UTICA, N.Y. — Paddlers will have a new challenge with the inaugural Bank of Utica “Canal Cities Classic,” a flatwater race from Rome to Utica.
Utica Mayor Mike Galime announced that the 18-mile event will start at Bellamy Harbor Park in Rome and finish at Harbor Point in Utica, following the historic Erie Canal and Mohawk River on Sept. 19.
Registration is open online and will be capped at 100 boats.
The last day to register is Sept. 7 at 9 p.m. or when the cap is reached.
The fee is $45 per paddler and includes a t-shirt and reusable cup.
After the race, the Erie Canal History and Heritage Festival will feature live music, food trucks, a Saranac beer tent, and exhibits from the Utica Children’s Museum and Oneida County History Center.