The Canal Festival 2025 is now over but we have kept the information up so those visiting this site during the year will be able to get a feel for what usually happens. The next event is on Sat 20th June 2026.
Once again, we’re delighted to offer you a zone dedicated to Climate Action and Social Enterprise – lots to learn and get involved in!
Boroughmuir High School – Students are fundraising for many good causes in the school community, featuring summer drinks, iced coffees, frappes, bubble tea, showcase of school groups, second-hand sale, live music, and more!
Dishoom – Drinks stand (non-alcoholic) with games and giveaways!
EdinBRIC – Edinburgh Building Retrofit and Improvement Collective: Information stall based around our ‘Retrofit Rover’ cargo-bike-portable pop-up exhibition on energy efficiency and building improvement through collaborative community-led maintenance, repair and retrofit. Our representatives will be there to provide information, discuss and encourage visitors.
Edinburgh Climate Coalition – We are a grass roots climate campaign group. We aim to engage members of the public in in depth discussion about climate issues that they are interested in, to try and keep the climate towards the top of the public agenda.
Edinburgh Communities Climate Action Network – fostering community-led initiatives for a just, thriving, and resilient Edinburgh. Come to our stall for climate board game, badge making, and climate discussions.
Edinburgh Forge – will be hosting a stall sharing information about our project and selling a selection of member crafts.
Edinburgh Street Stitchers – Passing on garment repair sewing skills – bring your clothes to mend and we’ll help with everything else!
Edinburgh Tool Library – Come and find out about your local tool library! Discover the joy of sharing tools, skills and knowledge and grab your chance to win a free ETL membership too.
Fountainbridge Library (stall at the Green) Join the team, and some of our regular groups Bookbugs Rhymetime, Children Crafts, Spinners workshop and Gaelic walking group
Greenpeace Edinburgh – sharing information on Greenpeace campaigns on Oceans, Climate and Plastics and how to get involved with our activities in street campaigning, lobbying, creative artworks, film nights and more. Come and get involved in our creative activity, and you may even spot a polar bear!
Home-Start Edinburgh – Information about the charity and our services, information for potential volunteers, plus stickers, bubbles, book giveaways, activity sheets, temporary tattoos.
Lochrin Belle canal boat (static) – Jump on-board and make a personalised Canal Festival badge! Also featuring on board – Linzer Bakery – a neighbourhood micro-bakery giving new life to old recipes. Don’t miss our vegan cinnamon, cardamom and chocolate buns, brioche, walnut cake, and signature Linzer and Ischler cookies!
Mohila Ogrojatra (women moving forward) – discover this inspirational group set up with support from the Corra Foundation for Bangladeshi women providing opportunities to overcome isolation, language barriers, long-term health issues, lack of skills for work, and limited ability to attend college. They have beautiful handmade items for sale.
Scran Van – The clue is in the name – yummy scran to keep you fuelled up for exploring the festival. Scran Academy’s mobile youth-led kitchen, the Scran Van runs on the power of young people. Our wee team of heroes gain kitchen-based skills, work experience and confidence. “Catering for the Future”
The Bike Station – FREE Dr Bike session – stop by for a bicycle health check, where our mechanics will check your bike’s brakes, gears, and overall condition to keep you rolling smoothly. We will also provide a donation point for kid’s bicycles—any bikes donated will be refurbished by a qualified mechanic to go into our Wee Bike Library. The Wee Bike Library provides bikes for free to families, you can rent a bike and exchange it for the next size up when your child outgrows it. Come by to learn more about this great programme and drop off your unused children’s bikes!
Upmo – Community Stall supporting our students with Autism and Learning Disabilities to sell the products they’ve made in their workshops and gain employability skills and experience.
Kingfisher shuttle boat to Polwarth Church jetty.
Also see here for the performance area located in this zone!
