Fall brings a whole new round of fun on state Canal System
This weekend marks the beginning of Locktoberfest celebrations across the state. Sponsored by the New York State Canal Corp., Locktoberfest was launched in 2014 as a way to show activities along the canals are still going strong even when the leaves start to change.
"Now is the time to check out what makes the Canal System so special," said Brian U. Stratton, Canal Corp. director. "Locktoberfest is a great way to experience the canals and have a lot of fun."
The first of the five Locktoberfest celebrations kicks off this Saturday, Sept. 29, in Lockport, on the Erie Canal's western end.
The all-day event on Canal Street in Lockport features an expanded community market, art, craft beer and wine tastings, historic lock demonstrations and musical entertainment. Highlights include a guided historical boat tour along the Erie Canal and a visit from selfie-loving Sal the Mule. For more information, go to
www.locktoberfest.org.
Other Locktoberfest celebrations will be held in October in these communities:
Phoenix (Oct. 6) - The fourth-annual Locktoberfest along the Oswego Canal will feature live music all day and into the night, a food court and craft vendors. More information:
https://www.phoenixrising13135.com/.Rome (Oct. 6) - This event, in the city where construction of the Erie Canal began 201 years ago, will be next to the Canal in Bellamy Harbor Park, and will include a family-friendly 15-mile bike ride, sponsored by the Mohawk Valley Bicycling Club. For the children, there will be a fishing derby and free horse rides. The grown-ups can enjoy a concert from The Old Main and an art show. More information:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1929547817084225.
Seneca Falls (Oct. 6) - This is the second Locktoberfest in this historic Cayuga-Seneca Canal community. It will include a wide range of craft, food and beverage vendors, as well as games for children and live entertainment. More information:
http://locktoberfest.senecafalls.com/.
Fort Edward (Oct. 13) - The Locktoberfest season concludes on the Champlain Canal, with an afternoon of events, including free draft-horse wagon rides leaving from the Canal Street Marketplace to the Old Fort House Museum. Local breweries will also offer tastings. More information:
https://www.facebook.com/Fort-Edward-Locktoberfest-300254116996100/About the New York State Canal Corp.:
New York's canal system includes four historic canals: the Erie, Champlain, Oswego and Cayuga-Seneca. Spanning 524 miles, the waterway links the Hudson River with the Great Lakes, the Finger Lakes and Lake Champlain. The canals form the backbone of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor and connect hundreds of unique and historic communities. In 2018, New York is celebrating the centennial of the New York State Canal System.
