by Maggie Fitzgibbon
Each year the Canal Days Car Show draws hundreds of car enthusiasts from all over the area as they showcase their prized set of wheels. This year proves to be another successful show. The 2013 Spencerport Canal Days Car Show will take place on Saturday, July 27 at Pineway Ponds Park in Spencerport. Registration will take place from 9 a.m. until noon and the awards presentations will begin at 3 p.m. The show will be held rain or shine.
As in years past, event organizers hope to draw the hundreds of car and truck buffs. Spencerport resident John Krywy chairs this event.
“We hope to attract over 300 vehicles this year. Last year, a gentlemen traveled from Ontario, Canada to showcase his car,” Krywy said.
This is a judged show and prizes will be awarded to the top 50 vehicles. Awards will also be presented to 16 specialty vehicles. Mike Vickers, radio personality from Legends 102.7, will DJ the event and Barton’s Parkside Hots will provide food for purchase.
Those interested in showcasing their vehicle can register. The first 200 who register will also receive a free dash plaque. Registration information can be found online at spencerportcanaldays.com and click on the car show link.
Canal Days makes Spencerport Someplace Special
Spencerport Canal Days 2013 Committee: (standing first row) John Krywy, Lori Antonelli, Becky Daniels, Alba Alonci, Wendy Dandrea, Ginny Swarthout, John Gnage, Gail McQuilkin; (second row) Richard Mogab, Dan Goodison, Glynne Schultz; missing from photo: Dave Moore.Each year in July, thousands of people come to the Village of Spencerport to celebrate a summer tradition, Spencerport Canal Days. For many, this is a time to peruse the arts and crafts on display, sample summer festival food, listen to the wide array of musicians but also a time to meet and visit with friends, neighbors and even former classmates.
Amy Stone-Paris grew up in Spencerport but now lives in North Carolina. Each year, she plans a trip home around the Canal Days weekend and looks forward to meeting up with old friends.
“My mom still lives in the Village of Spencerport and when possible, we try to plan a summer trip home that coincides with Canal Days. My family enjoys all Canal Days has to offer – the car show, the vendors, activities for kids and the great variety of food. Last year, I met up with some school friends. There is so much that Spencerport has to offer, the history, and the character of the village. Where else can you visit and see a lift bridge? Canal Days brings the community together and shows off all Spencerport can offer,” Stone-Paris said.
Spencerport Mayor Joyce Lobene echoes Stone-Paris’ thoughts and notes that events like Canal Days are beneficial not only because they give visitors a chance to see all the amenities the village offers, but Canal Days also serves as economic drivers for area businesses.
“Canal Days is a celebration of Spencerport. It brings the community together and the events showcase the Erie Canal. Whether people are shopping the various vendors, or purchasing a chicken dinner from the firemen, it’s great to see the happy faces of residents and visitors as people walk through the village. And most importantly, Canal Days draws people to the village who patronize the area businesses and people get to see how special Spencerport really is,” Mayor Lobene said.
Teaching tug to visit during Canal Days
She’s 112 years old, still chugging along the Erie Canal, and is described as one of the oldest working vessels in the United States.
During the summer festival season, the tugboat called the Urger, and her crew of four, travel the Erie Canal giving tours and educating people about the history of the Canal. During the Canal Days weekend, the Urger will make a stop in Spencerport. Look for it on the northeast side of the canal near the lift bridge.
In her early days afloat, this tug was used as a commercial shipping vessel. But in the 1920s, she was sold and became part of the New York State Canal fleet. The Urger served more than 60 years on the Erie and Champlain canals until she was retired in the 1980s. In the early 1990s, she re-entered the water as a teaching vessel. The tug now visits communities where her crew educates children and adults about the importance of the Erie Canal in New York state history, how the Canal was built, and the history of the vessel itself.
Wendy Marble is the captain of the Urger. She, along with three other crew members, live on the Urger for six months a year touring the Canal.
“During the school year, we share the tug with fourth graders who are studying New York state history, and in the summer months, we travel to different towns and villages and open the tug for tours. The Erie Canal has been in operation since 1825, and it’s our goal to build awareness and create an appreciation of the history of the Canal. We hope once folks tour the Urger that they will want to create their own adventure on the Canal,” Marble said.
The Urger will be docked on the Canal in Spencerport during Canal Days and will be open for tours on July 27 and 28 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Get your gator for the 2013 Canaligator Race
What’s a canaligator? Visit the Spencerport Canal Days and find out! The Canal-igator Race will be held on Sunday, July 28, as the final event to the Canal Days weekend. At 4 p.m., hundreds of small, numbered, green alligators, dubbed canaligators, will be dropped into the Erie Canal. Prizes will be awarded to the canaligators that cross the finish line and include a $500 Wegmans gift card, a $200 Tops Markets gas card, a Vera Bradley gift set, Limousine Wine Tour, and a “Spencerport Dining Passport,” a collection of gift certificates to Spencerport area restaurants.
Interested in sponsoring a winning canaligator? Before the Canal Days weekend, you can sponsor a canaligator by purchasing tickets at The Unique Shop, located in Spencerport village. During Canal Days you can adopt them at the Spencerport Canal Days information booth. Tickets cost $5 each, or 5 tickets for $20.
Spencerport resident Becky Daniels noted the importance of the race as one of the Canal Days events.
“Revenue from other sources of the event must be used to pay for things like rented equipment, insurance and similar production needs. But all proceeds from canaligator sales are donated to local projects and good causes. The 2012 proceeds were donated to our local Eagle Star veterans home, the Ogden Farmers’ Library, the Vietnam Veteran’s Chapter 20, and the Spencerport High School Positive Behavior initiative. We’ve also donated to the local food shelf and the Aurora House,” Daniels explained.
Daniels coordinates this race along with Glynne Schultz and Alba Alonci.
“It’s a great feeling to work with a small, dedicated team of volunteers to create some summer fun for friends and neighbors,” said Daniels.
More information about any of the Canal Days events can be found at spencerportcanaldays.com.
Crafts and fun aplenty at Canal Days
by Maggie Fitzgibbon
Are you looking for a special gift or a unique piece of art? The artists at this year’s Canal Days will display a wide range of artwork in many different genres and price ranges.
According to Wendy Dandrea, Canal Days Arts/Crafts and Entertainment Coordinator, this year’s show will be judged.
“Our goal was to bring unique and different artists to Canal Days and a judged show will draw those types of artists and give us the chance to showcase their goods. We will judge the best in show and award first, second and third place prizes,” Dandrea explained.
Ginger Blue Décor is new to Canal Days this year. This husband wife team crafts home décor and outdoor garden artwork from flat steel and old ceiling tin. Among other interesting artists: Ropeworks USA, handcrafters of rope wine holders, and Generous Spirit Jewelry, which sells vintage jewelry. Richie Bears Emporium will return this year; he is an author of children’s books.
“We have artists coming from Ohio, Florida and North Carolina,” Dandrea said.
The weekend will kick off with a street concert on Friday, July 26. Parts of Union Street will be blocked off to traffic. The popular party band Ruby Shooz will perform beginning at 7 p.m. Throughout the Canal Days weekend, performers will entertain at stages located throughout the village. Amusement rides for children as well as horse and buggy rides for the little ones can be found in the Firemen’s Field.
On Saturday, July 27 at 11 a.m., a karate demonstration will take place in front of the Gazebo and at 1:30 p.m., Magic Joe will entertain children of all ages at the Union Street Stage. The Oasis Bliss Belly Dancers perform on Sunday, July 28 at 2 p.m. at the Gazebo.
For other information, check out the map and listings in this special Canal Days section that notes a complete list of exhibitors, vendors and performers and a map of the sites, or visit the Canal Days website at spencerportcanaldays.com.
The Spencerport Depot and Canal Museum will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday of Canal Days. On Saturday, July 27, stop in between 1 and 3 p.m. to see wool spinning demonstrations. The Depot is a wonderful spot to enjoy a quiet vantage point of the festival and a great place to relax a bit. It is located on the southeast side of the canal.
