Published: May 14, 2008 10:49 pm            

CANAL FEST: Line-up taking shape

With the big event just 10 weeks away, things are shaping up for Canal Fest 2008, scheduled to run July 13-20.

Events slated to run this year include a chainsaw carver and street musicians. Two of the more popular events, the duck race and diaper derby, will be back as well.

Community Missions of Niagara Frontier is sponsoring this year’s duck race, which is scheduled for 3 p.m. July 19 at Gateway Park.

Top prize in this year’s race is an eight day, seven night condo vacation to the locale of the winner’s choosing. While accommodations will be paid for, transportation is not. The prize was donated by Zenaida Navarro, a professor at the University of Puerto Rico.

“She had a work conference in Niagara Falls and chose to spend her break from working cooking and serving in our soup kitchen,” Community Missions Events Coordinator Lynne M. Smith said. “She is a part-time travel agent and couldn’t wait to donate this prize. It’s weird how some connections happen.”

The second place finisher will receive two vouchers from Myrtle Beach Direct Air, and third prize is a sapphire tennis bracelet that has been donated by NCCC professor Mark Bonacci.

Tickets are $5 a duck, and proceeds benefit the agency’s soup kitchen and homeless shelter. Community Missions is hoping to sell 1,000 ducks. This is the agency’s first year sponsoring the duck race.

The diaper derby is scheduled to run July 17, with co-sponsorship from Babies R Us and Women and Children’s Hospital of Buffalo. Registration forms will be available at the Chamber of Commerce of the Tonawandas, DeGraff Memorial Hospital gift shop and online at www.canalfest.org.

“We had a great time last year,” said Phyllis Gentner, who helps coordinate the event. “I think we’ll be better than ever this year.”

Contact reporter David J. Hill at 693-1000, ext. 115.

        

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