2023 was an amazing event with activities and events over 5 different festival areas along the Union Canal from Fountainbridge to Harrison Park. We’ve left the 2023 programme up below to remind you of all the brilliant groups who took part – you can click the name of many the groups below to be directed to their websites and details of current activities.
Alternatively, a downloadable pdf of the 2023 printed programme available here.
LOCHRIN BASIN
Biketrax – Your next adventure starts here! Come and chat to the friendly team and discover everything you need to know about gravel bikes.
The Four Sisters Boatel (12-3pm) Open boat! Ever wanted to holiday or even live on a houseboat? Come and see what life is like on board our luxury holiday let boat.
Scran Van – Delicious scran for festival go-ers from a fellow social enterprise! The Scran Van runs on the power of young people. Our wee team of heroes gain kitchen-based skills by producing and serving food that nourishes the wider community.
Four Square (12-3pm) – Need a wee sit down? Come and take a pew on pre-loved furniture and chat to the team about their work preventing homelessness and promoting inclusion.
Canoe Polo (from 12pm) – Granite City Canoe Club vs. Forth Canoe Club Come and watch some good water-based fun in the Lochrin Basin ... we’re not sure how competitive this might get!!
Birchwood Art Studio (12-1.30pm) Tutor led sessions to try your hand at drawing local views at the Lochrin Basin – stay 5 mins or 90mins!
Silent Disco tasters with Jump Edinburgh – Come and join Kim for an uplifting silent disco! 20 mins of the best music, easy-to-follow movements and fun props to keep us amused.(2-3.30pm) (Free event, Booking essential – click here)
Live Music at the Lochrin Basin
12pm – The Greasy Whiskers – an energetic folk band
1pm – Stan Reeves and friends – traditional Scottish music
2pm – Trippytakka – Edinburgh 4 piece band playing bouncy rock and some bluesy numbers
LEAMINGTON LIFTBRIDGE
Activities and Performances near the Liftbridge
Buskin’ Sharks (12-1pm) – Big Band playing jazz standards, funk and pop
Andy Chung (2.30-4.30pm) Back by popular demand, Andy will entertain us with a mixture of his warm and passionate performance of songs, original and traditional, and Raft Race banter.
RAFT RACE (3pm-4.30pm) Have YOU entered?
Stalls at the Liftbridge
Watershed Coffee Barge Normal service of drinks and snacks to enjoy, sit down or takeaway.
Lochrin Belle Canal Boat (static) Hop on board for some free creative activities led by a local artist, Cassandra Harrison
NKS Community Stall Fabulous food, henna and face painting and information
The Sorted Project Hop on board the Panacea canal boat and find out about this fantastic charity project
Fountainbridge Canalside Community Trust (Community Stall) Information about the Festival and our other projects – canalside walking group, volunteering on boats and on the canalside and helping to develop local green spaces
Edinburgh Printmakers (stall on towpath and tours to site) live printing, workshops and studio tours, exhibition gallery, shop and sunny courtyard.
££ – paid for heritage stamp making workshops at The Printmakers on 17th June – book here
Holy Cow Lounge (at the Printmakers) Vegan cafe.
The Grove Community Garden (stall on towpath) Information, seeds and tours to the garden site behind the Printmakers
The Forge (stall on towpath and tours to site) Sale of beautiful hand crafted items made at this unique community maker-space
The City Of Edinburgh Council in partnership with Scottish Canals (stall) – come and talk to us about your priorities for the canal in Edinburgh
Active Travel (stall) – The City of Edinburgh Council in partnership with Balfour Beatty and Sustrans are delivering active travel schemes close to the Union Canal, creating healthier, friendlier and more accessible places for cycling, walking and wheeling. Come along and find out more #Rosebeburntounioncanal #CCWEL
Corstophine First Aid Support and Training – Providing First Aid cover for the event, but also meet the team and find out about training and other services this charity provides.
FOUNTAINBRIDGE GREEN
Live Music at Fountainbridge Green
12pm – Jawbone Walk – traditional Scottish and Irish music
1pm – Castle Chorus – non-auditioned mixed voice friendly folk and roots community choir singing a mix of folk music from around the world and local songwriters
2pm – The Enharmonic Collective – folk and jazz fusion focused around the hand pan
3pm – Eden Rocks – 4 piece playing classics from the 60s and 70s
Espresso Green Artisan locally roasted coffee, tea, cold drinks and delicious homemade treats.
Boroughmuir High School Social enterprise Boroughmuir Beans – pupils are undertaking barista training. Profits go back into the business and further training.
Upmo (stall)- social enterprise sales of screen printed T-shirts, beeswax food wraps and ceramic homewares made in our workshop for adults with learning disabilities and autism.
The Good Stuff Network Edinburgh (stall)- information stall and promotion of socially minded businesses in Edinburgh
Fountainbridge Library (stall at the Green, library also open) Join the Team for Bookbug Rhymetime (0-5 year olds) and family crafts
Shrub Co-op (stall) – find out about Zero Waste hub on Bread Street – a one stop shop for Sustainable Living .
Rhyze Mushrooms (stall) – We turn trash into food! Come and find out about our mushroom farm inside a 40 ft shipping container.
Cargo Bike Movement (stall): Be ‘Bike-Curious’ and learn more about cargo bikes, their applications and how they are key to change our city for the better. There will be an opportunity to try out some bikes, get information on how to join Cargo Bike Movement and access our cargo bike loan scheme.
Nuffield Health, Fountain Park (stall) – information and group outdoor workout exercise activities!
Bright Red Triangle (building next to the Green) – Startup Studio, Edinburgh Napier University. We are opening our doors for people to come in see what we do, and for some of our student businesses to set up in the space and our makers to set up shop for people to explore.
Kingfisher shuttle boat to Polwarth Church jetty.
Look out for performers … they might be on stilts, in boats or on paddleboards – from the brilliant Rowanbank and Edinburgh Collective!
CLIMATE FRINGE @ Bainfield Student Accommodation Lounge
Shrub Co-op: we are working for a world without waste! Visit our clothing repair pop-up workshop at the Canal Festival’s Climate Fringe.
Past Climates Group, Lyell Centre, Heriot-Watt University. Let’s talk about Climate Change! Interactive talk and posters will guide you to understand our planet’s Climate and discover the vital signs of Climate Change. Chat with the members of the Climate Detectives working group about your questions and discover individual and group actions that you can do to help your community to mitigate Climate Change. Have a look at samples from the ocean and local canal through our special microscope and experiment with canal water using sensors to find out how healthy it is for wildlife and discover from the scientists about eutrophication of freshwater systems. Also an A1 poster for colouring about climate change for kids!
Edinburgh Seed Network: Come and talk to Hannah and she will inspire you the power of seeds and their importance in building a regenerative culture! Seed sharing and other activities.
BANZAI – Bruntsfield Area Net Zero Action Initiative. We work with our neighbours and across the local area to identify and implement practical action to tackle the climate crisis. Meet members and hear about local and national projects.
Edinburgh Building Retrofit and Improvement Collective – we are a city-wide collective supporting the development of resilient communities through community-led improvement of buildings. Come and see us for information and discussion.
HARRISON PARK
At the North Merchiston Club – Come and enjoy Café 48 for all and plenty of shows, workshops and demonstrations from some of our regular classes at North Merchiston Club.
12 noon- 1pm Checkmat Ju jitsu Demonstration and Try out – Dance Session – Star Ballet Tryout
12 noon-2pm Indian dance show – Kev’s Class workshop
1pm-2pm Try capoeira with Axé Boom Boom – games in the park!
Kendo demonstration – Flamenco workshop
2-2.40 & 2.50-3.30pm Sing & Sign session
2-4pm Capoeira competition for capoeira students, public is open to come and watch
2-4pm Chess come and have a try!
3-4pm Grooveroo classes for Mums and Babies
1-4pm SOFT PLAY WILL BE AVAILABLE FROM
12-4pm QUIET SENSORY PLAY ROOM FOR ASN KIDS
12 noon – 4pm Cafe 48 open for refreshments, cake and light lunches,
ice cream and more.
12-4pm Try out table tennis, kids crafts and check out ur new gym and weights room!
Stalls outside the North Merchiston Club
St. Michael’s, Slateford Road (Community Stall) Tombola, home bakes and tours on the hour to visit the church and hear the stories behind’ the stained glass windows
Dalry Primary School Parent Council – information, games and fundraising for our food bank … plus a virtual run – with prizes!!
19th Pentland Scout Group – support our local scouts by sampling their home-baking and browsing their book sale.
The Grove Community Garden tours of our garden site here at Harrison Park
At Polwarth Parish Church
Live music, refreshments, stalls, activities for children in the church grounds and Drennan Hall. The church will be open as a quiet place for reflection and an opportunity to walk the famous labyrinth.
All Aboard canal boat (run by People Know How and Polwarth Parish Church) – the boat will be open to visitors with musicians on board
Kingfisher boat shuttle – to Boroughmuir High School
At Forth Canoe Club
Inclusive paddling community. Watersports taster sessions – for more details of times, check social media. Donations welcome.
Opposite Ashley Terrace Boathouse
Edinburgh Union Canal Society Cakes, snacks, hot drinks, information, tombola and row boats!
Merchiston Community Council (Community Stall) information and displays about MCC – come and talk to us about community priorities and our work with Edinburgh Council.
Edinburgh Canal Festival is being organised by Fountainbridge Canalside Community Trust, c/o Scottish Canals Office, 23 Lower Gilmore Place, Edinburgh EH3 9NY www.fcct.scot
Charity Reg. No: SC035342 Company Reg. No: 265866