Every year for example the Nowka Bais Bangladeshi boat race on Edgbaston Reservoir draws in large crowds. Nowka Bais is the traditional form of dragon boat style racing in rural villages of Bangladesh held after the monsoon rains and reflects many of the customs of the country.

Since Birmingham’s main reservoir became the home of Nowka Bais in 2015, it has gone from strength to strength and has now become one of the country’s leading Bangladeshi cultural events, attracting thousands of people from all over the UK and Europe with the reservoir acting as the stage and the dam as the public gallery.

Similarly, in 2024 the Canal and River Trust and the CBSO launched a joint ‘Bringing the Light’ event, comprising a community lantern making workshop followed by a lantern-lit walk along the canal accompanied by musicians on narrow boats to the CBSO centre for a community concert. The magic of light, music and water attracted over 100 people including many who were not familiar with either the CBSO or the canals.