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Wharton’s Canal Day Celebration returns on Saturday, August 23, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Betty Poyer and Hugh Force Parks. This annual festival blends the charm of an old-time country fair with modern attractions, honoring the history of the Morris Canal and its impact on surrounding communities. Visitors can step back in time with a Civil War encampment, watch blacksmithing demonstrations, and take narrated boat tours along the canal.
The celebration will host more than 100 craft and merchandise vendors along with 20 gourmet food trucks serving a wide variety of dishes. Live music will fill the day with performances from Tennessee Honey (10 a.m. to 12 p.m.), Mid-Life Crisis (12:30 to 2:30 p.m.), and Radio Daze (3 to 5 p.m.). Adults can relax in the beverage garden sponsored by Village Brewing Company, featuring beer, red and white sangria, hard seltzers, and strawberry vodka lemonade.
Families can enjoy pony rides, a petting zoo, inflatables, face painting, sand art, and other kid-friendly activities. Admission is free, dogs are welcome, and attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets, and an appetite for a day of history, entertainment, and community spirit.
