One of the region's biggest annual festivals opens on Friday.

Fairport Canal Days expects tens of thousands of people to fill Main Street and the event's newest spaces along the Erie Canal.

It kicks off Friday evening with what has come to be known as Canal Nights. There will be a chicken barbecue and music at Fairport Junction and several other village stages, highlighting the evening kickoffs to the arts and crafts extravaganza that fills the village dayside.

Canal Nights runs from 4:30-9 p.m. Friday and 7-11 p.m. on Saturday.

The main Canal Days festival runs Saturday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Festival shuttles operate from Minerva Deland School on Hulburt Road and Johanna Perrin Middle School on Potter Place.

For full festival details, click here.