The popular Canal Fest, which has stretched along both sides of the Erie Canal in the Tonawandas, will be moving entirely into North Tonawanda this year.
Organizers and the city confirmed the festival will move all of its events to Gratwick Park along the Niagara River. The eight-day-long festival takes place from July 19 through 26. The North Tonawanda Common Council approved the change at its meeting on Tuesday.
Festival Vice-President Rick Maier said when he and President Peter Chenier met with the Tonawanda Common Council, they were told they would be responsible for covering event costs this year, which included police and public works overtime costs. They speculated that the amount could be as much as $70,000 this year for the eight total days, something they could not afford, having paid as much as $35,000 in years past.
They also gave themselves a deadline of Wednesday last week to include Tonawanda for this year. When that deadline came and went without a decision from that city council, they knew they had to change venues.
“North Tonawanda has always been open for us to have the event down there,” Maier said. They were able to get away with having rides on Tremont and Columbia streets in North Tonawanda last year, but the city was not happy with them, having told them not to put rides in the downtown area.
“This will allow us to enhance the event because we’ll have the whole campus in one area,” Chenier said.
Festival activities have long stretched both sides of the Erie Canal that separates Erie and Niagara counties. The past few festivals had events go along Main, Niagara, Canal, and Adam streets in Tonawanda and Sweeney, Webster, Tremont, and Columbia streets in North Tonawanda.
The festival was canceled for 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was originally canceled for 2023 as organizers wanted to reinvent the festival, but they were able to put it on as expected after the Hochul administration was able to provide some financial aid.
Tonawanda City officials had approved events for last year’s festival on its side of the canal for six of the eight days of the event.
Past activities at Canal Fest have included a lumberjack show, a chainsaw carving demonstration, a car cruise, a parade, a diaper derby, amusement park-like rides, and an arts and crafts show.
North Tonawanda Mayor Austin Tylec said organizers presented the dates they want to hold the festival and are looking to get proper approvals to move forward. The city’s fire and police departments will be on hand monitoring the festival and will be paid overtime when needed, and the parks, water, and DPW will be involved with event maintenance.
“Gratwick Park is no stranger to large events,” Tylec said, adding that he will meet with festival organizers and city department heads to make sure they can provide help where needed. “It’s up to the committee to do what they want to do. The city won’t get in the way of major changes.”
Maier, who runs the craft show portion of the festival, said that in the time since they announced the venue change earlier this week, they had well over $17,000 worth of show applications come in. They are also looking to bring in some new events and nonprofits to be part of Canal Fest.
“That’s what Canal Fest is all about,” Maier said. “It’s about raising money for the nonprofits.”
As for whether this will be the new permanent home for Canal Fest, Chenier said he always appreciated the collaborative aspect of the Twin Cities for this event and can hopefully return to the canal.
“Nothing is final in today’s day and age,” Chenier said.