By MATT LINDSEY

OGDENSBURG -- The 54th annual Seaway Festival will kick off July 18 with a “Comedy Extravaganza” with actor/comedian Mark Valley and hypnotist Don Swan.

The event will also feature fishing derbies, races, live music and a redneck-themed “Family Feud” game show.

Mark Valley and Don Swan will host a “Comedy Extravaganza” Friday July 18 at 7 p.m. at the Odd Fellows, 1111 Linden St. Star of TV, stage and screen, Valley, an Ogdensburg native, will entertain with a stand-up comedy act and comedian-hypnotist Don Swan will hypnotize volunteers from the audience.

Activities planned for July 19 include a canoe race at 9 a.m. at the Heuvelton boat launch and a youth fishing derby at Greenbelt Docks from 9:30 to 11 a.m.

“The canoe race typically draws about 100 participants that compete in the 11 to 13 mile course,” said event organizer Chris Cole.

The kid’s fishing derby will be held at Greenbelt Docks starting at 9:30 a.m.

“We usually get around a couple hundred kids and try to have prizes for them all,” Cole said.

He said prizes will be awarded in a variety of categories with new bikes being the top prize.

“The child who catches the largest fish can get it mounted for free,” Cole said.

There will be free hotdogs and drinks for the kids. Children must be 12 or under to participate. Lifeguards and volunteers will be on hand to ensure safety.

Firefighter’s kid’s games will be held at Morrisette Park from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday.

“There will be a greased-pole, about 20 feet long hanging over the water that kids will have to maneuver along in order to ring a bell. It is quite entertaining,” Cole said.

“Light Up Your Boat,” flotilla parade takes place at Greenbelt Docks at 9:30 p.m.

“Adults decorate their boats and cruise up and down the river. Trophies will be awarded in a variety of categories,” Cole said.

For athletes and outdoor types, there will be youth fun run at 8:30 a.m. and a four-mile walk run at 9 a.m. Both races are held at the Dobisky Center on Sunday.

The Sandbar Fishing Derby for adults and kids will be held Sunday morning near the Dobisky Center. Prizes will be given.

The Oswegatchie Golf Challenge will return again featuring a “make-shift” green that requires participants to drive a golf ball across the Oswegatchie River onto a piece of land to win prizes, according to Cole.

Artists, crafters and vendors from across Canada and the United States will be at the Lockwood Center from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Zonta Antique and Artisans Show is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Golden Dome.

On Sunday night, “The Battle of the Bands” will return.

“So far we have confirmed bands from OFA, Lisbon, Morristown and Heuvelton will be there and more have been invited,” Cole said.

Amusement rides will open on Wednesday, July 23 at Library Park and will feature “everything you’d expect to see at a local fair from a tilt-a-whirl to a merry-go-round,” according to Cole. The rides will be open through Saturday with hours from noon to 11 p.m.

Local singers can show their talents during a karaoke contest scheduled for Tuesday from 6 to 9 p.m. at Kennedy School.

Senior citizens will compete on Thursday night during the “great toilet paper toss” at Library Park.

“About 50 to 60 seniors usually compete in games like throwing a roll of toilet paper through a toilet seat. Picture someone throwing a football through a tire,” Cole said.

Other competitions will be who can throw a roll of toilet paper the farthest and a horsehoe-style game, Cole said.

The karaoke finals will be held Friday followed by “The Rochester Rat Pack” who will pay tribute to Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack. The concert will be at the Greenbelt Park main stage from 8 to 9:45 p.m.

A fireworks show will take place around 9:45 p.m.

A parade on Saturday will proceed down Ford Street starting at 11 a.m.

“All fire departments in the county have been invited and their will be high school bands, as well as a 200 member Chinese-Oriental band from Toronto,” Cole said.

The parade usually lasts around 2 hours, according to Cole.

A car show and fourth annual duck race will close out the festival on Sunday.

“Hundreds of cars will be displayed on land near the bridge,” Cole said.

The duck race will see nearly 1,000 ducks poured in the river near the City docks.

Ducks cost $5 each and cash prizes will be given including $100 for first place.

“The festival keeps growing every year and the population doubles in during the festival,” Cole said.

The full schedule is as follows:

Friday, July 18: “Comedy Extravaganza” featuring Mark Valley, stand-up comedian and Don Swan “The Amazing Swanie” a hypnotist, at Odd Fellows, 1111 Linden St., 7 p.m.

Saturday, July 19: Remington canoe race, Heuvelton Boat Launch, 9 a.m.; Adirondack Biology presentation/exhibit, Greenbelt Park, 9:30 a.m.; youth fishing derby, Greenbelt Docks, 9:30-11 a.m.; Founder’s Weekend, Van Rensselaer (Lighthouse) Point, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; horseshow pitching contest, Greenbelt Park, 10 a.m.; arts and craft show, Lockwood Arena, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; firefighter’s kids games, Morrisette Park, 1 to 4 p.m.; “Light Up Your Boat,” flotilla parade, Greenbelt Docks, 9:30 p.m.

Sunday, July 20: Youth fun run, Dobisky Center, 8:30 a.m.; 4-mile walk/run, Dobisky Center, 9 a.m.; Sandbar Fishing Derby, Dobisky Center, 9 a.m.; Founder’s Day events, Van Rensselaer (Lighthouse) Point, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; arts and crafts show, Lockwood Arena, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Oswegatchie Golf Challenge, Trafalgar Park, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Deb Abel Antique and Artisans Show, Golden Dome, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; “Wild West BBQ,” Frederic Remington Museum, 11 a.m. until sold out; “Julies Dance Studio dance show, 2 to 5 p.m.; “Outta the Blue,” live music, Library Park Gazebo, 6 to 9 p.m.; “Battle of the Bands,” OFA football field, 7 p.m.

Monday, July 21: “DRAGNFLY” concert, Library Park Gazebo, 6:30 to 9 p.m.; “Festival Family Feud,” game show, Kennedy School auditorium, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, July 22: Karaoke contest, Kennedy School auditorium, 6 p.m.; Ogdensburg Dance Studio dance show, Library Park, 6 to 8 p.m.

Wednesday, July 23 Amusement rides, Greenbelt Park, noon-11 p.m.; “special wrist bracelet day,” noon to 4 p.m. for amusement rides; tricycle races, Greenbelt Tennis Courts, 4 p.m.; Seaway Cruiser’s Cruise, Walgreens parking lot, 4 to 6 p.m.; Seaway Cruiser’s Cruise, Greenbelt Park, 6 to 9 p.m.; “Jay & the 2 Tones,” concert, Library Park gazebo, 6:30 to 9 p.m.

Thursday, July 24: Remington Museum Day, Frederic Remington Museum, 10 a.m. to 5p.m.; amusement rides, noon to 11 p.m., Greenbelt Park, noon to 11 p.m.; “special wrist bracelet day,” noon to 4 p.m. for amusement rides; “Playback,” concert, Library Park gazebo, 4 to 6 p.m.; “The Great Toilet Paper Toss,” Library Park, 6 p.m.; “Juggernaut Agenda,” concert, Library Park stage, 6:30 to 9 p.m.

Friday, July 25: Remington Museum Day, Frederic Remington Museum, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; amusement rides, Greenbelt Park, noon to 11 p.m.; karaoke finals, Library Park gazebo, 5 to 6 p.m.; Texaco County Showdown, Library Park gazebo, 6 to 7 p.m.; “The Rochester Rat Pack,” a tribute to Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack, concert, Greenbelt Park main stage; 8 to 9:45 p.m.; fireworks, Greenbelt Park, 10 p.m.

Saturday, July 26: Seaway Festival Parade, Ford St., 11 a.m.; amusement rides, Greenbelt Park, noon to 11 p.m.; chicken BBQ, Greenbelt Park, noon until sold out; Seaway Festival Parade awards, Library Park gazebo, following parade

Sunday, July 27: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Antique & Classic Car Show OBPA Park Seaway Cruisers

1 p.m. – Finish Seaway Festival Duck Race Greenbelt Docks Seaway Festival Committee.