Canal Festival Returns on August 20

Wayne County Historical Society’s 9th Annual Canal Festival will be held Saturday, August 20th from 10 AM to 4 PM at the Delaware and Hudson Canal Park at Lock 31, Rt. 6, one mile west of Hawley, PA at 179 Texas Palmyra Highway, Hawley.

This free rain-or-shine event will feature live traditional music by Poison Love acoustic band from 10 AM to 1 PM; Ann Loeb/Mike Baglione acoustic band from 1 PM to 4 PM; blacksmithing demonstration by Gravity Forge; wood carving by the Cherry Ridge Wood Carvers and Tom Hollister; early trapping and outdoor skills demonstration by Ed Burgholzer; guided history and nature walks by Sally Talaga and John Harvey; fiber arts display and demonstrations; and the Stourbridge Lion “cub” which will once again make an appearance.

Site-related local nonprofits and government informational booths include Delaware Highlands Conservancy, Lackawaxen River Conservancy, NPS Upper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River, NE PA Audubon Society, Pike County Historical Society, Pike-Wayne Trout Unlimited, Society of PA Archeology, Wayne County Conservation District, Wayne County Master Gardeners, and the 143rd NY Volunteer Infantry, Civil War reenactors.

The Living History Stage will again host the popular folk musician Dave Matsinko, and Frank Littlebear and the Red Vision Native American Dance Team.

Food, including grilled meats, sides and home-baked goods will be available for purchase. Seven local authors will be signing and selling their books. Local history related items, including books and the three-part D & H Canal Co. documentary can be viewed and purchased inside the Canal Store.

So, bring a blanket or lawn chair and spend the day or part of it enjoying this 17-acre park and historic site along the beautiful Lackawaxen River. The festival’s schedule of events, complete list of participants and park map can be found at www.WayneHistoryPA.com.

Festival participants and activities are listed in the following schedule of events: 10:00 – 1:00 Poison Love acoustic band 10:00 - 4:00 Video - History of the D & H Canal Co. (Carbondale to Port Jervis, NY) 10:00 until gone Baked goods and drinks for purchase 10:30 – 11:15 Intro to Traditional Folk Music and Instruments by Dave Matsinko 11:00 until gone Grilled meats and sides for purchase 11:00 - 11:45 Guided History Walk with Sally Talaga, D & H Canal and this site’s history 11:30 – 12:30 LittleBear and Red Visions Native American Dance Team 12:45 – 1:30 Intro to Traditional Folk Music and Instruments by Dave Matsinko 1:00 –1:45 Guided Walk Through the Living Woods with John Harvey 1:00 - 4:00 Ann Loeb and Mike Baglione acoustic band 1:45 -2:45 LittleBear and Red Visions Native American Dance Team 3:00 - 3:45 Guided History Walk with Sally Talaga, D & H Canal and this site’s history

Wayne County Historical Society would like to thank the following sponsors for making this year’s festival possible: David Katz Foundation; Pioneer Constructions; A.M. Skier Agency; Charles W. Grimm Construction, Inc.; Koberlein Environmental Services; Wayne Memorial Health Systems; Dirlam Bros. Lumber Co., Inc.; The Dime Bank; David and Marcia Dunsmore; Watson’s Bros. Inc.; Wayne Bank; FNCB Bank; Davis R. Chant Realtors; Dunmore Roofing; Lewis and Mary Dunn; 1st Alarm Security; Kim and Mike Fisch; Paupack Insurance; ReMax Wayne; Arthur and Sandra Flynn; Lynn M. Thompson; Arts for Him & Her Too; Ron Brill; Bill Donnelly; Billie A. Garbe; Inter County Abstract; Jeannie's Chapel Street Salon; Woodloch Resort.

This event is also made possible by a grant from Wayne County Commissioners/Wayne County Room Tax, in- kind donations from Hunt Signs, Spencer Printing and Alan Kehoe, equipment loans from the National Park Service and the park’s many volunteers.

More information about the Wayne County Historical Society and its D & H Canal Park at Lock 31 can be found at www.WayneHistoryPA.com, by calling 570 253-3240, and by visiting its main museum at 810 Main Street, Honesdale, Wednesday through Saturday, 11 AM to 4 PM.