Celebrating community, canalside life, and the Union Canal, the Edinburgh Canal Festival is back this year with three free events.
BOROUGHMUIR High School Pipe Band opened the festival by performing aboard hotel boat Camillia as it sailed from Lochrin Basin to Harrison Park and back. Visitors also enjoyed creative workshops with Edinburgh Printmakers, activities organised by St Andrew Boat Club, canoe polo demonstrations from Forth Canoe Club, model boat displays, and the opportunity to meet community groups and charities.
The festival’s tagline of ‘free festival events, open to all’ reflects its ethos that everyone is welcome. As Liga Bite, marketing and creative lead for the festival, said: “Seeing so many people come together – whether on the water, on the towpath, or simply stopping by to enjoy the atmosphere – reminds us why these shared spaces matter so much.”
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One of the more unexpected visitors was a local swan, which is known as Shark the Swan after being spotted chasing ducks up and down the canal in recent weeks.
The finale will be the annual raft race on August 22 from noon until 4pm between Leamington Lift Bridge and Lochrin Basin, also featuring boat trips and other water-based activities.
The festival is organised by Fountainbridge Canalside Community Trust (FCCT), a charity and social enterprise based in Edinburgh and focussed on the Fountainbridge area around the Union Canal. FCCT also runs a variety of community events and operates two boats – Lochrin Belle and Waterwitch, both which are available for hire. Find out more at fcct.scot and (for boat hire) re-union.org.uk.
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