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.