A flotilla of 20 boats was the highlight of the day, travelling along a 2.5-mile route from Tinsley Marina to Victoria Quays.
The celebrations lasted 12 hours, (11am-11pm). A giant igloo hosted a range of activities including a silent disco, (with family and adult sessions), a live theatre experience with huge storybook, plus live music at Dorothy Pax bar, a fire dancer and local DJ, a pop-up café oral histories archive and a night time giant light projection showing images from the canal archives.
Sean McGinley, regional director for the Canal & River Trust, said: “We've been bowled over by the public turnout on this momentous day. It's been truly amazing and a great day for the city of Sheffield starting with the commemorative flyover at Endcliffe Park. A big thank you to everyone who has helped make this day so special - but this is just the start! We have a year-long programme of bicentenary celebrations coming up to help local communities and visitors to (re)discover the Sheffield & Tinsley Canal. This living waterway is a fantastic place for all to enjoy for leisure activities, local wildlife and heritage.”
Tom Wright, development and engagement manager for the Canal & River Trust, added: “Today has been about recreating some of the excitement the local community might have felt when the canal opened in 1819, in the heyday of the industrial revolution. Events like this are helping to put the canal back on the map and we'd love to hear from anyone who would like help with future activities as our charity looks after this space. There are lots of ways to help – from creating and looking after wildlife habitats to restoring locks, tackling plastic and litter pollution and helping at events.”
Find out more about upcoming bicentenary events.
