FAIRPORT, N.Y. — ​One of the most popular arts festivals in the state, Fairport Canal Days, returns this weekend after last year's event was cancelled like so many others.

Fairport Canal Days is celebrating its 44th year alongside the historic Eric Canal. Lesa Kime's shop, Main Street Mercantile is stocked with farmhouse finds, crafts and all things Fairport. She knows what Canal Days does for business.

"Canal days is really successful for us," said Kime. "This year should be special because we are opening back up again and people feel a little bit safer moving around. Canal Days is huge."

Longtime Fairport resident Mark Renfro, who recently retired from Wegmans, will be selling his handcrafted wooden baskets at Canal Days for the first time.

"We are very excited. We were excited last year and very disappointed when it didn’t happen, so we are excited for this one this year and just to see whether or not we have a product that is going to be something that is of interest to folks," said Renfro. "It is most definitely our first big show."

The layout of the festival is different than in year's past. The 90 vendors will be set up north of the canal between Lift Bridge Lane and High St.

There will be three ways to enter the festival: over the Parker Street bridge, North Main St. at High St. and the Canal Path as it enters the parking lot near Erie Canal Boat Company. Public parking is free, both on-street throughout the village and at Packett's Landing and Village Landing. There will not be any shuttle busses. You can park and walk from Minerva DeLand and Brooks Hill Schools. There is some limited private off-street $5 parking at Fairport Baptist Church and the United Church of Christ.

Fairport Canal Days is open from 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Saturday & Sunday. Masks are not required for vaccinated individuals.