The Beat

People with Disabilities are invited to take part in 1^st Mile Challenge along the Erie Canal

Waterford, N.Y. (June 12, 2019) - Get ready for the ride of a lifetime! From July 1-10, John Robinson, CEO of Our Ability, Inc, will complete his 7^th Journey Along the Erie Canal. A congenital amputee born without full arms and legs, Robinson will use a handcycle to ride all 360 miles from Buffalo to Albany to raise awareness of the needs of people with disabilities. Along the way, he and his team are inviting people with disabilities and their families and friends to join them for the 1st Mile Challenge, as part of the Canalway Challenge.

Leave from the Buffalo Waterfront July 4-7

A fleet of 12 historic and majestic tall ships will grace Canalside, Riverwalk and Erie Basin Marina for Buffalo’s inauguration as an official Host Port of the TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® Great Lakes 2019 race July 4-7. The biggest celebration in the history of the Buffalo waterfront, Basil Port of Call: Buffalo is a four-day, family-friendly celebration of the city’s maritime heritage and will offer a unique opportunity for adults and children to view, board and explore the vessels; feature family activities, live entertainment, historic exhibits, food and beverages –- and kick-off with a spectacular Parade of Sail presented by OneNiagara® at 3 p.m. on July 4th.

To Officially Welcome 12 Magnificent Tall Sailing Ships

Buffalo, N.Y. – The largest celebration in the history of the Buffalo waterfront, Basil Port of Call: Buffalo, will kick-off with a dramatic Parade of Sail at 3 p.m. on July 4th as 12 tall ships muster in Lake Erie, move under full sail past the landmark 1833 Buffalo Lighthouse and arrive by 5 p.m. at their docking stations in Canalside, Riverwalk and Erie Basin Marina. Cannons will punctuate the air along with bagpipers from the Erie County Sheriff’s Irish Pipes and Drums reserve unit, and join The Buffalo Niagara Concert Band, a group of 80 musicians, in salute to a majestic fleet of historic tall ships from harbors throughout the United States, Canada, Spain and the South Pacific.

Waterford, N.Y. - When the NYS Canal System opens on May 17, kayaks and canoes will share the waterway with cruisers and powerboats, thanks to the New York State Canalway Water Trail Guidebook and Navigational Map Set released by the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor. The complimentary guidebook and maps includes a mile-by-mile description of launch sites, paddler-friendly facilities and amenities, and places of interest for over 450 miles of the NYS Canal System, including the Erie, Cayuga-Seneca, Oswego and Champlain canals.

The guidebook and maps are available to order ($10 shipping and handling fee) or download online at: eriecanalway.org/watertrail

“This guidebook is an invitation to paddlers to discover the history, beauty, and adventure of paddling the canals.” said Bob Radliff, Executive Director of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor. “Paddlers will navigate century old locks, pass stunning stone aqueducts, and experience narrow flatwater stretches and wide river segments.”…

An Unprecedented Celebration of the City’s Maritime History

A fleet of 12 historic and majestic tall ships from harbors across the United States, Canada, Spain, and the South Pacific will grace Canalside, Riverwalk and Erie Basin Marina for Buffalo’s inauguration as a host port of the TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® Great Lakes 2019 race from Toronto to Buffalo on July 4-7, 2019. In conjunction with the arrival of the tall ships, Basil Port of Call: Buffalo, a four-day, family-friendly celebration of the city’s maritime heritage, will take place along the downtown waterfront. Offering a unique opportunity for adults and children to view, board and explore the vessels, the festivities will feature family activities, live entertainment, historic exhibits, artisan food and beverages, and a Parade of Sail of the tall ship fleet.

Dates for Navigation Season Through 2021 are Also Released

White Plains, N.Y. —The New York State Canal Corporation Board of Directors today approved a continued waiver of tolls for recreational vessels through 2021, following two years of toll-free travel that saw increases in canal traffic.

The tolls, $25 to $100 depending on the size of the boat, had been waived in 2017 and 2018 to celebrate the Erie Canal bicentennial and the 100-year anniversary of the New York State Barge Canal, now known as the New York State Canal System.

Syracuse, N.Y. – The Great New York State Fair visitor who submits the best name for the dory built at the Fair last year will win it. 

Those who submit Name-That-Boat entries at the new "Path Through Maritime History: NY Lighthouses and Lifesaving" exhibit will also have the opportunity to win a daily prize of a family pass to the H. Lee White Maritime Museum at Oswego, NY.

The Fair runs from August 22 through Labor Day September 3, 2018.

Also: Boat Building Demonstrations, Name That Boat Contest, Boat Launch

Syracuse, N.Y. – More than 70 lighthouses across New York State still exist as working beacons, museums of America's maritime history, a hostel or overnight stay. All the lights will be featured in a new exhibit at the August 22-September 3 Great New York State Fair in Syracuse, NY.

Skaneateles, N.Y. – Rare boats from the Antique Boat Museum and the Finger Lakes Boating Museum will be among those featured at the 40th annual Antique and Classic Boat Show July 27-29. Hours are 3 p.m. to dusk Friday, 9 a.m. to dusk Saturday and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday in Clift Park. Admission is free. More than 10,000 people are expected to attend the show, one of the most popular in the Northeast.

Skaneateles, N.Y. – The Skaneateles Antique and Classic Boat Show—an event 40 years in the making—returns July 27-29, featuring mesmerizing boats from the early 1900s to the present, along with family entertainment. Hours are 3 p.m. to dusk Friday, 9 a.m. to dusk Saturday and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday in Clift Park. Admission is free.