Saturday's wind and cool weather did not stop thousands of eventgoers from attending the 34th annual Canal Festival from noon to 6 p.m. along the Lehigh Canal in Walnutport.

Festival committee chairman Greg Soltis said the day was "going great, considering what it looked like at 6:30, 7 o'clock this morning," when he said there were actually intermittent snow flurries falling."We weren't so much worried about rain," Soltis said, "but we were really worried about the high winds." He said the festival has been held during windy days in the past, but nothing on this scale, noting that some gusts, until about 2:30 p.m., got up to 30 mph."(Still,) attendance-wise, I would think that we're right up there with some of our best years," Soltis said.Festival committee member Bob Treskot said, "It is a little cool, "but it turned out to be a fabulous day for us."And festival committee member Jeanne Boehrer, working in the canal pavilion to serve such food as turkey barbecue, cabbage and noodles, and more, said, "We've been busy. I think everywhere (here) has been busy, which is great."The festival, which included a plethora of historical arts and crafts displays and demonstrations, has always been geared more toward the history and entertainment of bygone days than having a more modern, amusement ride feel. Guided tours of the locktender's house were provided, with two mules, Hank and George, from Easton, nearby to view.Carla Messinger, director of Native American Heritage programs, who was present with husband Allan at their Lenape culture display, said, "It's important to not only be able to see but also to be able to touch, smell, make music ... use all your senses. You remember longer."Noting that many grade-school textbooks have now dwindled their history of Pennsylvania's Native Americans from a full chapter to a single paragraph, Messinger said, "When we're out here, we can reach children and parents and teachers.""Our main goal (out here) is to make people happy," said Parryville Band Director Ron Sowden, who performed a mix of marches, polkas, show tunes and other familiar melodies.And judging by the smiles of those watching the community band, which has been in existence since 1856, they did just that.First-time festival attendees Tasha Werkheiser of Northampton and her extended family called the festival great.Werkheiser said her husband Bill's grandmother Dorothy Werkheiser is from Walnutport and invited them to attend."It's been wonderful," Werkheiser said.Over 100 different vendors, entertainers, crafters and events were at the festival, including musical groups such as the Community Choir, the always popular hayrides, wagon rides by Leiby's Carriage Service's Belgian horses, a casting contest on the canal, a basket auction, pumpkin painting and much more.Proceeds from all of the weekend's events go to help fund the Walnutport Canal Association. Sponsors this year included Blue Ridge Communications, Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce Foundation, The Lehigh Valley Regional Council of the D&L Trail Alliance, North Lehigh County Chapter of Thrivent Financial, PenTeleData and Susquehanna Bank.The weekend's canal festivities actually began on Saturday with several other fundraisers, including the 13th annual 6K Towpath Trot, a Fun Run and Walk for ages 13 and under, and later the second annual "Feast-ival" fundraising dinner at the canal pavilion.Of the event, Soltis said, "The past five years have really been good to us. The public has come out and supported us."A page in this year's program was dedicated to Everett "Buddy" Kaul, the longtime president of the association who passed away last December."Of course we miss Buddy. You don't replace somebody like that," Soltis said.