As celebrations marking 225 years of the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal draw to a close, the community is preparing for a fitting finale: Light Up the Canal — a lantern-lit parade that will illuminate Brecon on Friday 12 December.

Over the past week, the anniversary programme has shone a spotlight on the canal’s heritage, the people who care for it, and the communities who live, work and visit along its banks. Talks, guided walks, school lantern-making workshops, and heritage activity sessions have brought hundreds together to reconnect with a waterway that has shaped Brecon’s identity for more than two centuries.

This final event brings it all together — history, creativity, celebration, and a shared sense of place.

Lighting the Way: The Parade

Everyone is invited to take part in the closing lantern procession, which begins at 6.30pm at the Brecon Sports Association Playing Fields.

Families, community groups, canal users, and visitors will walk together from the fields, along the historic canal route, and towards the water’s edge.

The procession will arrive at Theatr Brycheiniog for 7pm, where the celebrations continue with:

• Live entertainment from the Brecon Shanty Men
• Refreshments at Theatr B
• A final moment of shared light as lanterns reflect across the water

Whether you bring a handmade lantern, a torch, or simply your presence, the event invites everyone to help “light up” this much-loved waterway — a symbolic gesture for a canal that continues to inspire residents and visitors alike.

Why This Celebration Matters

The Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal is one of the most cherished features of Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park, supporting biodiversity, wellbeing, active travel and tourism. This anniversary has offered space to reflect on:

• The canal’s heritage and engineering significance
• The volunteers and organisations who maintain and champion it
• Its economic role, supporting towpath businesses, boat hire companies, cafés and attractions
• Its future, as communities continue to advocate for investment, preservation and year-round enjoyment

Light Up the Canal is more than a finale — it’s a reminder of how deeply this waterway runs through the story of Brecon.

Be Part of the Finale

If you’ve wondered how to get involved in the anniversary, this is your moment.

Bring your lanterns, wrap up warm, and join the community as Brecon closes its 225th year of celebrations with a glow of shared hope and heritage.

📍 Friday 12 December

🕡 Meet 6.30pm – Brecon Sports Association Playing Fields

🚶 Parade arrives 7pm – Theatr Brycheiniog / Canal Basin

🎶 Shanty Men performance & refreshments available