a thoroughly enjoyable experience as part of a well-established team.

 If you are interested in this exciting opportunity , Burnley Canal Communities Project would like to hear from you.

If you need further information about the Burnley Canal Festival, or would like to subscribe to our e-newsletter, please get in contact.

Launch of Burnley Canal Festival

Burnley Canal Festival got off to a hugely successful start in glorious late Spring weather on 22 May when a group consisting of the Press and the Festival Steering Committee as well as volunteers and staff from The Waterways Trust enjoyed a cruise along the Leeds Liverpool Canal from Reedley Marina to Burnley aboard The Pendle Explorer. Light refreshments were served upon arrival in Burnley Wharf, courtesy of the Inn on the Wharf.

Burnley Wharf

Emma Bartlet, Burnley Canal Officer, revealed that the Festival organisers are looking forward to welcoming many canal boat enthusiasts and canal boaters from Burnley and all over the UK. The organisers are hoping that there will be in excess of 30 colourful canal boats moored between Burnley Wharf and Sandygate Square, many decorated especially for the Festival. 

Canal boat trips will run regularly throughout the day along the Burnley canal embankment – the “Straight Mile” - which is renowned as one of the Seven Wonders of the Waterways World. Emma also gave details of all of the other exciting events planned throughout the Festival, with entertainment for all the family.

The launch of the Festival ended with a visit to the historic Weavers' Triangle Visitor Centre,where the Group learnt more about the story of the canal, cotton and the Weavers' Triangle.

Further details about the Burnley Canal Festival, follow this blog or visit Facebook - Burnley Canal Communities Project, Twitter - @burnleycanal and by contacting us via email.

For bookings and other enquiries regarding the boat gathering, please contact Lee Shepherd at Hapton Valley Boats.