Canal Fest will make its return in 2025 but with some notable changes, particularly on the City of Tonawanda side of the bridge. The Tonawanda Common Council is scheduled to vote on Tuesday night regarding an agreement to host the festival for six days instead of the traditional eight.
The festival is proposed to run from July 15th to July 20th in Tonawanda while North Tonawanda will maintain the full festival length from July 13th to July 20th. The vote in Tonawanda is expected to pass.
City officials in Tonawanda believe that scaling back Canal Fest will help alleviate the strain on city resources, especially concerning police overtime during the event.
Last year, the Tonawanda Council nearly declined to host Canal Fest but ultimately approved the festival with its traditional Sunday-to-Sunday duration. This year’s proposed agreement also includes relocating all rides and games of chance to North Tonawanda, which has a three-year agreement with Canal Fest organizers.
The group responsible for organizing Canal Fest has expressed concerns that local nonprofits, which rely on food sales during the festival, will see reduced earnings with the event shortened to six days.
Canal Fest attracts as many as 150,000 visitors to both Tonawanda and North Tonawanda each year. Unlike many local festivals that typically last for a weekend, Canal Fest is unique in its week-long format. Nonprofit organizations that set up food stands at the festival can generate significant revenue from attendees.
Changes Coming to Canal Fest: Shorter Duration in Tonawanda and all Rides Moving to North Tonawanda