Erie Armada Brings The Best Of New York To The Erie Canal

Inaugural year reimagines the Erie Canal with exclusive collaboration brews, extraordinary kayak challenges, and more

MACEDON, N.Y. and NEW YORK, Aug. 1, 2019 Erie Armada will celebrate its inaugural year in Macedon Canal Park, September 20 – 22, 2019, with a multi-tiered, immersive experience featuring exclusive canal-inspired collaboration brews from brewers throughout New Yorkincluding Queens-based LIC Beer Project and Buffalo’s Thin Man Brewery, Barrier Brewing Co. in Long Island and Rare Form Brewing Co.out of Troy, plus upstate cideries Nine Pin Cider Works and Rogers’ Cideryard from Albany and Johnstown respectively. 

The three-day event, born from the New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’sReimagine the Canals Competition, will include waterborne activities on the Erie Canal in partnership with Genesee Waterways and the New York Adventure Racing Association, locally sourced culinary offerings curated by NY Kitchen and canal-side glamping from Naturluxe & Stars.

Tickets start at $40 for early bird purchase at https://eriearmada.com

“We are honored to introduce a landmark new lifestyle event along the Erie Canal,” says Rory McEvoy, President of Erie Armada Inc. “We look forward to this inaugural year and many years to come of making the Erie Armada a destination encounter.”

Erie Armada pays tribute to the area’s history while looking to the future of the New York State Canal System. New York, once a leading grower of hops, shipped its goods nationwide via the Erie Canal. The event combines the exceptional craft brewing of New York, home to 400 breweries, with new recreational activities along the canal.

“The Erie Armada honors the heritage of the Erie Canal and shows us one of many ways how it can remain essential in the 21^st century,” said state Canal Corporation Director Brian U. Stratton. “We look forward to a great weekend.”

In addition to access to exclusive specialty collaboration brews from hand-selected partners and curated bites representing both NYC and upstate with food trucks and chef pop-ups, attendees will be able to participate in a series of on-canal challenges focusing on teamwork, creativity and human-powered crafts. Authentic historical canal boats from Erie Canal Adventures, Corn Hill Navigation’s Sam Patch, the Colonial Belle, and tugs from the Canal Corporation will fill out the mix.