““I am deeply honored to be named Grand Marshall... and to be part of an event that celebrates the extraordinary history, character and spirit of New York’s waterways”
We're proud to share that Music Director David Alan Miller has been named Grand Marshall of the 2026 Waterford Tugboat Parade, taking place Friday, September 11, as part of the Waterford Tugboat Roundup. The honor reflects David's lasting bond with New York's canals, rooted in Water Music New York: More Voices, the Albany Symphony's series of free outdoor festivals in partnership with New York State Canal Corporation, that brought live performances and original music to communities along the entire Erie Canal, from Albany to Buffalo. The project celebrated the Canal not just as a transportation corridor and historic resource, but as a living connection between the communities of upstate New York.
We hope you'll join in celebrating David and this wonderful recognition on Friday, September 11, 2026. Full event details are available here.
This event takes place on the first night of Rosh Hashanah, and we wish all who celebrate a happy holiday.
About the Waterford Tugboat Roundup
The Waterford Tugboat Roundup began in 1999 as a celebration of the rich maritime and industrial heritage of New York’s Canal System and the community of Waterford. What began as a one-day event has grown into the largest annual publicly accessible gathering of tugboats in the northeastern United States, attracting more than 30 tugboats and other vessels and thousands of visitors to Waterford’s waterfront. The Tugboat Roundup is made possible each year through the support of the Town of Waterford, the maritime community, numerous sponsors and volunteers. Major 2026 sponsors include New York State Marine Highway Transportation Company, Moran Towing, the Fane Family Charitable Foundation, Stewart’s Shops, Carver Companies, Environmental Design Partnership, the New York State Canal Corporation, and the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Commission.