Banbury Town Council’s 2024 Banbury Canal Festival was a huge success, with crowds flocking to take part in all that was offered by the council and its partners, which included The Mill Arts Centre, Banbury Museum and Gallery, Castle Quay, Tooley’s Boatyard, The Village Butty, Bridge Street Community Gardens, Banbury BID, Lock29, and The Light.

A yearly staple of the Banbury Town Calendar, 2024’s Canal Festival was one of the biggest in the event’s history. This was thanks in large part to the wide array of organisations contributing to the festivities. Throughout the weekend, there were plenty of events, displays, exhibitions, and performances for the whole family to enjoy.

With the canal itself serving as the festival hub, surrounding areas including Chamberlaine Court Car Park, the underground car park beneath Lidl, Castle Quay, and the General Foods Waterside Bar, all played host to different activities, markets, and organisations. Due to in part to its huge and diverse line-up of things to see and do, the Canal Festival is one of the most popular Banbury events, both among Banbury residents and the wider Oxfordshire population.

The Canal Festival has long been considered by Banbury Town Council to be an important homage to the town’s historic relationship with Britain’s wider canal network. Banbury’s growth throughout the 19th and 20th centuries can largely be owed to its central position along the Oxford Canal. This route was not only important to traders and manufacturers, but it has since become popular for pleasure boaters and tourists alike throughout the modern era.

This year’s Canal Festival hosted an array of live acts and performances from artists near and far, with Banbury Music Mix Radio spotlighting local talent with a stellar line-up on both days of the Festival. Meanwhile, The Mill Arts Centre exhibited performances from the Black Eagles, Angie Mack’s Hula Hoop Show, and HENGE from Motion House. Other performers included the Adderbury Morris Men, who made several appearances throughout Saturday.

Running before, during and after the festival were various live performances, screenings, and crafts at the historic Tooley’s Boatyard, organised by the Village Butty. Tooley’s is the oldest canal dry dock in the world, and as such is one of the most popular sites at the Canal Festival. As well as music and an open mic night, other draws included a stand-up comedy night, a film screening, and more.

The Canal Festival was a fantastic opportunity for Banbury residents to learn more about the town’s fascinating history, as well as experience some of the best modern and future talent exhibited by the performers, organisations, and local businesses present at the event.

Anyone looking for more information can send an email to info@banbury.gov.uk. Meanwhile, stay up to date on council events of all sizes by following Banbury Town Council on Facebook and @banburyevents on Instagram.