Upcoming
Events
May 15th, 2026
May Program Meeting
Speaker: Captain Bill McKelvey
The Canal Society of New Jersey will hold its May 15th Program Meeting at the historic Prallsville Mills, located along the Delaware & Raritan Canal. This marks the first time in approximately 30 years that the Canal Society has hosted a program meeting at the D&R Canal.
We are especially pleased to welcome Captain Bill McKelvey as our featured presenter for the evening.
The program will be offered both in person and virtually. Due to limited capacity at this unique historic site, we kindly ask that those planning to attend in person RSVP in advance by emailing: office@canalsocietynj.org
Upcoming 2026 Program Meetings
Friday, September 18th, 2026
Presented by Linda Barth
35 Waterview Boulevard, Parsippany, NJ
Friday, November 20th, 2026
Speaker & Details Coming Soon
Saturday, May 16th, 2026
Lake Hopatcong Block Party
Hopatcong State Park
The Lake Hopatcong Block Party celebrates all facets of Lake Hopatcong life by bringing visitors together with businesses, non-profit organizations, community groups, crafters, and food vendors for a community day like no other featuring activities, raffles, giveaways, a children’s scavenger hunt, and more.
June 17th & 18th, 2026
New Jersey History & Historic Preservation Conference
EVENT DETAILS COMING SOON
Join us June 17th & 18th, 2026 for the New Jersey History & Historic Preservation Conference, St. Elizabeth University, Morristown NJ. Event details coming soon.
June 27th, 2026
Waterloo Village Canal Day & 250th Celebration of America
EVENT DETAILS COMING SOON
Join us June 27th, 2026 for the Waterloo Village Canal Day & 250th Celebration of America! Event details coming soon.
More Events
Saturday, May 2nd or 16th:
(date to be determined soon): 3rd Annual Canoe Race. Commemorating the 52nd Anniversary of the D&R Canal State Park! Come join us for a paddling race on the D&R Canal Saturday, May 2nd or 16th, at 10 a.m. Proceeds go to the Canal Watch in support of projects in the park. You can choose from 8-mile or 1-mile race distances. Canoes, kayaks, and SUPs welcome. Race begins and ends at the Turning Basin, Alexander Road in Princeton, NJ. $35. Mandatory pre-Registration and additional details available: https://paddleguru.com/races/DandRCanalPark50thAnniversaryRace; 972-742-1500. (There is a “contact race” button on the page that directs to there as well.) Contact: Alan Lamb, Alan.Lamb3@gmail.com.
Sunday, June 28: 2:00 p.m.
Canal Watch Annual Meeting. Contact: Linda Barth, barthlinda123@aol.com; 908-240-0488.
Sunday, July 26th:
Canal Road Walk and Roll. 10:00-4:00. Canal Road will be closed from East Millstone to Butler Road. Enjoy a day with friends and family along the scenic D&R Canal with no cars!
Sunday, August 30th:
Canal Road Walk and Roll. 10:00-4:00. Canal Road will be closed from Griggstown Causeway to Route 518 in Rocky Hill. Enjoy a day with friends and family along the scenic D&R Canal with no cars!
Sunday, September 13th:
Canal House Challenge, 10:00-4:00. Five of the historic locktender and bridgetender homes will be open to the public. Pick up a passport at your first stop and have it stamped. If you visit all five buildings in one day, you will receive a small prize. Visitors will be invited to tour the homes in East Millstone, Blackwells Mills, Griggstown, Kingston, and Port Mercer (addresses will be provided in the August newsletter). The friends group in charge of each home will welcome visitors and provide a tour and history of the building.
Saturday-Sunday, October 10th-11th:
10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday; noon to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday. Somerset County’s Journey Through the Past. Canal Watch members will open the East Millstone bridgetender’s home and station (and the historic outhouse, for observation only). Bob Barth, 201-401-3121, bbarth321@aol.com. (To see the many other historic sites that will be open, Google “Journey Through the Past, Somerset County, NJ.”)
Sunday, October 18th:
10:00 a.m. Bike Ride on the Feeder Canal. Starting and ending point for this round-trip ride to be determined. Helmet required. SAVE THE DATE. Tim Roth, timroth@comcast.net, 973-222-0586.
Saturday, October 24th:
Geology hike, 10:00 a.m. Meet at Prallsville Mills, Route 29, Stockton. During this geology walk, participants will learn about the four geologic units of the Newark Basin along the D&R Canal. Walk led by Pierre Lacombe, retired USGS geologist, pjlacombe25@gmail.com