Charles Molineaux
Updated: May 12, 2021 05:10 PM
Created: May 12, 2021 04:22 PM
FAIRPORT, N.Y. (WHEC) — Businesses, officials, and people sick of being cooped up are celebrating the return of one of the area’s marquee festivals.
On Wednesday organizers spelled out their plans for Fairport Canal Days to return.
“We felt it was critical for our community, our economy, and our mental health,” said Ed Bradford, Chairman of Fairport Canal Days.
Officials and organizers detailed their announcement and unveiled the official poster declaring that Canal Days 2021 will happen.
“We really need, now, some good news. We need to get back to that sense of normal,” said Monroe County Executive Adam Bello.
After being canceled due to coronavirus last year in what organizers called a “hiatus,” Fairport’s premier festival will go forward with coronavirus compliant changes.
The nighttime activities of Canal Nights and the duck race are still off.
The footprint of the festival will be smaller, strictly on the north side of the canal, no more than 160 artisans, merchants and food vendors, and only 12,000 people. Police will monitor who gets in and expect guests to be good sports.
“I’m confident it will be a very hopeful community that comes out,” said Fairport Police Chief Sam Farina. “And it will be a very compliant community that comes out.”
Farina added that organizers of other festivals are closely watching how Canal Days will go.
“This is certainly the beta test, if you will,” Farina granted. “A lot of folks have already reached out to us and asked what we are doing in terms of security and safety and complying with the restrictions."
Officials say one big challenge is keeping up with the COVID-19 guidance for events like this from the state, or just waiting to receive it while deciding whether to launch their plans.
Bello acknowledged that such guidance has not been clear or timely.
“I wish it would come a little earlier just because you have that ‘runway,’” Bello explained. “There’s a lot of things you have to plan for, some of which cost money, so not knowing what that guidance might look like in August or September when you have to lay out dollars now is a challenge for a festival organizer.”
The 2021 Fairport Canal Days festival is scheduled for June 5 and June 6.
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