Erie Canal Bicentennial Celebration Page
Welcome to the page designed to highlight all the upcoming events related to 200 year celebration of the Erie Canal, specifically around the WNY region.
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Upcoming Events
Here's a few of the upcoming celebration events.
For a full view check out our calendar
For a detailed view of an event check out our event details section
October 23
(7-8pm)
Interactive lecture/concert with banjo, bones, spoons, washboard, jaw harp and more, Dave Ruch presents an engaging program of stories, music of life on the canal.
Calendar of Events
Event Details
Saturday May 17 (9am-2pm)
Celebrating the Canals Lockport
69 Canal St, Lockport NY
The first Bicentennial Event for the City of Lockport features opening of the Farmers Market on Canal Street, the Key to the Locks celebration hosted on the lawn of the Erie Canal Discovery Center and the Lock Tender Tribute hosted in the Locks by the Flight for Five. Day will include family fun activities, vendors, food trucks and more!
Thursday June 5 (6:30-8:30pm)
History Cruise
184 Sweeney St. North Tonawanda NY
Join Niagara River Cruises boarding at North Tonawanda Gateway Harbor for this unbelievable event. Come aboard and cruise the canal while listening to a complete narrated history of the canal and the Gateway Harbor area.
Saturday June 7 (10am-11:30am)
Erie Canal Walking Tour
1 Young Street Tonawanda NY
Join us for a 0.5 mile tour of the canal area separating the Twin Cities. The tour will explore the canal waterfront, highlighting the impact the canal had on the community. The tour will include historic buildings and review of the original route of the canal through the Tonawandas as created in 1825 comparing it to how it was changed in the early 20th century. Tour meets at Tonawanda Gateway Harbor at the corner of Niagara Street and Main Street.
Same tour offered on 6/19, 7/12, 7/24, 8/9, 8/21, 9/13 and 9/18
Tuesday June 17 (7:00pm)
The Erie Canal: Creation of the Empire State
100 Knoche Rd. Tonawanda NY
The Tonawanda-Kenmore Historical Society presents a speaker presentation on the History of The Erie Canal. One of Explore Buffalo's founding docents, Debra Hall-Stonish discusses the inital concept of the canal, the political fight to make it a reality, the construction of this civil engineering feat, and its effect on the economy of Buffalo as it became one of the largest inland ports in the world.
Saturday June 21 (6pm-9pm)
Tales from the Canal
1 Young Street, Tonawanda NY
Tonawandas Gateway Harbor Inc presents a night of music and presentations honoring the tales from the Erie Canal. Authentic Americana "Canal" music from Buffalo-based folk duo Sally Schaefer and Tyler Bagwell. Bagwell is an award winning historian that will inject canal history talking points within the music. Breaks will be taken where other notable historic speakers including Rick Falkowski (Buffalo History Books) and Justin Higner (Wheatfield Historian and VP of Das Haus Museum) will discuss the canal and it's impact on the Tonawandas. Other historical societies will table and have displays for public engagement.
Sunday June 22 (12pm-1:30pm)
History Cruise
184 Sweeney St. North Tonawanda NY
Join Niagara River Cruises boarding at North Tonawanda Gateway Harbor for this unbelievable event. Come aboard and cruise the canal while listening to a complete narrated history of the canal and the Gateway Harbor area.
Friday July 4 (6-10pm)
Summer Blast off & Fireworks
Webster Street/Gateway Harbor
We'll be celebrating in style as we close Webster Street and have a variety of family friendly activities including face-painting, portable rock wall, bounce houses, games, activities, free hot dogs for kids and more. Live music at the Tonawanda Gateway Pavilion all followed by a fireworks show from the Renaissance Bridge (Webster Street).
Sunday July 13-July 20 (TBA)
Canal Fest
99 Sweeney St. North Tonawanda NY
The annual tradition, Canal Fest features a plethora of vendors, games, activities, events, performances and more. Located on both sides of the Canal (Tonawanda and NT) the Canal Fest is a main attraction for the summer. Events include Parade, Car and Bike Cruise, Craft Show, Sika Cup Boat Building Contest, Talent Show, All American Lumberjack Show and more! To view a full list of the week long events and entertainment click on the button below.
Sunday July 13 (2:30pm-4pm)
History Cruise
184 Sweeney St. North Tonawanda NY
Join Niagara River Cruises boarding at North Tonawanda Gateway Harbor for this unbelievable event. Come aboard and cruise the canal while listening to a complete narrated history of the canal and the Gateway Harbor area.
Tuesday July 15 (6:30pm-7:30pm)
Canal Fest Parade
Minerva/Grove Tonawanda to
Webster/Goundry St. N. Tonawanda
The annual Canal Fest Parade features a Bicentennial Theme this year. Pull up a chair and enjoy the parade which starts at the corner of Minerva and Grove St. in Tonawanda and ends at Webster and Goundry Street in NT.
Sunday July 13-July 20 (12pm-10:00pm)
Canal Fest
99 Sweeney St. North Tonawanda NY
The annual tradition, Canal Fest features a plethora of vendors, games, activities, events, performances and more. Located on both sides of the Canal (Tonawanda and NT) the Canal Fest is a main attraction for the summer. Events include Parade, Car and Bike Cruise, Craft Show, Sika Cup Boat Building Contest, Talent Show, All American Lumberjack Show and more! To view a full list of the week long events and entertainment click on the button below.
Friday & Saturday July 18-July 19
Erie Canal Boat Seneca Chief
99 Sweeney St. North Tonawanda NY
The Buffalo Maritime Center's Erie Canal Boat Seneca Chief will be at Gateway Harbor on Friday July 18 with on-boat tours starting at 1:30pm. They'll also be doing an exhibit on boat & paddle shaping from 3-7pm. On Saturday it will hold public programming from 11am-3pm and depart at 3;30pm
Sunday July 27 (12:00pm-1:30pm)
History Cruise
184 Sweeney St. North Tonawanda NY
Join Niagara River Cruises boarding at North Tonawanda Gateway Harbor for this unbelievable event. Come aboard and cruise the canal while listening to a complete narrated history of the canal and the Gateway Harbor area.
Monday August 4 (7-8pm)
Floatsam River Circus
Tonawanda Gateway Harbor
Join in for a one-of-a-king experience as this troupe of musicians, circus performers and puppeteers travel to Tonawandas Gateway Harbor on a ramshackle raft, giving a free family-friendly and interactive performance. Since 2019 they have performed for tens of thousands of people across thirteen states and have travelled over two thousand river miles
Thursday August 7 (6-7:30pm)
History Cruise
184 Sweeney St. North Tonawanda NY
Join Niagara River Cruises boarding at North Tonawanda Gateway Harbor for this unbelievable event. Come aboard and cruise the canal while listening to a complete narrated history of the canal and the Gateway Harbor area.
Sunday August 10 (11am-4pm)
Lockport Food Fest
Main Street, Lockport NY
LKPT Food Fest focused exclusively on local and regional restaurants and food trucks, specialty food producers, and local businesses.
• Restaurants offering 1-2 tasting portions of their specialty dishes, showcasing what each establishment does best!
• A marketspace with a collection of Lockport Community Farmers Market vendors as well as additional specialty food businesses.
• Live music all day!
• A large dining tent will be available for easy dining.
This event takes place in Main Street within walking distance of the Erie Canal and Lockport's Flight of Five. There will be a dedicated Bicentennial Information tent providing information about the Locks and directing people to the Locks for further exploration.
Saturday August 16 (11:30am-2pm)
Boat Parade
Tonawandas Gateway Harbor
Led by the Buffalo Maritime Center's Erie Canal Boat Seneca Chief, and the historic Cotter Fireboat, a boat parade will launch from Buffalo Launch Club in Grand Island at 11:30am and make it's down the River (viewable at Niawanda Park) and end at the Tonawandas Gateway Harbor. Boat parade at Gateway Harbor will arrive approximately at 12 noon. Live music, family friendly activities and speakers will be on hand to round out the event.
Saturday August 23 (11am-5pm)
Erie Canal Heritage Market
1851 Niagara St, Buffalo NY 14207
Presented by the Black Rock Historical Society, this event features a re-creation of an historic canal-era market at the crossroads of Niagara Street & Amherst Street - the historic Market Square of the Village of Black Rock.
Activities
will include music, vendors, crafts demonstrations, children’s games, hayrides, guided tours, and reenactors.
Sunday August 24 (12-1:30pm)
History Cruise
184 Sweeney St. North Tonawanda NY
Join Niagara River Cruises boarding at North Tonawanda Gateway Harbor for this unbelievable event. Come aboard and cruise the canal while listening to a complete narrated history of the canal and the Gateway Harbor area.
Wednesday September 3 (6-7:30pm)
History Cruise
184 Sweeney St. North Tonawanda NY
Join Niagara River Cruises boarding at North Tonawanda Gateway Harbor for this unbelievable event. Come aboard and cruise the canal while listening to a complete narrated history of the canal and the Gateway Harbor area.
Sunday September 21 (12-1:30pm)
History Cruise
184 Sweeney St. North Tonawanda NY
Join Niagara River Cruises boarding at North Tonawanda Gateway Harbor for this unbelievable event. Come aboard and cruise the canal while listening to a complete narrated history of the canal and the Gateway Harbor area.
Saturday September 27 (9am-3pm)
Celebrate our Beginnings
NT Botanical Gardens (1825 Sweeney St)
Historical and environmental speakers and information tables, kayaking and
beginners instruction, native plant sale, fun food options, music, garden tours, and a fun children's activity area.. Something for everyone at this event which celebrates the beginnings on the canal!
Saturday September 27 (10am-5pm)
Locktober Fest
59 Canal Street Lockport NY
Help us celebrate the 200th birthday of the Erie Canal with this all day celebration of the community built on the banks of the Flight of Five Locks!!
This year’s event will expand the weekly Community Farmers Market hosting over 55+ local vendors bringing local farm products, specialty foods, and more.
Vendors will also include local nonprofit organizations in an expanded Family Fun Zone to include free games, prizes, and activities for families of all ages to enjoy!
Enjoy food, music, and of course local brews at the Lockotberfest Beer Garden while you discover Lockport and the Flight of Five in a whole new way!
Attendees can watch the last demonstration of the historic Erie Canal Flight of Five Locks by the volunteer Lock Tenders as we wrap up the season!
Thursday October 23 (7-8pm)
A Mule Named Sal: Interactive
100 Church Street Youngstown NY
Join us at the Youngstown Presbyterian Church for this interactive performance.
In this lecture/concert, Dave Ruch presents music from canal diggers, barge workers, immigrants, lake sailors, mule drivers, canal boat captains, and yes, professional songwriters who all contributed to the musical and cultural life surrounding the canal.
With banjo, bones, spoons, washboard, jaw harp, mandolin and more, Ruch presents a highly engaging program of stories, music, history and anecdotes about life on “Clinton’s Ditch,” and the importance ofthe Erie Canal to the growth of New
York City and the nation.
Saturday October 25 (11am-3pm)
Canal Bicentennial Celebration
Long Homestead 24 E. Niagara St, Ton.
Tour the restored 1829 log home on the Erie Canal bank. Speak with the gardener as you tour the historically accurate herb garden. Observe spinners, weavers, bead workers and more as they ply their craft. Visit with local historians and reenactors.
Admission is free. Refreshments will be available. For more information email blonghstd24@gmail.com or visit www.tonawandashistory.org.