New events added to Canal Days line-up

New events added to Canal Days line-up
Have you ever seen a Canaligator?

Each year, community residents look forward to the annual Canal Days festivities held in Spencerport village. This year, Canal Days will be held July 27, 28 and 29. This year celebrates the 26th year of this popular community event. The Canal Days Committee has worked hard throughout the year to bring new and different events and vendors to this popular community festival. "Although our committee is small in numbers, we are all community oriented. Our goal is to make this event bigger and better than last year. It's family oriented and enjoyed by our immediate community and people from throughout New York and surrounding states," said Ginny Swarthout, director of the Canal Days Committee.

This three-day event will kick-off on Friday, July 27 with a street dance held in downtown Spencerport. In order to accommodate this event, Union Street will be closed from Amity Street to West Avenue. The Friday night musical group has not been confirmed, however, Jim LeBeau from Beau Productions, the festival organizer, guarantees fun entertainment. Food to satisfy any palate will be available during the street dance, including some of the local restaurants.

The 2007 Annual Canal Days Car Show will be held on Saturday, July 28 at Pineway Ponds Park. Registration will be held from 9 to 11:30 a.m. with peer voting from noon to 1:30 p.m. Trophies will be presented at 3:30 p.m. Pre-registration is $10 per entry before July 16 and $15 the day of the show and there is no charge for spectator admission. On the day of the Car Show, parking at Pineway Ponds Park will be open only for Car Show participants until 1 p.m. Spectator parking is available at Terry Taylor School located about a half-mile north of Pineway Ponds Park. A shuttle bus will run between Pineway Ponds Park, the Canal Days site downtown and Terry Taylor School. Car show pre-registration forms are available on the Canal Days website at www.spencerportcanaldays.com.

New to Canal Days this year will be an event called Canaligator. "This suggestion came to us from Gary Tiernan, a former Canal Days Committee member. We were chatting about how we could revitalize the events to keep attracting people to Canal Days," said Canal Days committee member Kathy Magin. Small, green, rubber alligators will be available for adopting at The Unique Shop located in Spencerport and various other area outlets and individuals. Alligators will be sold for $5 each and each alligator will be marked with a number. On Sunday, July 29, these adopted alligators will be launched into the canal and the first alligator crossing the finish line will be the winner for its "owners." Prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place winners. Swarthout said the proceeds from this event will be given to a community project.

The Canal Days Race on the Canal will take place on Sunday, July 29 starting at 1 p.m. and will include canoe, kayak and tandem races. The race will start at the public dock near the Gazebo and the finish line will be at the Union Street bridge. The first race will be with single kayaks with eight slots available for this race. The second race will be a doubles race with canoes and tandems. Eight slots are also available for this race. This year, The Race on the Canal is structured differently from past races because the race committee was looking to increase the number of participants. Peter O'Brien, director of Parks and Recreation for the Town of Ogden and Race on the Canal coordinator said, "We were looking to change, to get more people involved and make this event a grassroots race. We are able to do this because Dave Connors of Canaltown Paddlesports is donating all the kayaks, canoes and tandems."

There is no entry fee for this event; however, racers must enter by 10 a.m. on July 29. Prizes will be awarded. Interested participants may enter at the Canal Days Information Booth at Canal Days. Race on the Canal registration forms are also available on the Canal Days website at www.spencerportcanaldays.com.

As in years past, Canal Days goers can expect a host of arts and crafts dealers and a variety of food vendors. Over 100 arts and crafts dealers are expected this year. Food vendors will offer a menu of treats from hot dogs, sausages and sno-cones to cotton candy, fried dough and ice cream. Entertainment can be found throughout the Canal Days weekend with local and regional entertainers showcasing their talents at the canal side Gazebo Stage and at the Union Street Stage.

Watch for the upcoming special Canal Days section in all Westside News Inc. publications (issue of July 22, 2007), for further information and updated news about the Canal Days festivities.

Volunteers needed for Canal Days
The success of any community organization is due to the efforts of its volunteer members. The Canal Days committee invites volunteers of all ages to help at this year's events on July 27, 28 and 29. Any organization, group or family (Girl or Boy Scouts, youth group, Red Hat Society, etc.) is welcome to volunteer some time at Canal Days.

Interested in giving back to the community, making new friends and having fun at the same time? Call Canal Days Committee member Gail McQuilkin at 352-6000. To volunteer at the Canal Days Childrens Area, contact Erin Kane at 352-6518. Any amount of volunteer time is welcomed and appreciated.