Since October 2016, the organizing committee for “Low Bridge High Water” festival has been planning this year’s event. In its fifth year, activities Thursday through Saturday, May 11, 12 and 13, will again include history, recreation, music, plus food and drink. With a full schedule of events to come, here is an overview of planning to date.
New this year is the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the first digging of the Erie Canal. The Seymour Library will have a major exhibit with an opening reception May 6 and the exhibit lasting through July 14. There will be Erie Canal artifacts from the Emily L. Knapp Museum, images from Drake Library archives, and books from private collections. These and other exhibit features are being planned by the Brockport Community Museum. On Thursday evening, May 11, the Morgan-Manning House will showcase a Power Point and talk, Erie Canal Legacy: Architectural Treasures of the Empire State by Richard O. Reisem and Andy Olenick, co-authors of a book by the same title.
Also for the anniversary celebration, on Saturday, May 13, fourth-grade students will reenact the canal’s 1817 groundbreaking ceremony in Rome. Chris Albrecht will direct his fourth-grade actors and Bill Andrews will provide the script and the setting from archives.
New this year, on Thursday afternoon, May 11, there will be the dedication of a mural on the railroad bridge on Main Street. As gateway art, the mural celebrates Brockport’s history and will replace the Helen Smagorinsky billboard painting near the railroad bridge. The mural is a joint effort between the village and the Walk! Bike! Brockport! Action Group.
The Big Tent Craft Beer Event again will be held on Friday evening, May 12. Also continuing tradition, Saturday, May 13 events will include music by the Golden Eagle String Band, a free pizza picnic, kids’ crafts events, and awards for winners of the fourth-grade Erie Canal poster contest. New on Saturday, Bert’s Box fitness studio in Brockport will conduct workshops for all ages, including powerlifting, weightlifting, gymnastics and rowing.
Final plans and the Low Bridge High Water schedule will be announced later
