Canalway Events
Looking for some local flavor? Find seasonal events along the Erie Canal.
Passing through more than 200 upstate New York communities, the Erie Canalway Trail offers plenty of fairs, festivals and special events along the way.
While summer is the height of festival season, the number of harvest events continues to grow. The Erie Canalway Trail also passes near the Great New York State Fair and many county fairs that celebrate the agricultural heritage and bounty of upstate New York. From crafts to concerts, fireworks to historic reenactments, canal communities are celebrating their heritage and invite you to the party. Events are listed by month, below.
For those focusing more on the ride than recreation, Parks & Trails New York also offers the eight-day Cycle the Erie Canal Annual Bike Tour. Join other end-to-enders cycling the entire canal, from from Buffalo to Albany.
Volunteers are also welcome to join the annual Canal Clean Sweep, hosted by the New York State Canal Corporation and Parks & Trails New York. Spend a spring weekend preparing the Canal for the summer navigation season and the Canalway Trail for increased summer use. More than 100 events across the entire New York State Canal System are held during Canal Clean Sweep.
May
Tulip Festival
Second full weekend in May
Washington Park, Albany
CanalFest
Second Saturday in May
Harbor Visitors Center, Waterford
Lilac Festival
Middle two weeks in May
Highland Park, Rochester
Celebration of Memorial Day
Memorial Day Weekend
National Memorial Day Museum, Waterloo
June
Oz Stravaganza
First weekend in June
Downtown Chittenango
Fairport Canal Days
First weekend in June
Downtown Fairport & Harbor
Allentown Art Festival
Second weekend in June
Allentown Historic District, Buffalo
Strawberry Festival
Second weekend in June
Courthouse Square, Albion
Rochester International Jazz Festival
Third weekend in June
Downtown Rochester
Newark Fest
Early June
Main Street, Newark
Positively Pittsford
Second Sunday in June
Main Street in Pittsford
Firemen’s Carnival
Third Thursday to Sunday in June
Downtown Spencerport
Frankfort Days
Third full weekend in June
Downtown Frankfort
Sunset Festival
Third full weekend in June
Waterfront Park, Sylvan Beach
Canal Festival Day
Third Sunday in June
Chittenango Landing & Boat Museum
Lockport Arts Festival
Late June
Main Street, downtown Lockport
Steamboat Festival
Last weekend in June
Harbor Visitor’s Center, Waterford
July
Friendship Festival
Early July
Waterfront Parks, Buffalo (U.S.) & Fort Erie (Canada)
Cycling The Erie Canal
Second week of July
Buffalo to Albany supported bike ride Parks & Trails New York
Corn Hill Arts Festival
Second weekend in July
Corn Hill Neighborhood, Rochester
Cayuga County Fair
Second Tuesday-Saturday in July
County Fairgrounds, Weedsport
Peppermint Days
Second Thursday-Monday in July
Downtown Lyons
Taste of Buffalo
Second weekend in July
Main Street (Church to Chippewa Streets), Buffalo
Schoharie Crossing Canal Days
Second weekend in July
Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site, Fort Hunter
Convention Days
Third Thursday to Sunday in July
Downtown Seneca Falls
Hill Cumorah Pageant
Second full weekend plus one week in July
Hill Cumorah Center, Palmyra
Monroe County Fair
Second Wednesday-Sunday in July
Monroe County Fairgrounds, Henrietta
Canal Days
Last full weekend in July
Downtown Spencerport
Seneca County Fair
Third Tuesday-Saturday in July
County Fairgrounds, Waterloo
Canal Fest of the Tonawandas
Third to fourth Sunday in July
Gateway Park and Downtown, Tonawanda & North Tonawanda
Rhythm and Blues Festival
Third weekend in July
Clinton Square Neighborhood in Syracuse
Jazz Fest
Third Saturday and Sunday in July
Waterfront Park in Sylvan Beach
Annual Ilion Days
Third and fourth weekends in July
Downtown Ilion
August
Niagara County Fair
First weekend in August
County Fairgrounds, Niagara Falls
Cobblestone Fair
First Saturday in August
Cobblestone Society Museum, Albion
Park Ave Summer Arts Fest
First Monday and Tuesday in August
Park Avenue & S.Goodman Street, Rochester
Tour the Towpath
First Weekend in August
Dewitt to Rome
Wayne County Fair
Second Monday-Saturday in August
Wayne County Fairgrounds, Palmyra
New York State Fair
Twelve days before Labor Day
State Fairgrounds, Syracuse
Canal Splash!
Second weekend in August
Entire NYS Canal System, NYS Canal Corporation
Herkimer County Fair
Second Tuesday-Sunday in August
County Fairgrounds, Frankfort
Brockport Arts Festival
Second weekend in August
Downtown Brockport
Canalfest
Second weekend in August
Downtown Sylvan Beach
Canal Celebration
Second weekend in August
Downtown Little Falls
Clyde Fireman Field Days
Third week of August
Along Erie Canal, Clyde
Altamont Fair
Third Tuesday through Sunday in August
Fairgrounds, Altamont
Empire Farm Days
Mid August
Lott Farm, Seneca Falls
Montgomery County Fair
Fourth Tuesday-Sunday in August
County Fairgrounds, Fonda
Buffalo Wing Festival
Last full weekend of August
Dunn Tire Park, Buffalo
September
Clothesline Festival
First weekend in September
University of Rochester Memorial Art Gallery
Tugboat Roundup
Weekend after Labor Day
Harbor Visitors Center, Waterford
Oktoberfest
Second and Third weekend in September
Camp Eastman Park, Irondequoit
Victory at Saratoga Series
Select dates in September and October
Schuylerville
Golden Harvest Festival
Second weekend in September
Beaver Lake Nature Center, Baldwinsville
Riverfront Jazz Fest
Second weekend in September
Corning Riverfront Preserve, Albany
Pittsford Celebrates
Third Saturday in September
Main Street, Pittsford
Madison County Hop Festival
Third weekend in September
Madison County Historical Society,Oneida
Lark Fest
Third Saturday in September
Lark Street (Between Washington & Madison Avenues), Albany
Canaltown Days
Second weekend in September
Downtown Palmyra
Ongoing
Historic Train Trips
May through December
Railroad Museum, Medina
Concerts on the Canal
Wednesday and Friday evenings from June through August
Gateway Park, North Tonawanda
Concerts at the Gazebo
Sunday evenings from June through August
Canal Harbor Gazebo, Spencerport
Orchard Train Rides
July through October
Watts Farms Country Market, Albion
