A canal afternoon from Main Street

Park once, start at the Main Street lift bridge and let the canal set the pace. The stops below go in order; go as far as you like and come back the same way.

Before you go

• Canal season. The canal closes to navigation at 6 pm on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, and is expected to reopen in May 2027. Check canal alerts and Canalway Trail alerts the day you go.

• Farmers market. The Fairport Farmers Market fills the Village Landing parking lot, off South Main Street, on Saturdays from 8 am to noon, through November 21. The village asks that pets stay home on market days.

Step 1: Park

The village has six free lots, listed on its parking page. Four are on the streets this outing uses:

• Lot C, Liftbridge Lane East, north side of the street, at Fairport Junction

• Lot D, Liftbridge Lane East, north side of the street

• Lot E, South Main Street, west side, at the Village Landing

• Lot F, South Main Street, east side, at Packett's Landing behind Village Hall

On Saturday mornings the market takes over the Village Landing lot. Use the Packett's Landing lot behind Village Hall (31 South Main Street), or find a spot on Perrin Street, West Avenue or South Main Street. Otherwise, follow the posted signs. More on downtown parking.

Step 2: Start at the lift bridge

The Main Street lift bridge was assembled in 1914 and still lifts for larger boats during the navigation season. On its northwest corner, a Portals to Our Past sign marks the canal's arrival in Fairport in 1822.

Step 3: Kennelley Park

Go down to the water at Kennelley Park, the village park on the canal's southwest bank. It has a gazebo, an observation deck and a deck for launching boats without motors. The park is open to everyone, even when the gazebo is rented.

Step 4: On the water, or along the towpath

• Paddle or ride. Erie Canal Boat Company, 7 Liftbridge Lane West, rents kayaks, canoes and bikes, including adaptive equipment. In the fall it opens Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Book online or walk up, and get on the water before October 14.

• Walk the towpath. The Erie Canalway Trail runs through the village as part of the Empire State Trail. Pick a direction, walk as far as you like, and turn back.

Step 5: Trains at Fairport Junction

On Liftbridge Lane East, the covered Fairport Junction platform looks over the junction of two CSX lines. The Fairport Perinton Partnership counts up to 65 trains a day.

Step 6: Eat

Four places near the canal:

• Donnelly's Public House, 1 Water Street: lunch and dinner daily, from 11 am (noon on Sunday).

• Moonlight Creamery, 36 West Avenue: ice cream with a view of the lift bridge. Opens at 11 am on Saturday, 11:30 am on Friday and Sunday, and 2 pm Monday to Thursday.

• Mulconry's Irish Pub & Restaurant, 17 Liftbridge Lane East: opens 11:30 am daily. The kitchen closes at 9 pm Monday to Thursday, 10 pm Friday and Saturday, and 8 pm Sunday.

• The Porterhouse, 400 Packett's Landing: dinner Tuesday to Saturday from 4:30 pm. Closed Monday; open Sunday only from May to September.

Step 7: Potter Historic District

Back on Main Street, head west on West Church Street to the Potter Historic District, on the National Register since August 18, 2017. Potter Place runs north to south through it, with 20 houses built from 1909 to 1953 on the west side and Potter Park on the east. A marker stands at 1 Potter Place. The houses are private homes, so stay on the sidewalk. The park's community garden, started in 2011, grows on a World War II Victory Garden site, and Portals to Our Past stop 1 tells the Potter story.

Short on time?

Park in Lot E or Lot F on South Main Street (Lot F on a Saturday morning). Walk to the lift bridge, go down to Kennelley Park, then eat at one of the places in step 6. On a Saturday before noon, start at the market instead.