This weekend’s Canal Days celebration in Cambridge City features good vibes of love, peace, foam and fellowship.
While Cambridge City Area Chamber of Commerce organizes the festival, President Tamra Davis is quick to thank several community organizations offering complementary activities.
“Without so many groups volunteering to have events, our community couldn’t have an event this big,” Davis said. “It takes a lot of people – groups and volunteers – to make something like Canal Days come together.”
The downtown festival, with a theme of “Peace, Love & Canal Days,” kicks off with one event Friday, Sept. 5.
AJ Wetzel performs free music for the public from 8-11 p.m. at American Legion, 25 W. Church St.
The Legion also offers Saturday’s opening event, a $5 public breakfast, from 7-11 a.m.
Next up are New Day Kiwanis’ golf tournament at 8 a.m. at Winding Branch in Pershing, and the Lincoln High School alumni breakfast. Reservations have closed for the reunion in Golay Community Center.
Vendors offer arts, crafts, food and games from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday along U.S. 40.
Davis encouraged visitors to explore local boutiques, antique shops and eateries in what she describes as a thriving downtown. She said the county’s west side is very inviting and homey and has a lot of hidden gems.
Registration begins at 9 a.m. for the 10 a.m. dog show at Creitz Park, 150 N. Foote St. Participation is free.
Cambridge City Volunteer Fire Department opens its hog roast at 127 W. Maple St. with hamburgers, hot dogs and fries at 11 a.m. until food runs out.
The community choir sings at 2 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 238 W. Main St., where ice cream and pies are sold from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. both days while supplies last.
Saturday’s final events are a new, free neon glow foam party from 9:30-10:30 p.m. at Cambridge City Christian Church, 106 W. Church, and Neon Heartache’s 9 p.m.-1 a.m. performance at the Legion with a $5 cover.
Sunday’s highlights include Kiwanis’ car show from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at Creitz Park, the 2 p.m. parade along Main Street, and the 4 p.m. duck race at the park’s swinging bridge.
Tickets are $3 each or two for $5. Numbered rubber ducks are dumped into the river; those crossing the finish line first win prizes of $400, $200 and $100.
Chamber leaders spend money raised at Canal Days on downtown Winter Wonderland activities.
Davis is grateful for volunteers who give a little time to sell duck tickets or assist in other ways. While the chamber is based in Cambridge City, residents of Milton, Pershing, Dublin and Mount Auburn are encouraged to feel connected because the organization represents those towns too.
She hopes to bring back the queen contest next year if more volunteers step up.
Those interested in volunteering at upcoming events are asked to email cambridgecitychamberofcommerce@gmail.com or contact board members, who are listed at cambridgecityindiana.org.
Canal Days fired up about town’s fire chief
Jeff Gabbard named parade’s grand marshal
This year’s Canal Days grand marshal not only helps save lives throughout the year, he brightens them with fireworks at Independence Day.
Cambridge City Volunteer Fire Department Chief Jeff Gabbard will be feted in the festival’s parade at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 7, through downtown Cambridge City.
Gabbard is a lifelong Western Wayne resident and a 1975 Lincoln High School graduate.
He and his wife, Jackie, live in Dublin. They have four children and five grandchildren.
Gabbard has served on CCVFD for 46 years, including 11 as chief.
He’s worked for the state of Indiana for 25 years. He is currently deputy state fire marshal for Indiana Department of Homeland Security.
Gabbard brings knowledge from his job to CCVFD and passionately advocates for residents to make sure they put new batteries in their smoke detectors twice a year when the time changes. He also leads the department’s efforts to install smoke detectors in residents’ homes at no charge.
Cambridge City Area Chamber of Commerce board member Silvia Bowman-Hamilton said Gabbard is exceptionally dedicated. He goes the extra mile to make sure the community is safe, she said.
She also appreciates Gabbard’s annual efforts to make sure the town has a successful fireworks show at Independence Day. Without firefighters setting off the displays, the town couldn’t afford those shows, Bowman-Hamilton said, and Gabbard plays an integral part.
“He’s invaluable to this area,” she said.
A version of this article appeared in the September 3 2025 print edition of the Western Wayne News.