The Beat

The Official Beer of the Erie Canal Bicentennial Voyage

Public Invited to August 21 Tasting & Release Event at Big Ditch Brewing Lockport Tap Room

Buffalo, N.Y. (August 14, 2025) – Buffalo Maritime Center and Big Ditch Brewing Company are proud to introduce Long Haul, the official beer of the 2025 Bicentennial Voyage of the Erie Canal Boat Seneca Chief. To celebrate, the public is invited to the Long Haul Bicentennial Voyage Brew Release Event on Thursday, August 21, 2025, featuring a press conference, tours of the Erie Canal Boat Seneca Chief, and a special tasting reception in Lockport, NY, where the commemorative lager will be available for purchase.

From Buffalo to New York City, the ‘Seneca Chief’ will travel 500 miles over 33 days, stopping at 28 ports to commemorate the Erie Canal and connect communities.

With generous support from M&T Bank, the Bicentennial Voyage provides a unique opportunity for New Yorkers to experience the canal’s rich history.

Buffalo, N.Y. (August 7, 2025) – To mark the 200th anniversary of the Erie Canal’s opening, the Buffalo Maritime Center (BMC) has built a full-scale replica of the Erie Canal Boat Seneca Chief – the vessel that first journeyed from Buffalo to New York City to mark the canal’s completion. Constructed by nearly 200 volunteers and students between October 2020 and its launch in June 2024, the wooden boat was handcrafted in full public view inside the Longshed at Canalside on Buffalo’s waterfront.

New VR experience, student art, and accreditation highlight a legacy of connection and conservation.

Niagara Falls, N.Y. (June 12, 2025) – The Aquarium of Niagara is diving into its 60th anniversary with bold new offerings and accomplishments including a 60-foot mural, VR shark dive, and recent accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The nonprofit institution, founded in 1965, commemorated six decades of facilitating connections to the aquatic world at a public event this morning.

Seneca Falls, NY - Women’s Rights National Historical Park will host a special temporary exhibit to commemorate the Erie Canal Bicentennial beginning Tuesday, June 10, 2025. Entitled “Enterprising Waters: New York’s Erie Canal,” the exhibit focuses on the evolution of the Erie Canal and its role in the development of Central and Western New York. This exhibit is supported by the Friends of Women’s Rights National Historical Park.

Your Next Chance to Become a 101st Airborne Paratrooper is Saturday, June 28, 2025!

Farmingdale, NY (June 9, 2025) - Coming off a successful May 3, 2025 debut flight, American Airpower Museum continues their popular C-47 D-Day Living History Flight Experience with three additional dates in 2025 to commemorate the End of World War II 80th Anniversary.  AAM’s mission is to educate the public about aviation history and in particular, the important role that military aviation has played in defense of the United States during WWII and beyond.  Our flights are an excellent way to teach present day Americans what it was like to participate in an actual combat mission during WWII.

Wurtsboro, NY (June 2, 2025) – Join the Town of Mamakating and the Village of Wurtsboro on Sunday, July 13, 2025, for a full day of festivities celebrating the 200th anniversary of the groundbreaking of the Delaware & Hudson (D&H) Canal. This free, family-friendly event will include a parade, historic reenactments, music, living history displays, and a period costume ball.

With Investment and vision for its next century of operation

Commitment to Waterway Ensures a Thriving Destination for Recreation, Tourism, Economic Development, Commerce and Culture

Official Erie Canal Bicentennial Commemorative Poster Available Here 

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced New York State is continuing to invest in the New York State Canal system through a $50 million allocation in the FY 2026 Enacted Budget as the Erie Canal’s Bicentennial navigation season begins. The capital funding secured through the state, the second in two years, builds upon the annual investment into the waterway’s core operation and maintenance by the New York Power Authority and New York State Canal Corporation, and supports the vision put forth by the Canal Recreationway Commission in the recently published Canal Recreationway 2050 Plan.

Full listing available on new online calendar

Waterford, N.Y. — As the NYS Canal System gets set to open for its bicentennial year, the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor and the NYS Canal Corporation are pleased to announce major bicentennial events taking place throughout 2025. A full listing of events is available using the new online Bicentennial Events Calendar at https://eriecanalway.org/events.

Parade, Historic Reenactments, Music, Living History Displays and a Period Costume Ball to Take Place

Wurtsboro, NY (May, 13 2025) – Join the Village of Wurtsboro on Sunday, July 13, 2025, for a full day of festivities celebrating the 200^th anniversary of the Delaware & Hudson (D&H) Canal. This free, family-friendly event will include a parade, historic reenactments, music, living history displays, and a period costume ball.

Cayuga County, N.Y. (April 2025) – The Erie Canal, a defining feature of New York’s history and development, is celebrating its bicentennial in 2025, and Cayuga County is ready to welcome history enthusiasts eager to honor this milestone. With a rich canal heritage and a full lineup of engaging events and resources, visitors can immerse themselves in the stories, sights, and experiences that have shaped the region for two centuries.