Boat and trade entries have been coming in thick and fast. Arrangements have now been finalised for a grand opening ceremony boat parade, which we are hoping will be led by Tipton icon 'Caggy' which once belonged to the legendary Alan Stevens, a familiar figure on the Tipton canal scene.

Please note that the boat entry link is now live. Note that ALL requested information should be submitted, otherwise your entry may be rejected. Trader entry forms may be requested by contacting the Tipton Community Association. Links to all entries can be found by following this link:

Good news! Following a successful first meeting we're pleased to announce that the Festival will definitely go ahead and the next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday 17th January.

The Birmingham Canal arrived in Tipton in 1770 and over the next 50 years the town became the centre of a dense network with over 13 miles of navigable waterways within its boundaries. This led to Tipton being known as the ‘Venice of the Midlands’. At the nearest point to Dudley on the original Birmingham canal, warehouses and wharves sprung up and became known as Dudley's port; later becoming Dudley Port.