Medina’s Tourism Committee prepares for busy season

File photos – “Wild” Bill McDonald, center, of Batavia performs with the Ghost Riders last summer during a concert series in Holley. McDonald and Kay McMahon, left, will play a concert in Medina from a boat on July 12 as part of the Traveling Towpath Troubadours.

By Howard Balaban, Correspondent

MEDINA – In just a few weeks, the Medina Village Tourism Committee will start to hit its summer stride.

At Monday night’s Village Board meeting, Jim Hancock, the committee chairman, briefed the trustees on upcoming events.

In conjunction with the Cycle the Canal Event in July, Medina’s stop will feature two entertainment spots. He noted how the annual ride passes through Middleport, Albion, Fancher, Holley and heads east to Rochester. The Tourism Committee wanted to be sure that the stop in Medina offered “the possibility for cyclists to do something.”

With that in mind, on July 12 at Canal Basin Park the Traveling Towpath Troubadours will put on a concert from 2 to 3 p.m. That will be followed by Teresa Wood, of Tonawanda, telling canal stories in the same venue.

The next day, at 9 a.m., there will be a Culvert Road display panel dedication. Hancock said that panel is something a long time in the making and will mark a truly unique spot along the Erie Canal.

Just a few weeks later, on August 8, the Concert by the Canal Series will feature Blind Leading the Blind at 2 p.m. and the Mercury Blues Band at 4 p.m., both in the Canal Basin. In the event of rain, the concert series will move indoors to the Medina Theater.

Also on August 8, Hancock said Medina’s Wide Angle Art Gallery will put on a display in the Canal Basin, and there will also be a Bad Ash Barbecue.

Jena Hemphill gives out cheesecake samples at Celebrity Day Spa last August during the first Sweets in Summer event, when businesses offered samples of desserts and treats.

Finally, he gave a plug for the Medina Business Association’s Second Annual Sweets in Summer event, being held from 1 to 5 p.m. on Aug. 8.

The Tourism Committee is also going to once again be in charge of Christmas in Medina, featuring the Parade of Lights in November.

As he wrapped his presentation to the board, Hancock made note of plans to host a Canal Opening Celebration on May 7, 2016, to coincide with its refilling.

Also, he said the Erie Canal Corporation will soon be adding panels to the Canal Basin to educate passersby along the Erie Canalways Heritage Corridor. Those signs will be managed by the corporation, he noted.