For Immediate Release:
09/28/17
Contact:
Steven Gosset
| Steven.Gosset@nypa.gov
Media Realations | (914) 390-8192
Locktober Celebrations Kick Off Across the State This Weekend
Lockport, Home to Historic Flight of Five Locks, to Hold First Autumn Homage to Canal System.
ALBANY— If summer passed without you visiting the cities, towns and villages along the New York State Canal System, not to worry.
The canals and the Erie Canalway Trail are a four-season attraction. And one of the highlights of autumn is a series of Locktoberfest celebrations throughout the state. The first happens on Sept. 30 in Lockport, home to the historic Flight of Five locks.
“We are always looking for ways to draw people to the Canal System and the beautiful communities that line its edges,” said Brian U. Stratton, New York State Canal Corporation director. “Wonderful events like Locktoberfest give people the perfect opportunity to come and explore all that these communities have to offer.”
Locktoberfest was launched in 2014 as a way to show that travel along the canal corridor doesn’t end when the leaves start to change. This year’s Locktoberfests are taking place during a particularly exciting year for the Canal System as it celebrates the bicentennial of the Erie Canal’s construction. The all-day event on Canal Street in Lockport features fun for all ages, including an expanded community market, art, craft beer and wine tastings, historic lock demonstrations, entertainment, and children’s activities.
“I can’t think of a better way to show off this wonderful asset in our community, the Erie Canal,” said Lockport Mayor Anne McCaffrey. “This is the perfect opportunity for people of all ages and from all walks of life to enjoy Lockport, boost tourism and support our local businesses.”
The Canal Corporation will partner with the city of Lockport, the Lockport Locks Heritage District Corporation, Lockport Main Street, I LOVE NY and Taste NY, in collaboration with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.
New York State Executive Director of Tourism Ross D. Levi said, “New York State’s family-friendly Locktoberfests highlight the state’s historic canal system and the vibrant culture of the surrounding communities.”
State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “New York State’s food and craft beverage producers are second to none and this event is the perfect way to invite the community to taste what they have to offer. Governor Cuomo’s leadership has paved the way for extraordinary growth in these industries, which are helping to revitalize Upstate communities and support the State’s vital agricultural sector.
Additional Locktoberfest celebrations will be held Oct. 7 in Rome—where construction of the Erie Canal started 200 years ago—Oswego and Seneca Falls, which will hold its first Locktoberfest. In addition, Fort Edward will hold the final Locktoberfest on Oct. 14.
About the New York State Canal Corporation
The Canal Corporation runs the New York State Canal System, which includes the Erie, Champlain, Oswego and Cayuga-Seneca canals. Spanning 524 miles, the waterway links the Hudson River with the Great Lakes, the Finger Lakes and Lake Champlain. In 2017, the Canal Corporation celebrated the 200th anniversary of the groundbreaking for the Erie Canal, which occurred in the city of Rome on July 4, 1817. The Canal System includes the Erie Canalway Trail, a multi-use trail designed to accommodate pedestrians, bicyclists, and cross-country skiers. Together, the canals and trail create a world-class recreationway that is a vibrant, scenic and unique New York resource.
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