Railroad Days: Fifty-five years and counting

Congratulations to all in North Canaan who worked so hard to make Railroad Days such an all-around fun and welcoming time for their town. It is extraordinary that this town brings together its merchants and nonprofit organizations to have an astonishing array of family-friendly activities over two weeks in July. It is only due to the hard work of organizer John Lannen and so many others, as well as the support of the town of North Canaan.

Some of the popular favorite events for Railroad Days have become set in stone, like the carnival, the parade and the fireworks, Family Fun Nite, Poetry is Music, the craft fair and the Ping Pong Ball Drop. But there are plenty of other new things to do every year, and it seems that this year had more than ever.

It was especially noteworthy that the Great Falls brewery was open for business this year at the Canaan Union Depot Railroad Station, and that the Canaan Union Station Rail Museum was open, after years of waiting for this part of North Canaan’s center to be active once again. It’s now vibrant and a destination for area residents and visitors from all over the region. All the planning and work has finally brought North Canaan a great center at the Depot, which should only help all its surrounding downtown to succeed. The fireworks that lit up the sky behind the Depot on Saturday night, July 27, were the ultimate celebration of this historical and active center finally being open for Railroad Days.

It is a welcoming town all year long as well, with plenty for visitors and residents alike to do. From the nine-hole golf course at Canaan Country Club to the mini-golf, batting cages and arcade (and of course the food and ice cream) at the Caddie Shack, to a local winery and brewery, as well as the railway museum at the Depot, there is a lot to recommend this town.

Here’s hoping everyone reading this got over to North Canaan for at least one of the Railroad Days activities. But, for any readers who haven’t been to the center of North Canaan recently, now is the time to go. Bring your own food into the Greats Falls Brewing Company from one of the many eateries in the town center and get your own mug to hang on the wall, take a stroll through the museum and all around downtown. This is a Northwest Corner town whose time for lots more activity has come.