Things to do, places to eat, shows to see, places to stay in Madison County, NY      

2010 marks the 25th Anniversary of the founding of the Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum.  The museum, located on the Old Erie Canal, is where 90' long cargo boats were built and repaired during the late 19th and 20th centuries.
The all-volunteer museum will incorporate this momentous occasion into the 19th annual Canal Fest to be held on Sunday, June 20th.  Activities and entertainment are being planned around the celebration.
Throughout the six hour day, activities will be offered to children and adults alike.  Being planned are demonstrations on canal boat building, blacksmithing, many children's games, a magic show, wagon rides and a teen play performance.  A chicken barbeque will be served throughout the day.
Time has been set aside for a special ceremony paying tribute to those who had the foresight and fortitude to undertake the excavation, preservation and restoration of this unique historic site.
The museum is located at 7010 Lakeport Road in Chittenango. Visit our website: www.chittenangolandingcanalboatmuseum.com or call (315) 687-3801 for more information.

Don't forget Dad this weekend as father's day weekend is upon us.  We have a ton of great events this weekend highlighted by a pair of events celebrating transportation history.  Here are your best bets for father's day weekend in Madison County:
1. Canal Fest 2009--The Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum hosts its annual Canal Fest this Sunday.  The event runs from noon until 5. 
Canal Fest offers fun for the whole family. This year's theme is a Tribute to Canallers: Yesterday and Today. Tribute includes a photo gallery and text of canal workers, families, and famous canal travelers followed by canallers of today.
On-going events include costumed boat builders at work, blacksmithing demonstrations, wagon rides, strolling fiddler, magic shows (1:30, 2:30), kids games, scavenger hunt, inflatible climbing wall with slide, sheep display, spinning demonstration, bocce ball, original play written and performed by teen volunteers "Orphan Hoggee Finds a Home" (1:00, 3:00)
Available food includes the annual Chicken Barbeque (dinners for $8, take-outs available), homemade pies, and ice cream. We'll also be drawing the winners for our raffle, a Tubful of Treasures.
2. The Hamilton Business Association hosts "Wings over Hamilton" also on Father's Day.  This fly-in breakfast runs from 7:30-2 and features an all you can eat pancake breakfast, and lots of aircraft from all over the region flying in.  There will also be a car show and lots of fun for the entire family.
3. The Central New York Dairy Goat Show will be held at Heritage Farms on Saturday and Sunday.  The members of the CNYDGS have decided to support Heritage Farm in its goal in becoming a goat dairy by holding its show at this unique farm in hopes of showing others within the Caprine community the truly special spirit of this farm. The club will be hosting an American Dairy Goat Association Sanctioned two ring goat show with a Nubian Specialty. The farm will also be offering “The Spring Goat Fling” to the public with hopes of educating their community about the greatness of goats. Friday night there will be a Showmanship Clinic for anyone interested, followed by a bon fire. Camping is allowed at the farm (no electrical hookups!) On Saturday during the show, families will be able to walk a goat through a straw maze and take a goat powered cart ride as well as learn about goats and products that can be made from them. A Build it with Dad workshop will consist of a precut kit that can be purchased and put together onsite.  Heritage Farm, Inc is located at 3599 State Route 46, Bouckville, NY.
4. Eurocar 2009 -- The grounds of the Lorenzo State Historic Site in Cazenovia will be a great place to spend Father’s Day weekend this year. The MG Car Club has teamed up with the Jaguar Association of Central New York to present an unprecedented weekend of entertainment and activities for all car enthusiasts. Saturday June 20th starts with the Jaguar Association of Central New York’s “Slalom” Time Trial Competition. There will be 2 time trails for the slalom - one from 9:00 - 12:00, the other from 12:30 - 3:00.
Sunday, June 21st The MG Car Club of Central NY will sponsor Eurocar 2009 on the lawn at Lorenzo. The show runs from 9am-3pm, and is open to all cars and motorcycles of European make. There will be vendors, food, trophies and door prizes and car judging. Goody bags and plaques to 1st 150 entrants. A major portion of our proceeds will go to a local charity, which will be in attendance. Walking trails and a historic house are available for touring.
5. Bass season opens -- Madison County is full of lakes full of Bass.  What better way to spend the weekend then by taking dad fishing!
Happy Father's Day and visit here for a complete calendar of events in Madison County.

The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor announced today 16 cultural heritage sites selected to participate in the Passport to Your National Parks © program. The sites will join five existing National Park sites in the National Heritage Corridor where visitors can collect free cancellation stamps in a special spiral-bound National Park Service Passport.  The Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum on Lakeport Road in Chittenango was named as one of the sites.

Millions of people participate each year in visiting hundreds of national parks and NPS-affliated areas nationwide and recording their experiences with the free cancellation stamps. Passport to Your National Parks © is coordinated by Eastern National, a National Park Service partner, in cooperation with the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor.

"Collecting passport stamps will encourage people to visit multiple sites, each one telling a different part of the canal story," explained Lori Solomon-Duell, Erie Canalway Director of Heritage Tourism. "By linking sites along the Erie Canalway, the passport program offers visitors a more complete experience and memories to last a lifetime."

Passport Stamps will be available starting June 18, 2009. Additional details about Passport sites are available at: www.eriecanalway.org. National Park Service Passports are available online at www.eparks.com/store/ and at National Park Service visitor centers. A Kids' Passport ® To Your National Parks Companion is also available.