thePULSEBy Michael J. Shivick
If you like a party, then you’re already planning to be at Canal Fest on September 9. For those who need a little more of a nudge to get there, the following article is for you.
The Blackstone Canal Force and John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor staff have been working around the clock, in partnership with a seemingly innumerable number of cohorts, to bring you this deal called Canal Fest. My first question was: Why should I, a 25 year-old, want to go hang out on Harvard Street on a balmy fall day in order to commemorate something I have never seen in my life? Well, if for no other reason (although there are lots, just keep reading), I will be there to witness attendees in horse-drawn carriages circling the 40 tons of water contained in a 75’ by 18’ replica of The Canal, which will be constructed right in the middle of the street by the New England Regional Council of Carpenters, including members of our Local 107 Carpenters’ Union.
Area artists and artisans, such as the Pendragon Celtic folk band, will be showing off the talent that makes them part of the elite 1% of Americans who earn a living through creative expression. At a buck a pop, you can try your luck in the all-day raffle, in which winners will be chosen on the hour, with the best chances of wining earlier in the day (when you win, thank me for the tip). In between drawings, you can peruse tables overflowing with food from local restaurants offering their tastiest dishes in a generous display of culinary expertise.
There is still another question to be answered: How is the Blackstone Canal tied to all of this? Ned Liddell, Canal Fest’s Official Spokesman, wants the public to understand that the canal redefined Worcester’s socio-economic structure in the early 19th century by establishing a commercial water link to Providence, and opening Worcester to the Hudson River and Atlantic Ocean.
The canal was forgotten something like a hundred years ago, deemed obsolete by modernization, but the water still flows beneath the streets of the city (who knew?!). The main objective of Canal Fest is to usher in with flair the commencement of the Canal Reconstruction Project, which will include, as part of the continuing beautification of the city of Worcester, the restoration of a portion of the canal and general face-lift for the Harvard Street area.
To cap it all off, the first screenings of the FreetheBlackstone Short Film Festival and Competition will be shown at Fiddler’s Green that evening, beginning at 6pm. There will be a juried competition of films (each no more than 15 minutes in length) that must use the Blackstone Canal as one of the characters. As with Canal Fest, there will be no admission charge for the Film Festival, so it’s definitely be worth checking out.
Canal Fest is an inexpensive way for people of all ages to enjoy the culture and history that lies beneath our very feet, right below the surface. Visit the Canal Fest website at www.blackstonecanal.org for a more thorough preview, and I, for one, will see you on Harding Street on September 9!
