July 17, 18 & 19 2026
A Celebration of Gnosall's Waterway
Come and visit our three-day community festival from July 17 to 19 along the scenic Shropshire Union Canal in Gnosall.
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Come and visit our three-day community festival from July 17 to 19 along the scenic Shropshire Union Canal in Gnosall.
Welcome to C'Fest - Gnosall’s very own Canal Festival - set in the heart of the beautiful village of Gnosall in Staffordshire.
Since 2019, the Gnosall Canal Festival has celebrated the extraordinary heritage of the Shropshire Union Canal. What began as a small village gathering has grown into a much-loved event, drawing visitors from across the area to experience the living history of our waterways.
This three-day community festival celebrates everything about our waterways. Take a boat trip, browse and shop at the floating market selling gifts, souvenirs, and gourmet food. Learn about our local canal history and why they are so important to our community’s heritage, and explore historic working boats that are open to the public.
Organised by Gnosall Towpath Restoration group, and in association with Gnosall Parish Council, there’s so much to explore. Festival garden music, entertainment, and refreshments are available throughout the weekend.
C'Fest 2026 is a celebration of the heritage and work of volunteers that make the Gnosall stretch of canal one of the finest in the country.
By road, Gnosall is located halfway between Stafford and Newport along the A518. Free car parking is available (weather permitting) just past Bridge 34 next to The Boat Inn on Wharf Road. (WhatThreeWords: ///yours.swimsuits.grins)
The closest railway station is Stafford then it's just 6 miles by taxi or bus.
Arriva bus services 5, 5A or 5B run regularly between Stafford and Telford. Alight at the Navigation Inn PH then its just a short walk down on to the towpath.
A free shuttle bus will operate in the village on Saturday and Sunday from 10am - 4pm and follow a loop that includes the Navigation Inn, Brookhouse Road, Sharman Way, Gnosall Surgery, Greenfields, Glebe Lane, Bank Top Garage, The Acorns, Mill Lane and Boat Inn. The service runs every 20-30 minutes. Your donations to Gnosall Towpath Restoration group are very welcomed.
You can access the canal at the Boat Inn (bridge 34), Navigation Inn (bridge 35) and the old railway line (bridge 35a) on national cycle route 55 linking Stafford and Newport.
A Masterpiece of Engineering
The Shropshire Union Canal was constructed in the 1830s under the direction of Thomas Telford, representing one of the greatest feats of civil engineering of its age. Through Gnosall, the canal was cut deep into the sandstone, creating the dramatic cutting that still defines our landscape today.
Today, the canal serves as a green corridor through the heart of the village, providing a vital habitat for wildlife and a peaceful retreat for walkers, cyclists, and boat enthusiasts. The festival celebrates this transformation from industrial artery to modern sanctuary.
Three days of events celebrating the heritage and community of the Shropshire Union Canal. The full programme of events will be confirmed closer to the festival and is subject to latest minute changes
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Browse over 60 stalls featuring handmade crafts, nautical antiques, locally grown produce and food, and unique gifts.
The home of stalls that support charities and other good causes, live entertainment & refreshments.
Open for hot and cold drinks plus delicious burgers and hotdogs cooked on the BBQ between 12:00 AM (Noon) and 5:00 PM.
Open for hot and cold drinks plus a selection of your favourite pub grub including breakfasts. Why not come along and enjoy the outside bar service. Breakfast is being served from 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM (noon) with the main food menu available from 12:00 PM (noon) to 10:00 PM.
Come and watch Vicki and Stan on their narrowboat "Free Spirit", moored in the floating market, as they demonstrate how scented candles and wax melts are made.
Enjoy a free narrowboat ride. Book your tickets from the GTR stand in the festival garden behind The Navigation Inn on Newport Road.
There's a range of children's activities for our youngsters to enjoy which can be found in the festival garden including pirate hat making, Bridge building, dragonfly making, brass rubbing, word searches, make your own boat, and canal art. GTR's duck have been carefully hidden all around the festival site. If you can find them, can you solve the puzzle to win a prize?
The popular festival raffle is drawn on both Saturday and Sunday evening offering you chances to win a trip on a day boat plus many other prizes all of which have been kindly donated by local businesses and organisations. Raffle tickets are for sale in the festival garden on the GTR stand and at the Bridge 34 Gazebo near the Boat Inn.
Come and see Pauline demonstrate how handmade decoupage items are made from her 64 foot narrow "Bear Necessities" moored on the towpath in the floating market.
Depending on the weather, Kaye will take you on a short foraging walk along the towpath pointing out the types of vegetation she uses in her herbal remedies. You'll have the opportunity to ask questions too. You can find Kaye on her narrowboat "Evanthia" moored in the floating market.
Come and see the Winty family on their narrowboat "Deltic", moored in the floating market, as they demonstrate how they incorporate gemstones into some of their stunning jewellery designs.
Come and see Julie on her narrowboat "Lazy Days", moored in the floating market, as she demonstrates the dying art of traditional canal painting.
Run by Tony and Martin in the big tent.
With an emphasis on rock and blues, Massive Surfboard have an extensive playlist with songs from the 60s to the present day from a host of genres.
The Oss Road is a Stafford based band playing semi-acoustic pop/jazz/folk. We write some of our own songs and also mine the 20th century playlist. We have an affinity with the canals as several of the band (ok one of us) lives on a narrowboat. Hence our name meaning the towpath in Birmingham/Black Country
Simple Folk are an acoustic duo who play an eclectic mix of 60’s and 70’s folk music, also including some traditional tunes from around the British Isles. Their melodies will stir the soul and get your toes tapping.
Flower will be making her annual visit to the festival from her stable at Norbury Wharf, come along to narrowboat Ethel and have a close up look and a chat with David Ray her proud owner.
A "Born Again Guitarist"! Initially playing in bands in late 70’s now reborn as a Solo Acoustic Artist with live loops covering 1950's onwards includes ballads to rock anthems.
Well known acoustic duo playing a wide variety of songs from the 60's, 70's
An acoustic artist, taking us on a journey through the decades: from 60s classics (or earlier for certain venues), 70s & 80s rock and pop, 90s Britpop & indie, 00s favourites, right through to modern chart hits.
Playing tunes older than the canal and twice as winding
Simple Folk are an acoustic duo who play an eclectic mix of 60’s and 70’s folk music, also including some traditional tunes from around the British Isles. Their melodies will stir the soul and get your toes tapping.
Folk with a kick. Unpredictable Musical skullduggery brimming with high energy tunes re-imagined songs, sea shanties, nostalgic covers and campfire anthems.
Come and see Sue on the S&NCT stand located in the festival gardens as she makes a rag rug from old fabrics like t-shirts, sheets, or denim cut into strips and joining them via braiding, crocheting, or latch hooking onto a backing.
From historic working boats to artisan stalls — explore everything C'Fest has to offer.
Step back in time and explore our collection of beautifully preserved historic narrowboats, moored along the towpath for the whole weekend. Many are open to the public — a rare chance to see these living pieces of waterway heritage up close.
Town class butty built in Aug 1936 by Harland & Wolf and paired with Bainton for the Grand Union Carrying Company.
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Town class built in 1936 by Harland & Wolff for the Grand Union Carrying Company.
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Town class built in February 1937 by Harland & Wolff for the Grand Union Carrying Company.
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Fish class built in April 1934 by Yarwoods for Fellows Morton & Clayton.
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Built as a butty by Yarwoods in 1930 for LMS. Today, paired with France. Why not jump on board and get a close up view of the narrowboat.
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Town class built by FMC at Saltey in August 1934 for Fellows Morton & Clayton. Today, paired with Ethel
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Town class built in April 1912 by FMC at Saltley for the Fellows Morton & Clayton.
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Star class built in 1936 by Yarwoods for the Grand Union Canal Carrying Company. Why not jump on board and get a close up view of the narrowboat.
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37-foot-long working boat, powered by an air-cooled Lister SR2 marine diesel engine and built in the late 1970s for the Thames Conservancy
Town class built by FMC Saltley in April 1913 for Fellows Morton & Clayton. Paired with Ipswich.
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Town class built in 1936 by Yarwoods for the Grand Union Carrying Company. Why not jump on board and get a close up view of the narrowboat.
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Star class built in 1936 by Yarwoods for the Grand Union Canal Carrying Company.
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Star class built in 1935 by Yarwoods for the Grand Union Carrying Company.
Visit websiteA wonderful variety of privately owned narrowboats join us each year, travelling from across the canal network to be part of the festival. Come and meet their owners and hear stories from life on the water.
A 57-foot Cruiser Style narrowboat built by Collingwood Boats in 2013.
Inland Waterways Association (SD&NW)
A 70-foot narrowboat.
Moored boats selling everything from artisan food and drink to handcrafted gifts and canal souvenirs. Browse a unique floating marketplace you won't find anywhere else.
Chainsaw Carvings, Oil Paintings, Knitting, Macrame, Needle felting, and Dog Leads.
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Handmade decoupage items and other craft items all from our 64 foot narrow boat home.
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Create customised products in slate and wood using the latest laser engraving, embossing, scoring, and cutting technology.
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Winty Crafts - Gemstone jewellery, crystals and crafts.
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Herbal Remedies.
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'Baked on Board' - Pizza. Trading during the day taking orders for collection early evening (5/6pm).
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Candles on the Cut - We lovingly craft our signature eco-friendly candles, melts, diffusers, and room sprays.
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The Curry Cruiser serving up popular Indian street food on Friday evening 5:30 PM-7:30 PM, Saturday lunchtime 12:00 - 2:30 PM and Evening 5:30 PM-7:30 PM then Sunday lunchtime 12:00 - 2:30 PM.
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Angry Planet - Handmade bookmarks, engraving, dog tags, and necklaces.
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We sell free-hand routed wooden signs, house signs, shed and door signs, fun street signs, house numbers, kitchen roll holders, bottle openers, personalised signs, and much more.
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Fair Trade clothing from jackets to trousers to dungarees to children’s clothing and much more.
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All Things Spanish serving up delicious Spanish coffees, home made cakes, ice cream, and stainless steel items for canal boats.
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A wide variety of vintage, antique, and modern collectable items.
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Canal Art by Julie, painted canal ware and items of canalia, tea towels, model boats, etc.
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The Coddiwomple Cake Boat - Home made cakes and fudge with hot & cold drinks. A nice selection of ice cream, hot dogs, and milkshakes too.
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“The Vinyl Cut” showcases unique artwork hand cut into vinyl records from Croc on narrowboat Shelby. These are the perfect gift for any music fan or just treat yourself.
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Cheese Aboard the Cheeseboat – Cheese truckles, chutneys, and cheesy gifts.
Visit websiteLocated at and kindly supported by The Navigation Inn. The home of stalls that support charities and other good causes, live entertainment, children's activities, and refreshments. Pedestrian entrance to the festival garden is from the towpath using the brick steps by the herb garden. Please DO NOT use of either set of steps at bridge 35 to/from the A518.
The Trust seeks to reopen the Burslem Branch Canal, creating new waterside facilities to deliver sustainable leisure, tourism, and thus employment.
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Award-winning photographer Kev Maslin is based in the Black Country at the heart of the Midlands waterway network. He has a real passion for capturing inland waterways subjects and travels all around the UK, constantly in search of that perfect picture, although the beautiful Shroppie remains his overall favourite. He produces a Historic Narrow Boats calendar each year and will have copies of the brand new 2027 edition available at Gnosall, along with framed prints and greetings cards.
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Come and have a chat and learn how Gnosall's churches work together.
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Lions meet the needs of local communities and the world every day because they share a core belief - to serve their community.
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We are a group of volunteers funded by charitable donation, we do not get paid for our work. We are trained by West Midlands Ambulance Service and respond to emergency calls for medical help in and around the Gnosall area. We attend 999 calls in our community and provide vital pre-hospital care, assessment and treatment in advance of the arrival of the ambulance - which will always be sent to the incident at the same time. We are not sent in place of the paramedics. Due to the remote nature of the area and particularly communities surrounding Gnosall, an ambulance and or paramedic can take some time to reach the scene of an emergency. As we are in the community already, we can reach the scene quickly. So when you dial 999 and ask for an ambulance, we are dispatched at the same time but may get there sooner.
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PRoW Group's primary aim is to record all the historic Public Rights of Way within the parish boundary. We also have a group of 'Footpath Friends' volunteers who have taken responsibility for the upkeep of some Rights of Way in the parish.
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Main control point for C'Fest 2026. Lost Children Information and directions Children's activities - Pirate hat making, Bridge Building, Dragonfly making, brass rubbing and more...
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Teas, coffees, and great cakes raising money for charities. Please note we are CASH only.
RCR is at its core a breakdown and recovery provider for boaters, and we pride ourselves on providing outstanding customer service.
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The Royal British Legion is at the heart of a national network that supports our Armed Forces community.
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Local charity restoring and promoting the canal from Norbury through Newport to Shrewsbury.
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Society promoting and enhancing our waterway from Wolverhampton to Ellesmere port and associated branches.
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Our vision is of a thriving natural world, with our wildlife and natural habitats playing a valued role in addressing the climate and ecological emergencies, and everyone inspired to get involved in nature’s recovery.
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WWT owns and manages the Whitchurch canal arm and seeks to extend it further towards the town centre. WWT charity was formed in 1988 and its charity registration number is 701050 WWT reopened the Whitchurch Arm of the Llangollen Canal in 1993 The arm provides casual 48 hour moorings for passing boaters as well as a number of long term and winter moorings.
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We are the UK's largest woodland conservation charity. Our vision is a world where woods and trees thrive for people and nature.
Visit websiteWatch skilled craftspeople and waterway enthusiasts demonstrate traditional techniques and canal crafts throughout the festival weekend.
Come and see Chris & Pauline Downs on their floating home as they demonstrate how they hand make decoupage items and other craft items. See the programme for timings.
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Come and see Vicki & Stan on their floating market stall Free Sprit as the demonstrate how they make scented candles, melts and diffusers. See the programme for timings. Timing to be confirmed
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Come and see Kaye Angus onboard her floating treatment room, Eventhia. You'll see demonstrations on how she prepares some of her most popular herbal remedies. See the programme for timings.
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Come and chat with Sue as she makes a rag rug from old fabrics like t-shirts, sheets, or denim cut into strips and joining them via braiding, crocheting, or latch hooking onto a backing.
Come and see Julie on her narrowboat "Lazy Days", moored in the floating market, as she demonstrates the dying art of traditional canal painting. See the programme for timings.
Visit websiteFrom live music and children's activities to guided heritage walks and waterway talks — there's plenty to keep the whole family busy throughout the festival weekend.
If coming to the evening sessions, there is some pub seating but you may find it more comfortable to bring a folding chair. There is considerable undercover space in the garden. Please note that on Saturday/Sunday the Navigation car park is closed and the main festival car park should be used.
There's plenty for you to enjoy at the Boat with Massive Surfboard and Unlawful Men showcasing their best tunes and songs.
Experience the canal as it was meant to be seen, from the water! Our free narrowboat trips are available on Saturday and Sunday and depart on the half hour, every hour offering a 45-minute journey between bridge 35a (Railway) to Cowley Tunnel. Trips are available on a first come, first served basis with tickets available from the Gnosall Towpath Restoration stall located in the festival garden (The Navigation Inn car park) .
Our dedicated volunteers who make it all happen.
Founder Member
Founder member of Gnosall Towpath Restoration group
Founder Member
Chris is responsible for all waterside queries.
Volunteer
Volunteer
Volunteer
Capturing the magic along the Shropshire Union Canal.
Proudly Supported By
Whether you arrive by narrowboat, bicycle, or on foot, the Gnosall Canal Festival welcomes everyone. Free entry, all weekend.
Proudly organised by Gnosall Towpath Restoration Group.
© 2026 Gnosall Canal Festival. All rights reserved.