Arts & Society

Social Scene

Canal Day: Good, Old-Fashioned Fun at the Grand Old Ditch

By Robert Devaney • October 23, 2025 0 329

Council member Brooke Pinto held story time, reading to children at the canal. Photo by Bill Starrels.

The first-ever Canal Day gathered family and friends on a perfect Sunday, Oct. 19, to recognize one of Georgetown’s crown jewels — the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal, an engineering marvel opened in 1830.

While the canal in Georgetown has been emptied of water because of ongoing repairs to the canal walls by the National Park Service, children at Lock 3 held their own regatta with toy boats in roof gutters filled with water.

Visitors checked the canal boat in dry dock at the canal, which should be filled with water again in time for the nation’s semiquincentennial.

“We are so thrilled with how the event went,” said Maggie Downing, executive director of Georgetown Heritage, organizer of the event. “Canal Day was a way for Georgetown Heritage to bring together the community to celebrate our beloved C&O Canal and remind everyone that water will be back in the canal and our boat will be back in operation in 2026.”

Performers included Hollertown, a bluegrass band, Jam with Jamie (kids music/dance on the boat) and Big Barn Puppets (puppet show on the boat)

Council member Brooke Pinto held story time, reading to children at the canal.

At Lock 4, Lucille the donkey and Kismet the mule came in from Woodstock, Virginia, for the day and quietly posed for photos with admirers.

Refreshments were by 7th Street Burger, Maman, Say Cheese, and il Canale. All provided donated snacks during the event. The Rocklands BBQ food truck was parked on 30th Street selling food.

Sponsors included 1787 Provenance Bourbon, Martin’s Tavern, Liz D’Angio, Rachael Burnett & David Tolson, the Georgetown Preschool, SWBC Mortgage, Il Canale, Samantha & Ross Ring, Alexis Wetzler, Boathouse Apparel and Self Storage Plus.

The mission of Georgetown Heritage, a non-profit, “is to celebrate and elevate the history, heritage, arts and culture of Georgetown. We are dedicated to creating memorable experiences and opportunities for residents and visitors through educational programs, events, and partnerships with a commitment to the unique character of Washington, D.C.’s oldest neighborhood. Georgetown has played a unique and important role in the political, social and cultural development of our nation’s capital.”