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Save-The-Date: Second Annual Locktoberfest

A Celebration of the Fall Harvest Season on the Erie Canal   

For Immediate Release: 09/09/2015

Saturday, September 26th
Canal Street
City of Lockport

Saturday, October 3rd
Bellamy Harbor Park
City of Rome

The Canal Corporation announced today the second annual Locktoberfest will take place in two communities along the Erie Canal. The City of Lockport, known for its Flight of Five locks, will host the first event on Saturday, September 26th with an expanded community market, craft beer and wine tastings, historic lock demonstrations, entertainment, and children’s activities. The City of Rome, where construction on the Erie Canal began in 1817, will host this season’s second event on Saturday, October 3rd with entertainment, food vendors, regional craft beer tasting, free kayak rentals and fireworks.

Locktoberfest was launched in 2014 to create a signature event that would extend tourism into the fall season along the canal corridor. Locktoberfest is partially sponsored by the Canal Corporation, I Love NY, and the state Department of Agriculture and Markets Taste NY initiative.

The Erie Canal Artist-in-Residence (AIR) program invites artists to explore the past, present, and future of this iconic waterway through their unique artistic lenses. A partnership between the New York State Canal Corporation and the Erie Canal Museum, the AIR program is a celebration of creativity, history, and stewardship.

The program supports the revitalization of the Erie Canal by blending art with storytelling to illuminate its cultural, environmental, and historical significance. Through exhibitions, events, and public programs, the AIR program brings new perspectives to the Canal's lasting impact on New York State and the nation.

We are thrilled to welcome the 2025 Artists-in-Residence, Kari Varner and Sarah Cameron Sunde, who will begin their year-long exploration of the Erie Canal. Stay tuned for updates on their journey! 

Contact

Shane Mahar
shane.mahar@thruway.ny.gov
Office of Media Relations and Communications
(518) 471-5300