Expected weather from Hurricane Lee cancels Cape Cod Canal Day for Saturday

Editor's note: Cape Cod Canal Region Chamber of Commerce officials have cancelled Cape Cod Canal Day, scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 16, at Buzzards Bay Park, because of expected bad weather from Hurricane Lee. There are no plans to reschedule it this year.

Looking for a way to bask in some mid-September sun? Mark Sept. 16 on your calendars for some second summer fun as the Cape Cod Canal Region Chamber of Commerce hosts its fifth Cape Cod Canal Day at Buzzards Bay Park.

Canal Day is a festival full of food, booze, shopping and celebration. It's an event so big, state legislators asked the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to delay work on the Bourne Bridge because thousands — around 7,000, in fact — are expected to show up.

"It's a great amenity for people to come and check out all the different vendors that we have," Marie Oliva, president and CEO for the Cape Cod Canal Region Chamber of Commerce said. One hundred vendors, including food trucks will be on hand. "The local food trucks ... they have great food and people love to come for the food and the craft beer and wine."

What is Cape Cod Canal Day?

Cape Cod Canal Day started as an idea by the Cape Cod Canal Committee in 2018, to create a festival that was free to the public and celebrated the canal region. They launched the inaugural festival in 2018 with 50 area vendors, the Cape Cod Canal Day Cup Cornhole Tournament, food trucks, craft beer and wine, live entertainment and kid-focused entertainment.

"It's a community festival and it really represents people coming from all over the canal region," Oliva said. "I mean, they come from all over the Cape, all over southeastern Massachusetts. There's lots of visitors that come as well as residents in the area."

Food trucks, cornhole and a road race at Canal Day.

Now, Canal Day has grown in popularity over the years with 100 vendors set to participate in this year's Canal Day along with local food trucks, like Kono Pizza Cape Cod and The Lobster Trap, and a "Pour Garden" serving craft beer and wine sponsored by Whalers Brewing Co.

Along with food, booze and shopping, Canal Day will host its annual 5k Road Race, which kicks off at 9:15 and is managed by South Shore Race Management. There is also Cape Cod Canal Day Cup Cornhole Tournament, and live entertainment from groups like the Massachusetts Maritime Academy marching band throughout the day.

"The 5K road race, so far we have 200 people signed up for that," Oliva said. "That's the most we've ever had."

Registration for the 5K race costs $25 online until Sept. 15, $30 on the day of the race. Registration for the corn hole tournament is $25 and ends Sept. 14.

Where do I park for Cape Cod Canal Day?

Parking is available in a variety of locations. On Main Street, 90 spots are up for grabs, but attendees can also park in the Massachusetts Maritime Academy parking lot, the Corps of Engineers parking lot and some of the churches along Main Street may offer parking with a recommended donation to the church.

Cape Rail is running an excursion train. What's an excursion train?

To celebrate Canal Day, Cape Rail will be running an excursion train from Buzzards Bay station. On the excursion train, passengers will take an hour-long narrated train ride over the Cape Cod Railroad Bridge and along the canal to Sandwich, learning about the history of the canal along the way.

Train times and ticket prices have yet to be announced by Cape Rail but keep an eye on its website for more information.

When is Cape Cod Canal Day again?

Cape Cod Canal Day is on Sept. 16 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Buzzards Bay Park. The festival is free to attend.

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Cape Cod Canal Day fundraiser called off by threat of Hurricane Lee