Set your compass for the 2023 Kirkintilloch Canal Festival – whether you're sailing, cycling, using public transport or even enjoying a 'rock and stroll'.
As well as offering a feast of fabulous entertainment, this year's celebrations will encourage people to try different forms of travel.
The Kirkintilloch Canal Festival – organised by the Council and partners – will take place on Saturday 26 August, from 5pm to 10pm at Southbank Marina, and on Sunday 27 August, from noon to 5pm at the Marina, Cowgate, Townhead and Barleybank. There will also be activities in the week leading up to the festival.
This year's celebrations aim to encourage people to consider all forms of travel and transport, and to get active:
- There will be a range of boat trips on the Forth and Clyde Canal
- Anyone cycling or scooting to the festival on the Sunday is being offered a free hot/soft drink from Locavore in Cowgate (take your bike/scooter into the shop while you wait or show them a photo of you and your bike/scooter at the festival)
- Free bike checks and fun activities at Marina Cycles (McBride Avenue, Kirkintilloch) on the Sunday
- A free heritage walk on the evening of Thursday 24 August – leaving from Barleybank at 6.30pm
- Free Silent Walking Discos on the Sunday (various times) – leaving from Barleybank
- Free minibus back and forth between Lenzie Station and the festival, between noon and 5pm on the Sunday (times vary).
There will also be additional bike storage. The Council has provided funding to support active travel via partner Paths for All.
Councillor Gordan Low, Leader of the Council, said, "We're keen to encourage as many people as possible to enjoy this year's festival, whether they're travelling by foot, boat, cycle, scooter, public transport or other means.
I'm particularly pleased we have been able to fund boat trips that include drama sessions to encourage school pupils to consider active travel.
Bookable canal boat trips (leaving from Southbank Marina) include:
- Tuesday 22 August, 11am and 1pm – Musical Storytelling with Lesley O’Brien (free to attend, but booking required)
- Wednesday 23 August, 11am and 1pm – Tales on the Water – storytelling to transport you to other worlds (free to attend, but booking required)
- Thursday 24 August, 5-7pm – Fish Tea on the Canal – tickets cost £17 each (advance booking required)
- Friday 25 August, 7-9pm – Spirit of Alba: Douglas Laing & Co – Canal Boat Whisky Tasting – tickets are £35 each
For more information and booking, visit the Canal Festival website
There will also be Forth and Clyde Canal Society and Seagull Trust boat trips on Sunday 27 August (various times, pay on the day – leaving from opposite Nonna's Kitchen).
In addition, free boat trips – including drama sessions for P4 pupils, promoting active travel – are being delivered with the help of social enterprise What Happens Now?
There's a strong emphasis on free activities and attractions at the Kirkintilloch Canal Festival, including:
- A free Saturday evening concert and fireworks (from 7pm on 26 August)
- Sunday Funday – with classic cars, canoeing, archery, live music, street theatre, magic and more. There will also be market stalls offering a range of information, as well as goods for sale.
Paid-for attractions include a funfair on both the Saturday and Sunday, the Spirit of Alba Festival at Kirkintilloch Town Hall on the Saturday (book in advance – two sessions available – via the Spirit of Alba website) and a roller disco on the Sunday.
The Council is working with partners such as Kirkintilloch Baptist Church, the Regent Centre, Police Scotland, New College Lanarkshire, the Forth and Clyde Canal Society, the Seagull Trust, Scottish Canals, East Dunbartonshire Leisure and Culture Trust, Your Kirky and local traders.
Support has been secured from the National Lottery Community Fund and Paths for All.
For more information, visit the Canal Festive website and visit the Tourism section of our website.
