Waterford Canal Festival

The festival draws thousands of residents, tourists and boating visitors to our historic Erie Canal waterfront and provides an excellent opportunity to explore the Erie and Champlain Canal System’s rich history. Complete with the tour of the hand-built replica of the first canalboat to ever travel the canal systems across the state in 1825, the Erie Canalboat, Seneca Chief, now pulled by tugboat instead of a mule.

We showcase FREE historical tours, children’s programs, LIVE music, radio DJ, bouncing, boating, bicycling, sightseeing and more. Plus, numerous vendors providing foods, beverages, art, crafts, trades and other products for your shopping pleasure!

Bring your bikes and ride the old Champlain Canal Trailway (12 mi round trip; mostly flat; for all ages).

Take a short walk with our local historian and learn the history of the canals.

Tour the Erie canalboat, Seneca Chief.

Take WFD obstacle course challenge and enter the bounce obstacle course too.

Watch the locks system in action moving boats of all sizes through on their travels.

There's fun for the whole family! Check out our website for the schedule of events.