Stourbridge Navigation Trust will hold its 41st annual Open Weekend on 17 and 18 October 2026, from 10am to 5pm each day. The event is based at the historic Bonded Warehouse and along Canal Street in Stourbridge, celebrating the canal network with a gathering of working and leisure boats. The Canal & River Trust’s event listing also confirms trade and craft stalls and exhibits for visitors to explore.
A gathering of boats at the Bonded Warehouse
Stourbridge Navigation Trust will hold its 41st annual Open Weekend on 17 and 18 October 2026, from 10am to 5pm each day. The event is based at the historic Bonded Warehouse and along Canal Street in Stourbridge, celebrating the canal network with a gathering of working and leisure boats. The Canal & River Trust’s event listing also confirms trade and craft stalls and exhibits for visitors to explore.
The open weekend is designed to encourage people to spend time beside the Stourbridge Town Arm. Unlike a commercial boat show, the programme brings together heritage, community organisations and small traders, offering a relaxed way to discover boats and the people who maintain and use them. Families can enjoy the atmosphere without needing to be experienced narrowboat owners.
Engine displays, vehicles and local craft
The organisers have announced boat and engine exhibits, classic vehicles, craft displays and food stalls. These elements offer several different points of interest: someone fascinated by traditional engines may spend time examining the machinery, while another visitor might prefer learning how canal trade shaped local industries. A real-ale bar is also planned, with appropriate arrangements for adult guests.
Industrial exhibits are valuable because canals were built to move goods and support manufacturing, not originally as leisure attractions. Looking closely at older machinery can make the connection between transport and local industry tangible. Visitors should follow the directions of exhibition staff and avoid touching operating equipment unless expressly invited to do so.
Sunday offers a chance to travel by water
The Trust’s listing specifies that canal boat trips are planned for Sunday 18 October. A short boat journey can give children and first-time visitors a sense of the pace and scale of inland navigation, changing the perspective they gain from the towpath. Boarding arrangements, departure times, capacity and any separate fares should be checked with the organisers before travelling.
A weekend event with several activities works best when visitors leave enough time to explore rather than scheduling every hour in advance. Watching boats arrive or manoeuvre may be just as memorable as seeing a display. Families should keep younger children close beside water, locks and busy boarding points.
A heritage event with a practical future
Stourbridge Navigation Trust presents the event as part of its ongoing objective of encouraging use of the town arm. Keeping such routes active requires both specialist maintenance and public interest, and a well-attended gathering can introduce the waterway to people who have never considered a canal holiday or club membership.
The two-day programme is scheduled rather than already completed. People planning to attend should check final details, access arrangements and any weather-related changes through the event organiser. Its appeal is the varied mix of boats, history and community activities in a genuine canal location rather than a single headline attraction.
Source
British Marine