by Kristina Gabalski
Anticipation is building as the water level in the Erie Canal begins to rise, for the first ever Low Bridge High Water celebration in the villages of Brockport and Spencerport.
The event will mark the seasonal spring opening of the canal and activities are planned over a five-day period, from Wednesday, May 1 to Sunday, May 5.
Things get started on Wednesday, May 1 at 7 p.m. at the Morgan Manning House on Main Sreet in Brockport with a slide talk by Tom Grasso, president of the Canal Society of New York on “A History of the Erie Canal.”
Thursday, May 2 at 7:30 p.m., Brockport Village Trustee and Village Historian Emeritus Bill Andrews will present a slide talk, “From Clinton’s Ditch to the Barge Canal,” at the Seymour Library, 161 East Avenue in Brockport. At 8 p.m. local artist Stacey Kirby will present the design for the historic canal mural she will paint for an exterior wall of the Village of Brockport Department of Public Works building.
Author Donna Winters will autograph copies of her book, Bluebird of Brockport, during First Friday from 4 to 6 p.m. on May 3 at the Alumni House, 142 Utica Street in Brockport. Music will be provided by Greg Turner.
Also on Friday, a Stone Soup Auction fundraiser for the Stacey Kirby canal mural will be held at Brockport High School. Viewing begins at 6:30 p.m. followed by an art and antiques auction at 7 p.m.
Events for Saturday, May 4
The Village to Village Challenge Sculling Regatta begins at 10:30 a.m. in Spencerport and heads west to Brockport for the finish.
“Brian Stratton, director of the Canal Corporation, will be watching the race take off,” Spencerport Mayor Joyce Lobene says. Boats are expected to arrive in Brockport at the Welcome Center at 11:30 a.m.
Dignitaries will be invited to board the tugboat DeWitt Clinton at the Spencerport dock and join the flotilla which will be following the Regatta to Brockport. The Village of Spencerport is joining the Regatta, but will celebrate their opening on Heritage Weekend – June 1 and 2, Mayor Lobene says.
The Golden Eagle String Band will perform “Canal Songs” at the canal front Welcome Center on Water Street in Brockport from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Official Canal Opening Ceremony will be held at 12 noon with awards presented for the Regatta and Poster Competition at the Welcome Center. Winning posters created by Brockport Central School 4th graders will be displayed at A Different Path Gallery.
During the April 23 regular meeting of the Brockport Village Board, Trustee Margaret Blackman, who is chair of the Low Bridge High Water Committee, said the Canal Corporation is planning a large event. They will hang bunting from the Park Avenue bridge and “the ribbon cutting will be on the side of the canal,” Trustee Blackman said. She added that a long list of area dignitaries including members of Congress, state, and county legislators and county and town leaders have all been invited.
The “Barge Charge” 5K Race sponsored by the Stetson Club will begin in Corbett Park at 2 p.m. Registration is required and applications are available at the Village Hall or by emailing thestetsonclub@yahoo.com.
The DeWitt Clinton tugboat will also be in Brockport for dockside tours.
From 4:30 – 8 p.m. on Saturday, “A Taste of Brockport” will be held downtown highlighting local food and music.
Participants include: 58 Main; Red Bird Cafe; A Different Path catered by Ashley’s; Lift Bridge Book Shop catered by Carrie Maziarz; Jimmy Z’s Texas Hots; Burrito Fresco; Java Junction; Fountain of Youth Organics; Colleen’s Cafe; Barber’s Grill and Boardwalk.
“It will feature a diverse and interesting menu,” Blackman said, “based on the wine walk in March.”
Tickets are $20 and are available at all participating locations and at the Welcome Center the evening of the event.
All participants should begin the evening at the Welcome Center, where they can pick up a map and admittance bracelet as well as purchase tickets if they have not yet done so.
The celebration wraps up on Sunday, May 5 with Pizza Wars at 12 noon at the Welcome Center with a panel of judges selecting the best pizza in the Greater Brockport Area.
CROP Walk begins at 1 p.m. and will include a portion of the canal path in the route.
At 2:30 p.m., author Donna Winters will read from her book, Bluebird of Brockport, at the Lift Bridge Book Shop on Main Street in Brockport.
At 4 p.m. on Sunday, the Brockport Symphony Orchestra will perform “Erie Canal Rhapsody” at the Seymour College Ballroom on the College at Brockport campus. Donations are welcome.
