Canal Carnival celebrate reopening of Forth & Clyde Canal

Published: Monday, 18 March 2019

THE Canal Carnival on the Fourth & Clyde Canal is inviting boaters to take part in its event.

Boaters, kayakers and canoeists are invited to join an armada of vessels in what is looking to be a spectacular Canal Carnival later this month, Alan Tilbury reports.

Re-opening of Forth & Clyde Canal

The big event is over three days from the 24th to 26th of May, and is being staged to celebrate the grand reopening of the whole length of the Forth & Clyde Canal to boat traffic after a shutdown of bridges at Twechar and Bonnybridge that lasted almost a year.

The Carnival will see a programme of events taking place around Falkirk, Auchinstarry and on to Kirkintilloch, and it is expected that scores of boats are likely to join the floating cavalcade past the Helix.

Work taking place

Work to repair both bridges is now taking place, thanks to a Scottish Government cash bailout of more than £1.6m, and the carnival is being staged partly for those who helped to make the case for additional funding.

The flotilla will gather at the Falkirk Wheel on the evening of Friday, 24th May for a festival of food, drink and music. On the morning of Saturday 25th May the flotilla will travel to Auchinstarry for another gathering, before setting off on Sunday. 26th to Kirkintilloch.

 Anyone looking to take part in the event is asked to email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for further details.