Union Canal Days return to Union Canal Tunnel Park on May 21-22, with plenty of activities scheduled throughout the weekend.
Read More: A trip to the 32nd annual Union Canal Days
The centerpiece of Union Canal Days is the park’s namesake tunnel, although the 110-acre property includes plenty of other vistas and things to see, including the Krall Barn, believed to be the oldest existing log barn in Lebanon County.
Read More: There’s nothing like Union Canal Tunnel Park on a brisk autumn day
Read More: Krall Barn to add new element at Union Canal Tunnel park, funding still needed
The tunnel was purchased by the Lebanon County Historical Society in 1950 and the park itself was dedicated in 1988. Maintenance work and other park activities are handled by the volunteer group Friends of Union Canal Tunnel Park.
Finished in 1827, the 600-foot hand-hewn tunnel is believed to be the oldest existing transportation tunnel in the United States. It was a critical link along the canal route which connected Reading to Harrisburg, remnants of which can be seen throughout the county.
Read More: What’s it like to have a segment of the old Union Canal in your backyard?
Tours of the canal tunnel will be offered by way of the iconic canal boats, helmed by pilots replete with sun hats, setting poles, and plenty of stories about the canal’s construction and its history.
Vendors and exhibitors will be setup at the event. Food vendors will include The Chubby Unicorn, Mad Dash, Which Way Sandwiches, and Next Level Pizza (Saturday only).
As in previous years, the Union Canal Days will include a gift basket raffle for visitors to try their hand at winning various products.
The 93rd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry will also be in attendance, a group of reenactors who help keep Civil War history alive, in particular the history of the Lebanon Infantry.
Read More: ‘Everyone in Lebanon can be proud’ of the 93rd Regiment’s role in the Civil War
Musical entertainment is scheduled for throughout the weekend, including on Saturday performances by Cedar Crest Middle School musicians (11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.) and classic songs by Chip Stanilla (3 p.m. to 4 p.m.).
Visit Lebanon Valley’s Jennifer Kuzo will also be doing a reading of The Adventures of Lebanon Lilly at 1:30 p.m. Autographed copies of the book will be available for purchase after the reading.
For a complete schedule and list of vendors, visit the Lebanon County Historical Society’s website closer to the event dates.
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