As you observe the canal low and murky now, look ahead to the merry month of May when Brockport celebrates the Erie Canal opening. The fourth annual “Low Bridge High Water” festival on May 12, 13 and 14 will include history, recreation, music, plus food and drink.
New this year, a mural will be installed in Sagawa Park and dedicated on Saturday, May 14. It is titled “Portraits of Our Past,” by muralist Rick Muto. The popular sculling regatta called the “Village to Village Challenge” (Spencerport to Brockport) returns Saturday after a hiatus last year. Music on Saturday will include the Golden Eagles String Band, Jim Foote’s “Village Music” and Rosanne, Ned and Nick Mascari’s “Thicker Than Water.”
Saturday also includes these family focused activities:
•Poster Contest – The work of fourth graders depicting scenes of the Erie Canal
•Storytelling – Gretchen Sepik as ‘Erie Canal Gal Sal’
•Kids Crafts Events
•Free Pizza Picnic
On Friday evening at the Welcome Center, The Big Tent Craft Beer Event, organized by Stoneyard Brewing, returns with 40 craft breweries participating. The event will raise funds for “Bring Rowing to Brockport”, Camp Good Days and Brockport’s Camp Abilities.
On Thursday, the Morgan-Manning House will host the showing of the new documentary film, “Boom and Bust: America’s Journey on the Erie Canal.”
The “Low Bridge High Water” festival was the inspiration of Village Mayor Margay Blackman over four years ago. “I got to thinking how the mood of winter literally sinks in, as the canal is drained in November,” she said. “Then, I thought about how eagerly people await the return of the water in May. I concluded it’s something we need to celebrate.”
The Mayor said she was pleased to see how the festival and the organizing committee have expanded since 2013. The committee began meeting in October, 2015, to plan this year’s event. Final plans and the schedule will be announced later.
