The New York State Canal Corporation, the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, and Parks and Trails New York have announced that the Fourth Annual Canal Splash! will take place during the weekend of August 7-9, 2009. This year’s Canal Splash! will offer a series of locally organized events designed to highlight the history, beauty, culture and recreational appeal of the New York State Canal System and Canalway Trail.

Any Canal Corridor community, business, club or non-profit organization may participate in the Canal Splash! and may register its event at http://www.ptny.org/canalsplash .  Examples of local events include, but are not limited to, nature or history walks along the Canal or Canalway Trail; museum gallery features or exhibits; group bicycle rides on the Canalway Trail; rowing regattas; Canalside business or restaurant specials; kayak or canoe tours; cruise boat tours; canal festivals, concerts and more.

Carmella R. Mantello, Director of the New York State Canal Corporation, said, “As we prepare for another exciting Canal Splash! weekend, I encourage canal communities, businesses, and non-profits to register events and take part in a celebration of  all the New York State Canal System has to offer.   The Canal Corporation is pleased to partner with the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, Parks and Trails New York, and communities across the Canalway Corridor to ensure this year’s event is bigger and better than ever.”

Beth Sciumeca, Executive Director of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, said, “Canal Splash! is a great way to showcase the many great assets of the New York State Canal System and National Heritage Corridor. Canal Splash! events and activities invite people to discover what makes the Erie Canalway so unique.”

Robin Dropkin, Executive Director of Parks and Trails New York, said, “What a great way to celebrate summer and New York's wonderful canal system.  I encourage everyone-local residents and visitors from afar-to take advantage of all the fun things planned in canal communities during the Canal Splash! weekend.”

The Corporation encourages those along the Canal to help create awareness and generate additional exposure for their community, business or event by participating in this year’s Canal Splash!. Last year’s Canal Splash! featured more than 120 events and attracted tens of thousands of visitors during the two day, multi-location celebration.

The event will be promoted through a printed guide that will be distributed widely during July and August and will drive people to the online listing.  In order to gain maximum exposure online, it is encouraged that events be registered no later than July 15, 2009.

For more information about the Fourth Annual Canal Splash! or to register an event, please refer to http://www.ptny.org/canalsplash or contact the New York State Canal Corporation at (518) 436-3055.

The New York State Canal System is comprised of four historic waterways, the Erie, the Champlain, the Oswego and the Cayuga-Seneca Canals. Spanning 524 miles across New York State, the waterway links the Hudson River, Lake Champlain, Lake Ontario, the Finger Lakes and the Niagara River with communities rich in history and culture.

The Canal Corporation is a proud supporter of the 2009 Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial, a year long celebration designed to commemorate 400 years of progress in the Empire State.

For more information regarding events, recreation and vacation opportunities along the Canal System, please visit www.nyscanals.gov or call 1-800-4CANAL4.

The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor is one of 49 National Heritage Areas in the nation. For information visit www.eriecanalway.org.