Fairport Canal Days Celebrates 35 Years

Performance Painting, New Public Art Featured

Over 300 Vendors Will Line the Streets of the Village

The 35^th annual Canal Days Festival will take place Friday through Sunday, June 1, 2, and 3, 2012.

The Friday Night Kick Off will start at 4:30 at the Fairport Junction on Liftbridge Lane East, with several events including: Annual chicken barbecue; interactive drumming with Rhythm Connect; a concert by Bill Tiberio & The Eastman Educators Big Band; Canal Days 2012 poster signing by winning artist Victoria Brzustowicz; performance painting by Lorraine Staunch; and a letterpress demonstration by Dock 2.

Also on Liftbridge Lane, art activities and fun for kids, home and garden vendors, and 2011 Great Race champions, Howard and Doug Sharp, will display their antique racecars.

New this year at Kennelly Park are performance paintings, with artists painting to music as it is performed live at the gazebo in Kennelly Park on Saturday and Sunday. Performance artists include: Chas Davis, Mark Groaning, Cordell Cordaro, and Lorraine Staunch.  Throughout each day the artists will create their paintings to music as it is performed live by various bands at the Gazebo in Kennelley Park.

On Saturday at noon, the traditional Main Street parade, featuring the Fairport Fire Department Band, will pause in front of Kennelly Park where Mayor Fritz May will officially open the festival and unveil a new metal sculpture created by Fairport artist Mark Groaning. The sculpture, Crossroads Daydream, is described by Groaning as a “natural energy sculpture – literally and metaphorically”. It is a kinetic sculpture with moving parts that are driven by wind and it is illuminated at night by solar powered LED lights installed on the interior of the sculpture. “It reflects the energy of the community as well as the place where the energy of Main Street, the Erie Canal, the railroad, commerce and the people intersect to create the magical experience that is Fairport.”

Also on Saturday, is the 2^nd Annual Teen Battle of the Bands, showcasing young talent from the region. Last year’s event proved very popular. The winning band once again receives the opportunity to open for a national touring act at Water Street Music Hall in downtown Rochester. The Battle will take place in the Fairport Junction Festival starting at 3pm.

Also Saturday and Sunday at the Village Landing are presentations of pottery makers by Turk Hill Craft School, the Weavers’ Guild of Rochester, and a special section of Young Emerging Artists. At Bank of America, a classic car display and the YMCA’s Celebrate Fitness and Art activities.

About Canal Days

The Fairport Canal Days Festival is one of the largest festivals in the northeast, drawing over 225,000 people to the picturesque village each year. The festival is the only one of its kind, produced solely on volunteer basis. This ensures that a maximum amount of funds are raised to benefit non-profit merchant events and local charities.