OGDENSBURG – The 57th International Seaway Festival will kick off a week of activities including carnival rides, games, craft and vendor shows, fishing derbies, canoe racing, music, food and fireworks July 22-30.

Called “the biggest family reunion” in St. Lawrence County, the Seaway Festival traditionally draws thousands of attendees at events held throughout the week, including what organizers claim is the biggest parade in the region.

This year, despite funding challenges cited on the festival’s Facebook page and the passing last year of one of its longtime organizers, Joe Cosentino, the festival is in a rebuilding mode, maintaining some old favorite attractions and introducing a few new things in 2017. Classic Seaway Festival offerings like the Children’s Fishing Derby and the annual fireworks display are still scheduled, along with new additions like the Wine Festival and farmer’s market.

Among the other highlights this year are the annual Battle of the High School Bands, held Sunday, at 7 p.m., July 23 at the OFA Field. Gouverneur, Heuvelton, Lisbon, Morristown and OFA schools will battle it out with brass, woodwinds, and sticks for bragging rights to see who will be the best marching band around. The Battle will feature a special percussion exhibition at half time. There is a $3 entry fee for the Battle of the Bands.

Carnival rides will be supplied this year by Amusements of America on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and the fireworks display scheduled for Friday, July 28, at 10 a.m. will be handled by Majestic Fireworks.

Once more the annual karaoke contest will pit some of the area’s most ambitious talents against one another. The preliminaries for the contest will be held on the main stage in the Greenbelt, Monday, July 24, at 6:30 p.m. The finals will take place on the main stage Friday from 6-7 p.m.

There is a $10 fee to enter the karaoke competition.

Seaway Festival organizers are currently accepting float applications and entries for the annual parade. For more information regarding entries, call 315-393-2219.

Volunteers are always needed to help with the festival. To learn more about donating time to the effort, call Chris and Salley Cole at 3315-393-3518.

The current schedule of Seaway Festival events includes:

Saturday, July 22

9 a.m. Remington Canoe Race at the Heuvelton boat launch; info: Katie Cole, 315-323-9888.

9:30-11 a.m. Kid’s Fishing Derby at Greenbelt Docks.

10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wine, Arts & Craft Show at the Lockwood Arena; info: Michelle Morrison, 315-393-9274.

10 a.m.-2 p.m. North Country Children's Museum at Greenbelt Docks.

1-4 p.m. Firefighter’s Kid’s Games at Morrisette Park.

Sunday, July 23

8:30 a.m. Youth Fun Run at Dobisky Visitors Center; info: John Tebo, 315-955-9342.

9 a.m. 4-mile walk/Run at Dobisky Visitors Center; info: John Tebo, 315-955-9342.

10 a.m.-3 p.m. Wine, Arts & Craft Show at the Lockwood Arena; info: Michelle Morrison, 315-393-9274.

10 a.m.-7 p.m. Oswegatchie Golf Challenge at Trafalgar Park.

3 p.m. "SUM of Which" Tournament at the Dobisky Center.

7 p.m. Battle of the Bands at OFA Football Field; H.S. marching band competition; info: Chris Cole, 315-393-3518.

Monday, July 24

6:30 p.m. Karaoke Prelims at Greenbelt Stage; info: Laurel Roethel, 315-393-4770.

Tuesday, July 25

6 p.m. Ogdensburg Dance Center performance at Greenbelt Stage.

Wednesday, July 26

Noon-5 p.m. Amusements of America Carnival Rides, Wrist Bracelet Day in the Greenbelt.

4 p.m. Tricycle races at Greenbelt the Tennis Courts.

5-11 p.m. Amusements of America Carnival Rides in the Greenbelt.

6-9 p.m. Seaway Cruiser’s Cruise-In at Greenbelt Park; info: John Miller III, 315-347-3414.

6:30-9 p.m.Concert in the Park at Library Park Gazebo "Do Wop Revue” with The Fabulous Shoes, featuring 50's and 60's music.

Thursday, July 27

10 a.m.-5 p.m. Remington Museum Day at Frederic Remington Museum; info: 315-393-2425.

Noon-5 p.m. Amusements of America Carnival Rides, Wrist Bracelet Day in the Greenbelt.

5-11 p.m. Amusements of America Carnival Rides in the Greenbelt.

6:30 p.m. The Great Toilet Paper Toss in Library Park; info: Laurel Roethel, 315-393-4770.

7 p.m. Concert with the Oswegatchie River Boys.

Friday, July 28

10 a.m.-5 p.m. Remington Museum Day at Frederic Remington Museum; info: 315-393-2425.

Noon-11 p.m. Amusements of America Carnival Rides, at Greenbelt Park.

5-6 p.m. Country Sing Off with 95.3 the Wolf radio station, Main Stage.

6-7 p.m. Karaoke finals at the Main Stage.

7-9:45 p.m. Concert with the J&D Band from Watertown, Main Stage.

10 p.m. Seaway Festival Fireworks Spectactular.

Saturday, July 29

11 a.m.-finish, 57th Annual Seaway Festival Parade up Ford Street; info: Mike Cole, 315-393-2219; followed by parade awards ceremony in the Library Park Gazebo.

Noon-5 p.m. Amusements of America Carnival Rides, Wrist Bracelet Day in the Greenbelt.

5-11 p.m. Amusements of America Carnival Rides in the Greenbelt.

7-10 p.m. Concert with DJ Kenny Chase and Laser Light, Main Stage in Library Park.

Sunday, July 30

9 a.m.-4 p.m. Antique & Classic Car Show OBPA Park Seaway Cruisers; info: Bill Denio, 315-393-0916 or John Miller III, 315-347-3414.

Corporate sponsors of this year’s Seaway Festival include: Pepsi Cola Ogdensburg Bottlers, NYSCOPBA, SUNY Canton, Ogdensburg Moose Lodge 814, Ogdensburg City School District, City of Ogdensburg, A.J. Missert Distributors Inc., Howland Pump Inc., St. Lawrence Federal Credit Union, SeaComm Federal Credit Union, River Rat Designs and the Ogdensburg Lions Club.

Friends of the Festival include: The Gran View (Lou and Claire Williams), United Helpers MOSAIC, Enbridge Services, The Place, Phoenix on the Bay and Pizza Hut.

Festival contributors and individual event organizers also include: Q Country and Yes FM, 95.3 the Wolf, Frederic Remington Museum, Buster's Sports Bar & Restaurant, Stewart's Shops and the local Oddfellows Lodge, and the Ogdensburg Fire Department.