TONAWANDA, N.Y. — Canal Fest of the Tonawandas is right around the corner. The eight-day festival will kick off Sunday, July 14 until Sunday, July 21.
Similar to years past, the festival will have live music, food, beer vendors, children's activities, and fireworks. There are countless activities each day of the festival, starting with the Chalk-It-Up street art contest on Main Street Tonawanda and continuing with the parade.
Canal Fest Tonawanda Recording Secretary and Volunteer Debbie Darling said this year's Canal Fest has some new activities to do and see. Opening day will feature the Seneca Chief, a replica of the very first boat to go down the Erie Canal.
There also will be a brand new event this year. The first disc golf tournament kicks off Saturday, July 20 in Elliott Creek Park. Interested players can still register online.
"Every day is jam-packed with something on both sides of the canal," Darling said. "There's enough to do and see all day long."
Last year's Canal Fest had some money issues and almost had to cancel the whole festival. The event relies heavily on sponsorship funding and deals with two municipalities, North Tonawanda and the city of Tonawanda Darling said. It's the entire executive board and volunteers who "wear more than one hat" that make this event a success.
"100 percent of what we do in this community for Canal Fest goes back into the community, Darling said. "We don't get paid to do this, everyone is volunteer so funding is huge."
The Canal Fest is always looking for more people to help out and make sure this event can happen every year to the level they want, Darling said. The crew hopes to have even more volunteers next year for the bicentennial of the Erie Canal.
"When we come down here and see what we achieve, and hundreds of people come down here and are having such a great time, that's what makes it all worth it," Darling said. "It makes me so proud and excited to say that, 'we did this.''"
For more information or to join the volunteers, you can email info@canalfest.org.