Lyon’s is once again at the top of the list when it comes to Erie Canal Communities. As the bi-centennial of the construction of the Erie Canal begins in 2017, Lyons has become the first community to develop an overall schedule of events for the coming season.

Beginning in April, Lyons has brought together both governmental and community organizations to stage events in conjunction with the community’s connection to the Erie Canal  

According to Bob Stopper who heads the Lyons Erie Canal Greeters, one of the eleven groups putting the celebration schedule together, “it’s going to be quite a summer for us” said Stopper, although in reality the Lyons celebration encompasses nearly seven months of events.

In addition to the Canal Greeters, The Erie Canal Bicentennial Celebration includes the town of Lyons, Lyons National Bank, Lyons Peppermint Days Committee, Lyons Heritage Society, Lyons Rotary, Lyons Elks, Lyons Community Center, Lyons Central School District, Lyons Public Library and the Museum of Wayne County.

The Lyons Canal Bicentennial Celebration kicks off in April with a long-term exhibit at the Wayne County Museum of History called, “The Little Ditch That Could and Did” on the development of the Erie Canal.

Another of the early canal celebration highlights in Lyons includes the annual Canal Clean Sweep on April 22^nd. The cleanup is centered in the downtown area and is coordinated by the Canal Greeters, the Town of Lyons and the local scout troops. It takes place from 8:30 – 11:30 ending with a pizza lunch

Lyons events include everything from singers to canal path bike rides to interpretive walks and movies all connected to Canal History.

Among the biggest events are visits by the HMS McClure, a replica anal schooner and the Tugboat CL Churchill, both from the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum. The flotilla will be in town July 29^th.

For Lyons, the Canal Bicentennial celebration is a chance to celebrate the community’s early growth fueled largely by the canal. Today Lyons recognizes its rich canal history with a series of historical murals and a number of signs pointing to canal history, including one on North Canal Street that points to the path of Clinton’s Ditch, notes Stopper. Not far from that is a good section of the enlarged Erie, the second incarnation of the canal. Lyons also boast canal locks from the Enlarged Erie Era.

April 13: “The Little Ditch That Could and Did,” a long-term exhibit by Museum of Wayne County.

April 22: Canal Clean Sweep. Meet at the dock for 8:30 registration, with 11:30 a.m. pizza lunch

April 30: Allen Hopkins “Erie Canal Songs,” 2 p.m., Ohmann Theater

May TBA: Painting of canal route through village

May 6: Jailbird Antique Festival & Erie Canal Exhibit, Museum of Wayne County

May 6: Lyons Youth Baseball & Softball begins at Erie Canal side Baseball Fields

May 16: “Tuesdays on the Towpath,” cycle ride from Lyons Drydock to Lock Berlin and back

June 3: “Closing the Gaps Cycle Ride,” Macedon through Lyons to Montezuma

June 10: Victorian Tea, 2-5 p.m., Lyons Heritage Society

June 24 : Carp Derby on the Erie Canal, canal bridge to canal bridge; trophies awarded

June 29: “Our Ability Journey along the Erie Canal,” visit and water stop

July-August: Historic Hotchkiss Peppermint Museum Tours, Friday Saturday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. or by appointment

July 11: “NYS P&T Cycle the Erie,” (600-plus cyclists, water/food stop.)

July 13-16: Peppermint Festival with Thunder Over the Erie Fireworks July 15, car show July 16

July 18: Vote-Tilla Flotilla Grand Welcome, Lyons Heritage Society

July 29: Tours of HMS McClure & Churchill Tugboat

Aug. 2 Lyons Community Center Back to School Wellness and Cycle the Erie Youth Ride

Aug. 12: Music: Legends of the Erie Canal and Movie “A Farmer Takes a Wife (County Museum)

August TBA: Kayak/ canoe/row boat Ganargua Creek Wilderness Paddle, Newark to Lyons

August TBA: Erie Canal “Walks and Talks”

August 26 and 27: Reel Cruises Tour Boat; details TBD

September BBC Cruise —Books, Boating & the Erie Canal

September TBA– Installation of Erie Canal National Heritage Corridor Signage

September TBA: “Boom or Bust,” musicians, storytellers at the Ohmann Theatre