30 Years of Canal Days

A Canal Day crowd around Lock 60

The Schuylkill Canal Association invites the community to its 30th anniversary for a grand celebration on Sunday, June 24, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.at Lock 60 and St. Michael's Park in Mont Clare.

A $5/person donation will be accepted upon entering the access road from St. Michael's Park to Lock 60, children 12 and under are free.

Please be advised, Towpath Road will be closed to vehicular traffic on June 24th, starting at 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m.

A handicap-accessible shuttle bus will bring people back and forth, free-of-charge, from the parking area continuously all day.

This year's celebration will be dedicated to SCA's dear friend and devoted volunteer, Denny Porrini, who passed away in April.

There be pirates on that there canal!

In an e-mail announcing the event, Schuylkill Canal Association President Betsey Daley wrote: "SCA is proud to say it is our 30th anniversary of this annual celebration and what an exciting 30 years it has been! That small band of volunteers who came together all those years ago; to preserve, maintain and restore the Schuylkill Canal, should give themselves a huge pat on the back - their ambitious goals have been met.

"Just as the first Canal Day held in 1982, this year's celebration shines the light on the canal creating awareness of this premier community asset and the important significance it continues to play in the region's growth and prosperity," Daley wrote.

Closing the lock takes many hands

"SCA thanks our many sponsors, especially Exelon Generation & Phoenixville Federal Bank & Trust, for their overwhelming support. All of them provide the funding and/or in-kind donations making Canal Day a day full of family-oriented fun at a minimal cost overall to those participating. Many of the Phoenixville area merchants have donated prizes including gift bags or gift certificates that will be a part of the Brown Bag Raffle held on Canal Day; tickets for $1 or 6 for $5 will be available at the table in the Locktender's House yard," Daley wrote.


For more on the event and the Canal, click here.