Published October 16. 2023 11:35AM
by James Logue Jr. tneditor@tnonline.com
The 43rd and final Walnutport Canal Festival was held Sunday, drawing hundreds of people for the food, games and crafts.
“We have about 50 crafters and around 12 food stands and trucks,” said festival organizer Jeanne Boehrer. Other attractions included a petting zoo, chain saw artists and reptiles.
The Little Brass Band of the Lehigh Valley entertained with a mix of Octoberfest music and other band favorites. The Lehigh Township Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1 had tours of one of its trucks. Several local nonprofit groups had stands set up, including the Lehigh Township Lions Lioness Club, the Lehigh Valley Kayak and Canoe Club, Wildlands Conservancy, and Girl Scout Troop 101G from Gilbert.
When asked what they will do without the festival next year, Boehrer said, “It’s going to be so hard to give this up. We’ve been doing this for 43 years. We don’t know how to not do it, but it’s just difficult. We’re an aging group.”
Boehrer said that they had someone approach the Walnutport Canal Association about possible plans for next year.
“First, we are looking to finish out of this year and maybe we can discuss it in a few months,” Boehrer said. “We might look at possibly doing one event per month. That is something maybe would be more manageable.”
Follow the Walnutport Canal Association on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/official.walnutportcanalassociation.
Caitlyn Ueland, from Party Animal Express, holds one of the goats that was part of the petting zoo at the 43rd Annual Walnutport Canal Festival. JAMES LOGUE JR./SPECIAL TO THE TIMES NEWS
Stephanie Mohler, Alex Tokartk and Dustin Rotkewicz, from Earth Art which featured handcrafted art work. JAMES LOGUE JR./SPECIAL TO THE TIMES NEWS
Members of Girl Scout Troop 101G, Gilbert, sold candy to raise funds for camping and other projects. From left: Sara Correia, Addison Moyer, Aria Moyer, and scout leaders Sara Moyer and Maria Correia, all from Kunkletown. JAMES LOGUE JR./SPECIAL TO THE TIMES NEWS
Gary Weaver of the 153rd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, who had an ancestor who served in the Civil War. The group was at the festival to teach visitors about Civil War times and help those who may have had an ancestor who served. JAMES LOGUE JR./SPECIAL TO THE TIMES NEWS