The BCN 24 Hour Marathon Challenge will take place again this year on the weekend of Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th May 2026. The finishing point will be Titford Pumphouse to coincide with the BCNS Summer Rally & AGM The format will remain similar to previous events. The organiser is Jonathan Pegg and the email address for …
Black Country Boating Festival – 11-13th September 2026
The Black Country Boating Festival is an annual boating and community festival held on the Dudley No2 Canal at Bumblehole Local Nature Reserve. The festival is open on Friday evening 6 pm to 10 pm and on Saturday and Sunday 10 am to 5 pm. Further details on the event can be found on the website – BCBF
Brownhills Canal Festival – 15-16th August 2026
The Brownhills Canal Festival is held on the third weekend of August each year, on the Wyrley and Essington Canal at Silver Street. The festival has floating traders, historic narrowboats, land traders and lots more. It is organised by the Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust Further details can be found at the LHCRT website –LHCRT
BCNS ICICLE CRUISE – 20th – 21st March 2026 – Walsall Canal – Moorcroft Junction to Walsall Town Basin
BCN Society Icicle Cruise 20th-21st March 2026. The meeting point for boaters on Friday evening is at Moorcroft Junction moorings. Disperse Sunday 22nd March 2026. The event is free to enter and your details are only required for insurance purposes. The point of contact for the event is Michael Smith-Keary, email – sk63@btinternet.com Please download and complete the form (below) …
BCNS Social Events Talks Programme January to April 2026
The Social Secretary and Meetings organiser, Andy Tidy, has arranged the following programme of talks for January to April 2026 Thursday 8th January 2026 Phil Wild – Illustrating changes in the BCN using photos from the BCNS Archive Collections Thursday 5th February 2026 Julian Souter – History of the Staffs & Worc Canal Construction Thursday 5th March 2026 …
BCNS – Boat Gathering – Friday 16th – Sunday 18th May 2025
The BCNS Boat Gathering will be held at Titford Pumphouse on the weekend of May 16th, 17th, and 18th, 2025. It will coincide with the end of the first Explorer Cruise and the Society AGM, which will be held on Friday evening. Friday 16th May 2025 Explorer Cruise Arrives AGM Quiz night and real ale bar Saturday 17th …
BCNS Social Events Talks Programme 2025
The Social Secretary and Meetings organiser, Andy Tidy, has arranged the following programme of talks for 2025 Thursday 6th February 2025 Andy Tidy – The Ridgacre and Beyond Thursday 6th March 2025 Phil Clayton – River Thames – Every drop is liquid history Thursday 3rd April 2025 Martin O’Keefe …
Recording oral histories of people involved in canal restorations 1950 – 1990
The Society has been contacted by the Inheritage group, who, in working with CRT, are seeking to capture an oral history of those who were involved in canal restorations locally between 1950 and 1990. The aim is to record this important period in the history of Britain’s canals by talking to people who worked on restoration projects. If …
Coombeswood Canal Trust – Open Weekend 7-8th June 2025
The Trust is planning an Open Weekend for the 7th and 8th June 2025. More details will be released in due course.
BCLM Tug Gathering – 3-5th May 2025
A rally for Tugs, dayboats and IceBoats is planned to be held on the Black Country Living Museum Site. The event is scheduled for the weekend of 3rd – 5th May 2025.