Registration for 5th Annual Canal Splash! Now Open

ALBANY, NY (05/17/2010)(readMedia)-- The New York State Canal Corporation, the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor and Parks & Trails New York have announced that the Fifth Annual Canal Splash! will take place during the weekend of August 13-15, 2010. This year's Canal Splash! will offer a series of locally organized events designed to highlight the history, beauty, culture and recreational appeal of the New York State Canal System and Canalway Trail.

Governor David A. Paterson said, "As we look ahead to the summer tourism season, I encourage communities and businesses surrounding the New York State Canal System and Canalway Trail to participate in Canal Splash!. Through the Canal Splash!, residents and visitors to the State will be able to celebrate the beauty and recreational opportunities of the Canal System and Erie Canalway."

Carmella R. Mantello, Director of the New York State Canal Corporation, said, "As we prepare for another exciting Canal Splash! weekend, I encourage Canal communities, businesses, and non-profits to register events and take part in a celebration of all that the New York State Canal System has to offer. The Canal Corporation is pleased to partner with the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, Parks & Trails New York, and communities across the Canalway Corridor to ensure the continued growth of this annual event."

Beth Sciumeca, Executive Director of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, said, "Canal Splash! is an opportunity to showcase the many great recreational and cultural assets of the New York State Canal System and the National Heritage Corridor. Canal Splash! events and activities invite people to discover what makes the Erie Canalway a great place to live and visit."

Robin Dropkin, Executive Director of Parks and Trails New York, said, "What a great way for Canal communities and local residents to celebrate summer while also capitalizing on the Canal System's uniqueness to draw more visitors to the Corridor! I encourage all communities along the Canals and the Canalway Trail to consider participating in the 2010 Canal Splash! weekend."

Any Canal Corridor community, business, club or non-profit organization may participate in the Canal Splash! and may register its event at www.nyscanals.gov/exvac/special-events/splash/index.html. Examples of local events include, but are not limited to, nature or history walks along the Canal or Canalway Trail; museum gallery features or exhibits; group bicycle rides on the Canalway Trail; rowing regattas; Canalside business or restaurant specials; kayak or canoe tours; cruise boat tours; Canal festivals, concerts and more.

The Canal Corporation encourages those along the Canal to help create awareness and generate additional exposure for their communities, businesses or events by participating in this year's Canal Splash!. Last year's Canal Splash! featured more than 120 events and attracted tens of thousands of visitors during the three day, multi-location celebration.

Canal Splash! will be promoted through a printed guide that will be distributed widely during July and August and will drive people to the online listing. In order to gain maximum exposure, it is encouraged that events be registered no later than June 3, 2010 to be included in the printed guide.

For more information about the Fifth Annual Canal Splash! or to register an event, please refer to www.nyscanals.gov/exvac/special-events/splash/index.html or contact the New York State Canal Corporation at (518) 436-3055.

The New York State Canal 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.

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 49 National Heritage Areas in the nation. For information visit www.eriecanalway.org.

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/.

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