Canal Corporation and Partners Kick Off Fourth Annual Canal Splash!

ALBANY, NY (08/06/2009)(readMedia)-- New York State Canal Corporation Director Carmella R. Mantello today joined representatives from the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, Parks and Trails New York, State and local officials, and community organizers at Dutchman's Landing in Lysander, Onondaga County, to kick off the fourth annual Canal Splash!

Canal Splash! is a weekend-long celebration of the history, culture, recreational appeal and beauty of the New York State Canal System, the Canalway Trail and the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor. The three-day, multi-location celebration takes place August 7-9, 2009 and features nearly 100 activities including nature walks, educational exhibits, boating events and races, musical performances and tours.

"The Erie Canal is a not only a historic site that should be maintained for commerce and economic development but also a source of pride for New Yorkers who enjoy its miles of parks, trails and boating," said Governor David A. Paterson. "The Canal Splash! offers so many different activities for New Yorkers of all ages including numerous fun and educational opportunities while also encouraging physical activity."

Director Mantello said, "The fourth annual Canal Splash! has something for everyone to enjoy with nearly 100 events and activities planned throughout the weekend. I encourage residents and visitors to pick one or several events to attend to experience the multitude of recreational, historical, and cultural assets available throughout the Canal System. The Canal Corporation is pleased to continue its partnership with the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor and Parks and Trails New York to build upon the success of this annual event."

Beth Sciumeca, Executive Director, Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, said, "Eighty percent of New Yorkers live within 25 miles of the canal, so Canal Splash! presents a great opportunity for people to enjoy this nationally-significant treasure right in their own backyard."

Robin Dropkin, Executive Director, Parks and Trails New York, said, "Canal Splash! highlights all the interesting and fun things there are to do along the NYS Canal System, and it's just the tip of the iceberg. Between the museums, historic sites, cultural activities, and the Canalway Trail, there is something for all ages and interests."

State Senator John A. DeFrancisco said, "Canal Splash! provides families a fun opportunity to learn about the rich history of the Erie Canal. I am very proud to have the kick-off for this state-wide initiative, right here in our community, at Dutchman's Landing in the Town of Lysander. I applaud the Canal Corporation for spearheading this initiative to bring tourism to our community, and at the same time, provide local residents a weekend of fun-filled activities."

State Assemblywoman Joan K. Christensen said, "Canal Splash! promotes not only the beauty and the historic importance of the Erie Canal for Upstate New York. It also has a ripple effect of promoting physical-fitness. Whether you walk it, bike it, run it or skate it, or picnic alongside it, the canal is a hub for healthy-living for people of all ages. It is family oriented with endless fun possibilities."

Captain Dan Wiles of Mid-Lakes Navigation said, "We've watched Canal Splash! grow from a few waterfront activities to a canals-wide event over the last few years. There's a lot of energy in the organizations and communities that plan for this weekend and it's great to see people take part, have fun and learn."

Central New York is host to several events planned for the August 7-9, 2009 Canal Splash! Throughout the weekend at Dutchman's Landing, Mid-Lakes Navigation will offer Erie Canal Cruises aboard the Emita II. Customers can choose from brunch, lunch or dinner cruises depending on the day. Cruises will also be available just to the east in Brewerton from Seaway Navigation and Tours. There are also landside events to enjoy in Central New York such as Towpath Day - A Salute to the Irish, at Camillus Erie Canal Park, and the 68th Annual Central New York Scottish Games and Festival in the Long Branch Park section of Onondaga Lake Park.

Following are highlights of Canal Splash! events taking place throughout the State this weekend:

Champlain Canal Region

• 5th Annual Cardboard Boat Race - Schuylerville, NY

Come join the fun as a spectator or enter the race. Build a human powered boat made of corrugated cardboard or 100% recycled materials that will hold one crewmember and be seaworthy on the Hudson River in Schuylerville.

• 4th Annual First Nations Intertribal Pow Wow

Enjoy Native American dance, drums, singing and storytelling! There will be various Indian Ceremonies, Host Drum Turtle Drum Singers, Guest Red Hawk Medicine, Red Clover Drum. There will be arts and crafts on display along with hand made items, as well as other exhibitions and displays!

Erie Canal Region

• Miniature Circus Extravaganza, North Tonawanda

Enjoy 25-30 miniature circus displays throughout the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum. Watch jugglers and make circus related crafts in the children's gallery, and ride the 1916 hand carved carrousel and listen to the magical sounds of our Wurlitzer band organ.

• Lockapalooza - Pittsford, NY

Celebrate Rochester's white water kayaking community with a variety of activities for kayakers including free instruction for participants, organized races, and free style competition at Genesee Waterways Center Lock 32 Whitewater Park!

• Pirates of the Erie Canal - Palmyra, NY

The fun starts at dusk on Friday with a free outdoor screening of The Goonies, followed by bed racing on Saturday, Cap'n Kid's games on Sunday, a parade, music, food, craft vendors and more!

• 22nd Annual Little Falls Canal Celebration - Little Falls, NY

Enjoy a parade, canoe races, boat cruises, adults/youth fishing derbies, car show, foot races, bike race, live music, great food, fireworks, and family fun!

• A Walking Tour to Erie Canal, Boyden Turbine Room and Cohoes Falls

On Saturday at 2pm, walk through the former canal prism of the original Erie Canal, the Harmony Mill #3 Boyden Turbine Room (across from this park). Then, walk or drive to the enlarged Erie Canal Lock 18 for a walk through the inside of this 19th century lock chamber and then see the Cohoes Falls.

• Lock 7-12 Canalfest - Montgomery and Schenectady Counties, NY

Celebrate with Schenectady and Montgomery Counties on the Erie Canal. Multiple sites offer activities for everyone including: Water ski Show, Historic Tours, Boat Rides, family activities, music, fireworks and more!!

Oswego Canal

• Magic In Minetto - Minetto, NY

Live music, face painting, local displays, food and drink, and much more!

• Fort Ontario Festival of the Arts - Oswego, NY

Celebrate the arts with music, arts and crafts, dance and literature from the Central New York area, with special events taking place throughout the weekend for children.

Cayuga-Seneca Canal

• Walk Behind the Waterfalls - Watkins Glen, NY

On Friday and Saturday, join a park naturalist on a guided nature walk one mile up the Gorge Trail to explore the origins and history of the gorge. Meet at the end of the parking lot in the main entrance of the park off of Franklin St. / NYS Route 14.

• Welcome Fuzzy Guppies - Waterloo, NY

Stop in and try one of the human powered watercrafts. Rent a canoe, kayak, paddle boat or walk on the water with the hamster ball! A certified instructor will be on site to assist all participants!

A complete program of events is available on-line at www.ptny.org/canalsplash. An informational brochure is also available at various locations along the canal, including many canalside businesses, visitor centers, and canal locks and harbors. For more information about Canal Splash!, please visit www.ptny.org/canalsplash.

Canal Splash! is organized by the New York State Canal Corporation in partnership with the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor and Parks and Trails New York.

The New York State Canal Corporation System is comprised of four historic waterways, the Erie, the Champlain, the Oswego and the Cayuga-Seneca Canals. Spanning 524 miles across New York State, the waterway links the Hudson River, Lake Champlain, Lake Ontario, the Finger Lakes and the Niagara River with communities rich in history and culture.

The Canal Corporation is a proud supporter of the 2009 Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial, a year long celebration designed to commemorate 400 years of progress in the Empire State. For more information on the Quadricentennial, please visit www.exploreny400.com.

For more information regarding events, recreation and vacation opportunities along the Canal System, please visit www.nyscanals.gov or call 1-800-4CANAL4.

The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor is one of 37 National Heritage Areas in the nation. For information, please visit www.eriecanalway.org.

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The New York State Thruway Authority/Canal Corporation offers a free email service called TRANSalert to its customers via email or text messaging to inform them of major incidents and emergencies that may affect travel on the Thruway or navigation on the Canal System. To sign up for the Canal TRANSalert service, customers can visit the Corporation's website at www.nyscanals.gov/tas/. To sign-up for Thruway TRANSalerts please visit the Authority's website at www.nysthruway.gov/tas/.