Harborfest Oswego NY

Oswego’s Harborfest is a four-day festival which takes place each year on the last full weekend in July and is typically attended by more than 100,000 visitors.

Since its founding in 1988 Harborfest has brought to its stages more than 600 national, regional and local performing artists. The event is spread over 5 different venues throughout the city with shuttle bus service available throughout the event.

This year Harborfest will include more than 50 musical acts, and this year the Harborfest Midway will be returning and so will the classic carnival favorite, the Ferris wheel. Oswego’s own Ferris Wheel Supper Club has offered to sponsor the popular attraction that is sure to draw crowds all weekend long. Strates Shows, America’s only railroad carnival, travels the United States during a seven-month season, transporting personnel and equipment with 61 rail cars and 34 trucks. Traveling with the show are some 400 employees and families who operate the rides, games and concessions. The show and its legacy have been a fixture of Central NY for over six decades and continues the grand tradition with its third trip to Harborfest.

Again, this year you’ll be able to enjoy a Grucci Fireworks show over the Harbor on Saturday Evening. For more information on Harborfest visit their web site at www.oswegoharborfest.com

The city of Oswego is located on the northern terminus of the Oswego Canal, part of the 524 miles of navigable waterways of NYS’s Erie Canal system. If you’re planning a visit to Oswego check out www.visitoswegocounty.com for more information.

The Bicentennial Canal Theatre Project

The Bicentennial Canal Theatre Project is proud to present on August 18th, at 8pm an outdoor theatre production on the historic Derrick Boat 8 located at the H. Lee White Maritime Museum

The Oswego Canal Play, a one act play written by Oswego native Rick Sivers is based on historical characters that lived in Oswego in the 1830’s, a time when the Erie and Oswego Canals played an important role in the development of American as people migrated west.

One night only, admission is FREE to the public. Bring your own seating, alternative rain-date will be Saturday the 19th.  

The event is supported in part by the City of Oswego, The H. Lee White Maritime Museum and Pathfinder Bank. This event is appropriate for the entire family

 

 

Boom & Bust: America’s Journey on The Erie Canal

Boom & Bust: America’s Journey on the Erie Canal

 

Caption: Dr. Dan Ward aboard the canal schooner Lois McClure, a full-scale replica of an 1862-class sailing canal boat, constructed in Burlington, Vermont.

The H. Lee White Maritime Museum at Oswego is proud to host Dr. Dan Ward as part of its 2017 History Lecture Series on Saturday, June 24th at 1:30 pm. Ward is a co-producer of “Boom and Bust: America’s Journey on the Erie Canal,” a documentary that tells the story of industrial expansion and decline along the Erie Canal. After a screening of the film, Ward will discuss his upcoming journey with fellow co-producer, Steve Zeitlin, who will be traveling by canal boat from Brooklyn to Buffalo screening “Boom and Bust” in canal ports large and small along the way in celebration of the bicentennial of the Erie Canal’s construction.    

 

Ward is an historian, folklorist and film maker based in Syracuse, NY. He is also a member of the Board of the Canal Society of New York State and serves as the Education Curator for the Canal Society’s newly-opened Old Erie Canal Heritage Park at Port Byron, NY. He holds a Master’s degree from the Cooperstown Graduate Program and a PhD in American Culture from Bowling Green State University. Mercedes Niess, Executive Director of the Maritime Museum stated “we have a long history of successful projects with Dan Ward, and are excited to feature him in our exceptional 2017 lineup of speakers.”

 

The Maritime Museum’s History Lecture Series will also be featuring notable lighthouse author Ted Panayotoff on Saturday, August 5th at 1:30 pm. Panayotoff, longtime Maritime Museum and Oswego Lighthouse supporter, will be presenting on aids-to-navigation along the New York State Canal System, continuing with the Museum’s canal themed lineup.

 

The Maritime Museum is partnering with the City of Oswego to host a one act play written by local playwright, Richard Sivers. The Oswego Canal Play will take place on Friday August 17th at 8pm. The story will focus on early Oswego Canal life in the 1830’s. This event is also part of the Erie Canal celebration.

 

This event is free and open to the public. The Maritime Museum and Treasure Chest Gift Shop are open daily, 1-5 pm with expanded hours from 10-5 pm in July and August. For more information regarding this or other Museum programs, contact the Museum at (315) 342-0480, or visit: http://www.hlwmm.org

 

 

 

 

Blount Small Ship Adventures, Erie Canal Cruise

Blount Small Ship Adventures can take you to places that no other cruise line can go. This year in celebration of the 200th Anniversary of the construction of the Erie Canal they will be sailing 8 times through the Canal. Don’t miss this opportunity to experience something very special.   

With ports of call including Oswego, Buffalo, Sylvan Beach, Amsterdam and Troy, the opportunity to travel with less than 100 guest on board could best be described as “Cruising on your friends Yacht”  Taking a cruise with Blount Small Ship Adventures will amaze all your senses, from the fine dining, to the casual atmosphere, that one will experience any one of the itineraries’ available on Blount will not disappoint!

The Great American Waterways Cruise and the Lock’s Legends & Canals of the Northeast are the two cruises that Blount is offering in 2017 that include ports within the Erie Canal Corridor. 

For all the information on experiencing a Blount Small Ship Adventure Cruise visit their web site

Blount Small Ship Adventures is a supporter of the NYS Canal System and an ongoing member of Canal NY. The only private sector organization dedicated to the promotion of the Canal System and the businesses within the Canal Corridor.

The Bridge House Brat’s

No matter where your travels take you on the Erie Canal, one of the best encounters you could have would be with the Bridge House Brat’s of Phoenix NY

They are a group of local volunteer kids who strive to make their community better. They serve food from the local restaurants to boaters and anyone who wants to come join them from land. They host events throughout the summer for all to enjoy, they keep the streets cleaned and full of fresh flowers. join them down on the Canal, sit on the dock and enjoy music and some of Phoenix’s finest local foods!

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2017 Navigation Schedule on the Erie Canal

The NYS Canal Corporation has just released the schedule for the 2017 Navigation Season.

 

Mariners are advised that, conditions permitting, all portions of the New York State Canal System are scheduled to open Friday, May 19, 2017, at 10:00 a.m. for the 2017 navigation season.

Additionally, in commemoration of the bicentennial of the start of Erie Canal construction in 1817, there will be no tolls or fees for recreational use of the Canal System in 2017.

The hours of operation for the 2017 season are as follows:

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