Annual Canal Fest Returns June 20-21 with Expanded Activities

Mark your calendars! The Erie Canal Foundation’s Annual Canal Fest is returning on June 20-21, 2026, bigger and better than ever. This year’s festival will feature an expanded lineup of activities celebrating the canal’s rich heritage, including live music, historical reenactments, boat rides, and artisan vendors.

New this year is the “Canal Through Time” experience, an immersive walking tour that takes visitors through different eras of the canal’s history. Costumed interpreters will bring to life the stories of canal builders, mule drivers, packet boat passengers, and the communities that thrived along the waterway.

Festival Highlights

This year’s festival includes live folk and bluegrass music on two stages, a children’s activity area with canal-themed crafts and games, a local food court featuring vendors from canal towns, guided kayak tours on the canal, and a sunset lantern ceremony honoring the canal’s builders.

Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for seniors and students, and free for children under 5 and Foundation members. Proceeds support our preservation and education programs. For the full schedule and to purchase tickets early, visit our Events page.