Seneca Falls Canal Fest will return over Fourth of July weekend with children's activities, live entertainment, a Touch-a-Truck event, a swap meet, a duck race, a parade and fireworks.
The festival's Children's Area, located on the south side of the Cayuga-Seneca Canal near the National Women's Hall of Fame, will be open Friday from noon to 7 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 3 p.m.
Activities will include an inflatable slide, obstacle course, petting zoo, arts and crafts, yard games and a sensory tent for visitors who need a quieter place to relax.
A Touch-a-Truck event is planned for Saturday, July 4, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., with vehicles and equipment from Sessler Wrecking, Rodman Lott Farms, the Seneca Falls Fire Department, Maguire Cars and a pulling tractor from Micek Pulling. A sensory-friendly hour is scheduled from 11 a.m. to noon with reduced noise and activity.
The festival will add its first swap meet Sunday, July 5, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Shoppers can browse collectibles, antiques, tools, household items and other goods. Admission is free for shoppers, and vendor spaces are available for a fee.
The annual Canal Fest Duck Race is set for 3 p.m. Sunday, when more than 1,500 rubber ducks will be released into the Cayuga-Seneca Canal from the Bridge Street Bridge. The first duck to cross the finish line wins $1,000, with $500 for second place, $300 for third and $100 for the last duck.
Duck race tickets are $5 per duck and are available at the Seneca Museum & Tourism Center, Sherry's Bear & Frame, Cafe 19, Sinicropi Florist, Seneca Falls Community Center, WomanMade Products, Fall Street Brewing and Canal Fest Headquarters during the festival. Winners do not need to be present to claim prizes.
The weekend will also include craft vendors, specialty exhibitors, food and beverage vendors and live music in People's Park. Sunday evening events include an Independence Weekend Parade on Fall Street at 5 p.m., food trucks, a 6:30 p.m. performance by Noble Rebels and fireworks at Kids Territory.
The 2026 Seneca Falls Canal Fest is supported in part by the 2026 Canal System Grant Program administered by the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor and the New York State Canal Corporation. Additional support comes from the Bonafiglia Family Foundation, the Nelson B. Delavan Foundation, the Town of Seneca Falls and community sponsors.
More information is available at senecafallscanalfest.com, by emailing senecafallscanalfest@outlook.com or by calling 315-215-1610.
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