MORRIS COUNTY — The 50th Annual Canal Day Music and Craft Festival, set for this Saturday, August 24, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Hugh Force Canal Park at 180 West Central Avenue, Wharton, promises to be a lively celebration of the historic Morris Canal and the rich heritage of the communities along its route.
The old-time country fair offers a day filled with music, culture, and family-friendly activities, including:
- Live Music: Enjoy performances by some of New Jersey’s finest acts across two stages, featuring Rock, Blues, Country, classical, and traditional and contemporary Irish Folk Music.
- Interactive Activities: Take free kayak rides, join a formal history boat tour, and learn the traditional craft of blacksmithing.
- Educational Exhibits: Engage with Revolutionary War and Civil War reenactors and marvel at a live animal show featuring local and exotic wildlife.
- Shopping and Food: Explore over 150 vendors offering fine art, crafts, and delicious food from local eateries and gourmet food trucks.
The Morris Canal, an engineering marvel that spanned 102 miles across Northern New Jersey, operated from the 1820s until 1924. The site at Wharton’s Hugh Force Canal Park features one of the best-preserved sections of the canal, which was critical to regional development nearly two centuries ago.
A 16-year, $4.7 million restoration funded by state and county grants revitalized a quarter-mile stretch and the only operational lock remaining from the 102-mile canal that once linked Phillipsburg and Jersey City. The lock, which once elevated and lowered boats on their journey through the canal, was fully restored in 2022, along with the adjacent stone “lock tender’s” house, which now serves as a museum.
As part of Morris County’s Cultural Resources Survey, the county’s Office of Planning and Preservation has also been actively compiling a list of the men, women, and children who earned a living on the Morris Canal.
Here are the Morris County officials and organizations participating at this year’s Canal Day:
- Morris County Clerk’s Office: Get information on the many services provided, from recording vital records to officiating marriage ceremonies and processing United States Passport applications.
- Morris County Engineering and Transportation: Discover how you can help prevent water pollution through proper stormwater management.
- Morris County Mosquito Control: Learn about mosquito habitats, life cycles, and how to reduce standing water around your home. A live mosquito display and expert advice will be available.
- Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority: Find out more about recycling and waste management programs across Morris County, and how its Water Division supplies drinking water to local municipalities and water companies while serving as the county’s key environmental resource.
- Morris County Sheriff’s Office: Meet the Bomb Squad and K9 team, with demonstrations and equipment displays. Sheriff James Gannon will also be present with Hope One, the mobile recovery access vehicle providing addiction and mental health services, along with Narcan training.
Admission to the festival is free, and $5.00 off-street parking is available. At 7:00 p.m., Robert Street Park will host a spectacular fireworks display.
Schedule of Events:
- Great Field Bandshell Musical Performers:
- 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.: Norton Smull Band
- 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.: The Big Noise Band
- 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.: Sonrise Mountain Revival
- 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.: Bootleg, The Band
- 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.: Stone Hearth Bluegrass Band
- 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.: Colburn and Co.
- Street Area Activities (All Day):
- Morris County Sheriff’s Department Bomb Disposal Unit demonstration
- Blacksmith demonstrations by William Barrett
- Pony rides
- Park Area – Gazebo Opening Ceremony:
- 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
- 10:00 a.m.: Opening ceremony with color guard, bagpipes, and flag salute
- 10:15 a.m.: History of the Morris Canal provided by The Canal Society of New Jersey
- Park Area – Gazebo Music Schedule:
- 10:30 a.m.: Growing Old Disgracefully
- 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.: Wallaby Tales Animal Show
- 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.: Niki Briar
- 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.: Coo Coo Cachoo
- 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.: Long Hill String Band
- 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.: Loretta Hagen
- Park Area Special Activities (All Day):
- Kayak rides on the Morris Canal
- Revolutionary War encampment and firearm demonstration by the 3rd New Jersey Regiment “Jersey Blues”
- Civil War encampment provided by the 7th Virginia Cavalry Company A
- Morris Canal narrated a historical boat tour on the Morris Canal by The Canal Society of New Jersey
- Interpretation of Morris Canal Lock 2 East and Tender’s House
- Horse-drawn hayrides
- 11:00 a.m. and 2:45 p.m.: Civil War Small Arms Firing Demo
- 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m.: Guided historical walking tours along the Morris Canal by The Canal Society of New Jersey
For more information and a festival map, visit www.canalday.org.
