Going to Little Falls Canal Days? Here's your complete planning guide for the 2022 event
After a two-year absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Little Falls' Canal Days are making a return.
The 34th annual Canal Days Celebration begins Monday, Aug. 8 and continues through Sunday, Aug. 14, with most events starting Wednesday, and the organizers are expecting a big showing.
"If we were to total up all the participation for the whole week it would probably be close to 8,000 to 10,000 people for all events," said Canal Days Chairperson Tony De Luca.
DeLuca said that the Canal Days brings in people from across the country to celebrate.
"Not only do we draw from up and down the valley," said DeLuca, "but many high school reunions are scheduled for the weekend and that brings in people from all across the U.S. actually."
Planning to attend any of the Canal Days events? Here's what's happening every day of the celebration:
Wednesday, August 10
From 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. the Little Falls Public Library, 10 Waverly Place, Little Falls, will be holding its annual book sale.
At 6 p.m., there will be live music by Holiday City, as well as BBQ, food trucks and kids activities at the Rotary Park/Canal Harbor marina.
The annual Duck Dash fundraiser begins at 7:30 p.m. Participants pay $5 a duck to compete in a single elimination rubber duck race down the canal. A fireworks show over the river will cap off the night of festivities.
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Thursday, August 11
From 3-4 p.m. attendees can pay $5 to register for the "Big Kids" Adult Fishing Derby at the Rotary Park/Canal Harbor marina. The Derby will accept competitors ages 16 and up and will happen from 4-8 p.m.
From 5-8 p.m. auto-enthusiasts can show off their favorite cars at Mike's Cruise Inn at the Little Falls Marina. There will be food, music and prizes. From 7-10 p.m. the American Legion Post #31 Band will be performing at 100 West Main St.
Friday, August 12
Beginning at noon, food trucks from the Little Falls Polish Club and 508 Salvage will be serving Polish cuisine and barbecue at 92 West Main St.
The Grande Parade will kick off at 6 p.m. on the corner of Main and Albany streets, featuring Little Falls middle and high school bands, trucks and parade floats. Music lovers can also see alternative and 90's-rock band Rev-D perform at the Rock Valley Brewing Co., 56 West Mill St., from 6-9 p.m.
An after-party begins at 7 p.m. on East Main Street between 2nd and Ann streets, kids games and a DJ will be present for the festivities. Also available for kids will be a free 3-on-3 basketball tournament in front of the M&T Bank on East Main Street. Teams will be divided into three age groups; 12 and under, 13 to 16, and 16 and up. Each team is allowed five players, with three on the court and two substitutes. To sign up, visit the Little Falls Canal Celebration page on Facebook.
The Little Falls Elk Lodge #41, 60 North Ann St., will be hosting a party from 7-11 p.m. featuring food, beer and live music. Families looking to catch a movie can bring their blankets and folding chairs to Ward Square at 8 p.m. to enjoy a free outdoor movie in the park.
Saturday, August 13
Saturday will be home to the bulk of the Canal Days' festivities. Starting at 7 a.m. at Canal Lock 17 is registration for the 32nd Annual John Serow Memorial Youth Fishing Derby. Children under 15 can register for $2 to fish from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Trophies and prizes will be up for grabs.
At 8 a.m. attendees can register for the Dr. Tony Piana Annual Rotary Golf Club Tournament at the Mohawk Valley Golf & Event Center, 6069 NY-5, run in the 41st Annual Little Falls Lumber Freedom Run 10k or 2k at the Youth and Family Center, 15 Jackson St., or check out the Little Falls Farmer's Market at the M&T Bank parking lot.
For those interested in golfing, registration will cost $85 and tee off will begin at 9 a.m. For the runners, the 10k will cost $25 to register and the 2k will cost $18, with the exception of kids who can run for free. Registration must be done beforehand at runsignup.com.
Chicks Along the Canal will be open for business in Sterzinar Park from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Shoppers can go to support local women entrepreneurs and listen to live music. Local history lovers can head down to the Rotary Park Terminal Building on Southern Avenue at 10:30 a.m. to participate in "Growing Up on the Southside, 1957-1970," a narrated 3-to-4-mile walking tour that takes walkers to historically significant stops across the south side of Little Falls. The tour ends at 1:30 p.m. Register by email at 6226gardenroad@gmail.com.
The East Herkimer Sno-Riders Tractor Pull will kick off at 11 a.m. at 1355 Shells Bush Road. Trophies will be awarded as different classes of souped-up tractors compete to pull families behind them.
At noon, baseball fans can head down to Veterans Memorial Park to watch a game of vintage baseball, where players will wear the attire and play by the rules of the late 1800s version of the game. Art lovers can check out John Van Orsouw's "Can You See the Music?" exhibit that will be opening up at the Mohawk Valley Center for the Arts. The exhibit is free and available to the public until the MVCA closes at 4 p.m. Van Orsouw himself will be there to meet and greet museum goers.
Also available at noon will be the Feldmeier Family Kayak Challenge which will launch from the Rotary Park/Canal Harbor marina. Paddlers from the ages of 10 to 17 can compete in a youth singles race, or families can compete together in a family tandem. Adults can also compete in a singles race as well. A cookout will be provided for competitors. Those interested in joining can sign up at runsignup.com.
Ward Square will be holding its Eastern Park Expo from 12-4 p.m. Families can enjoy an afternoon in the park accompanied by a DJ, food trucks, water slides, kids games and a chalk obstacle course. There will also be a dunk tank to raise money for local charities and a non-profit expo for those looking to learn more about the community's various charitable organizations. Pause 4 All Paws Animal Rescue will also be present with animals to meet and adopt.
For the second night in a row, Rock Valley Brewing Co. will be offering live music from 6-9 p.m. Critical Path will be headlining the show, playing classic rock. Also returning will be the party at Little Falls Elk Lodge #41, featuring more beer, food and live music.
Sunday, August 14
From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. the 35th Annual Little Falls Canal Celebration Car Show will take place in Burke Park. Trophies will be awarded for Best of Show, Car Show Chairman's Award and People's Choice categories. Contact Pat Stock via email at Pat1950.ps@gmail.com for more info or to register your vehicle.
Little Falls Cub Scout Pack #16 will be selling meat sticks from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Burke Park and the Little Falls Scout Troop #31 will be running a bake sale and bottle drive from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Barbecue courtesy of the Little Falls Elk Lodge #41 will be available at 11 a.m. at 60 North Ann St. Chicken and ribs will be served on the lawn of the lodge, and the barbecue will be served while supplies last.
To cap off the week of festivities, the American Legion Post #31 Band will be performing at 100 West Main St. from 4-8 p.m. Local country artist Rylee Lum will also be performing.
Recurring Events
At 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Benton's Landing, LiFT will be performing Shakespeare's comedy "Love's Labour's Lost," which will be free to all attendees.
The Little Falls Public Library will be running its annual book sale from Wednesday to Saturday at 10 Waverly Place. It will be running from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
The Little Falls Historical Society, 319 South Ann St., and General Nicholas Herkimer Home, 200 state Route 169, will also be offering tours throughout the week. The Herkimer Home will be offering tours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday, and the Little Falls Historical Society will be offering them at the same time Friday-Sunday. Historical Society tours will be appointment only, with appointments being made by calling 315-867-3527 or 315-823-1502.
Brandon Whiting covers Herkimer County community and neighborhood trends for the Times Telegram. Email him at BWhiting@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Times Telegram: Little Falls Canal Days 2022 schedule: What you need to know
