The Gnosall Canal Festival, known locally as C'Fest, is in full swing for three days of live music, floating markets, boat trips, and family activities along the Shropshire Union Canal. Organised by the Gnosall Towpath Restoration Group (GTR) in association with Gnosall Parish Council, the festival has grown steadily since its launch in 2019 into one of the area's most loved community events.
What's On
Over 60 stalls will line the canal selling handmade crafts, nautical antiques, locally grown produce, and unique gifts. There will also be live demonstrations on board moored narrowboats, including traditional canal painting, decoupage, candle making, gemstone jewellery, and wax melts. Free narrowboat rides are available — pick up tickets from the GTR stand in the festival garden behind The Navigation Inn.
Children can enjoy a range of activities including pirate hat making, bridge building, dragonfly making, brass rubbing, and a duck hunt puzzle hidden around the festival site. A raffle drawn on both Saturday and Sunday evenings offers prizes including a day boat trip, with tickets available at the GTR stand and the Bridge 34 Gazebo near The Boat Inn.
Live music runs throughout the weekend, with acts including Massive Surfboard (rock and blues), Simple Folk (acoustic folk), The Oss Road (pop, jazz and folk), and several solo acoustic performers. A towpath foraging walk with herbal remedy expert Kaye is also planned, weather permitting. Flower the horse will also be making her annual visit from Norbury Wharf.
Food and Drink
Refreshments are available throughout the weekend. The Bridge 34 Gazebo near The Boat Inn will serve hot and cold drinks plus burgers and hotdogs from noon to 5pm. The Navigation Inn will offer breakfasts from 10:30am to noon and a full food menu from noon to 10pm, with an outside bar also open.
Getting There
Gnosall sits on the A518 between Stafford and Newport. Free car parking is available (weather permitting) just past Bridge 34 next to The Boat Inn on Wharf Road (what3words: ///yours.swimsuits.grins).
By bus, Arriva services 5, 5A or 5B run regularly between Stafford and Telford. Alight at the Navigation Inn and it is a short walk to the towpath. From Stafford railway station, the village is around 6 miles by taxi or bus.
A free shuttle bus will run on Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 4pm, looping around the village every 20 to 30 minutes and stopping at the Navigation Inn, Brookhouse Road, Sharman Way, Gnosall Surgery, Greenfields, Glebe Lane, Bank Top Garage, The Acorns, Mill Lane, and The Boat Inn. Donations to Gnosall Towpath Restoration Group are warmly welcomed.
You can access the canal at The Boat Inn (Bridge 34), The Navigation Inn (Bridge 35), and the old railway line (Bridge 35a) on National Cycle Route 55.
The full programme of events will be confirmed closer to the festival date.
Source: gnosallcanalfestival.co.uk
