Whitewater Canal Scenic Byway Association

10/14/2026

Help us light up Gateway Park for Christmas!

The Whitewater Canal Byway Association is excited to announce a new Christmas decorating contest at Gateway Park in Metamora, beginning the day after Thanksgiving and continuing through Christmas.

There will be two ways to participate:

Decorate a Campsite — $25 entry
Participants will be assigned one of the wooded campsites at Gateway Park and can decorate the trees and area within their site.

Campsite prizes:
First Place — $500
Second Place — $300
Third Place — $100

Front Porch Christmas Tree Contest — $10 entry
Bring your own Christmas tree, decorate it, and we’ll display it on the front porch area at Gateway Park.

Tree prizes:
First Place — $50
Second Place — $30
Third Place — $20

The Christmas display will be free and open to the public, with visitors invited to drive through Gateway Park and enjoy the decorated campsites and trees throughout the holiday season. The event will coincide with Metamora’s Christmas Walk.

Individuals, families, businesses, churches, clubs, and organizations are all encouraged to participate. This is a great way for organizations to showcase their group, get creative together, and be part of a new holiday tradition.

Although the Whitewater Canal Byway Association is based in Metamora, our work supports communities throughout Ripley, Dearborn, Franklin, Fayette, Union, and Wayne counties. We encourage participants from across the region to join us, explore the byway, visit our communities, and see what treasures you find along the way.

To enter, send a direct message to the Whitewater Canal Byway Association page or email [email protected].
All decorations must be removed by Jan. 7.

We are also seeking sponsors to help provide the contest prize money. Businesses, organizations, or individuals interested in sponsoring a prize can contact us via Facebook or by emailing [email protected].

All proceeds will benefit the Whitewater Canal Byway Association and its efforts to support and promote communities along the byway.

Help us fill Gateway Park with lights, color, and Christmas spirit and make it a destination for families from across the region this holiday season!

10/01/2026

Canal Days is almost here!

Vendors are setting up at Gateway Park and getting ready for a busy weekend. Canal Days kicks off tomorrow and runs through Sunday, and Gateway Park will have vendors, food trucks and convenient parking for $6.

Come spend the weekend in Metamora, support the shops and vendors and enjoy Canal Days!

09/24/2026

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR CANAL DAYS

Canal Days is almost here, and WCBA could use a few extra hands as we finish preparations and get through our biggest fundraising event of the year!

Before the event, we need volunteers this weekend and throughout next week to help with final setup, including marking vendor spaces, fencing and walkway roping, mowing, bathhouse preparation, trash cans and signs, parking signage and other last-minute layout needs.

During Canal Days — Friday, Saturday and Sunday, we will need volunteers who can fill in where needed throughout the event. One of our biggest needs will be helping empty trash cans during the day and again in the evening. We will also need help providing relief for volunteers working shifts in other areas.

Even an hour or two helps. This event takes a lot of work behind the scenes, and volunteer help is what makes it possible each year. Canal Days is WCBA’s biggest fundraiser of the year, and the money raised helps us continue supporting projects and activities in our community.

If you can help, please send a direct message to the WCBA page or email [email protected].

Thank you to everyone who continues to step up and help make Canal Days happen!

09/19/2026

Canal Days will be here before we know it! A HUGE THANK YOU to the guys from the Metamora Volunteer Fire Department who gave up there Saturday to help us start with set-up! We couldn’t do it without our volunteers!

05/09/2026

It’s a beautiful day to visit the Whitewater Valley! Stop by the Gateway Park Visitors Pavilion and we’ll help guide you!

03/22/2026

Today’s WCBA Gateway Park Highlight: Primitive Campsite #8

Tucked away at the very back of the park, Primitive Campsite #8 is a quiet little escape for those looking to truly unwind.

Nestled in a cozy nook of trees, it’s the perfect spot to pitch a tent and relax while listening to the gentle sound of the creek flowing just behind you. It’s peaceful, simple, and exactly what a primitive camping experience should be.

Today, we spent time raking, clearing sticks, and getting the site ready for the season.

We can’t wait to welcome campers out to enjoy it!

Primitive sites are $18 per night. Call (765) 647-2541 for reservations!

03/20/2026

A great way to help keep our byway beautiful!

As promised, more opportunities to make a difference in your own backyard

03/20/2026

Union County is just one of the six counties the Whitewater Canal Scenic Byway travels through!

From historic sites like the Treaty Line Cabins to the charm of downtown Liberty and the beauty of Whitewater Memorial Park, Union County has so much to offer visitors exploring the byway.

Visitors Pavillion Opening Day: Saturday, May 2
Hours: Open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

We’re also looking for friendly volunteers to help staff the pavilion on Saturdays and welcome guests from near and far. If you love sharing the story of our region, we’d love to have you be part of it!

Message us to learn more about volunteering.

Come experience the Whitewater Valley—one county at a time!

01/31/2026

Looking for a cool volunteer opportunity? Check this out!

🚂 Volunteer Call | All Aboard!
We need your help to keep these trains moving.
Whitewater Valley Railroad runs on more than steam and steel… it runs on people.
From maintenance and restoration to guest services and events, our volunteers are the heartbeat of the railroad.
✨ No experience required
✨ Training provided
✨ History, hands-on skills, and great community
If you love trains, history, or just being part of something meaningful, we’d love to have you on board.
👉 Visit our website to learn more
https://whitewatervalleyrr.org/volunteer.html

01/31/2026

Hello, everyone!

You are invited to join us for an evening celebrating the people, places, and stories that make the Whitewater Valley such a remarkable region.

The Whitewater Canal Byway Association (WCBA) invites you to our Annual Dinner, an evening designed to bring together community leaders, partners, and friends from across the region for conversation, connection, and shared vision.

The night will feature guest speakers from around the Whitewater Valley, each sharing highlights and successes from their communities, as well as what lies ahead. We’ll also be excited to share our plans to reopen the Gateway Park Visitors Pavilion in Metamora this spring, helping visitors explore the Byway and connect with the history, culture, and experiences across all six counties.

As part of the evening, we will present our Spirit of the Byway Award, recognizing an individual or organization that embodies the heart of the Whitewater Canal Scenic Byway.

Event Details

* Date: February 25
* Time: 6 p.m.
* Location: Third Place, Brookville
* Cost: $20 per person(This event also serves as a fundraiser to support our ongoing work along the Byway.)

We kindly ask that you RSVP by February 20, if possible, to help us with planning. You can send us a private message or call (765) 647-2541.

Whether you’re already involved or simply curious to learn more, we would truly love for you to be part of this evening to see what we’re all about and how, together, we can continue supporting the people and communities of the Whitewater Valley.

We hope to see you there.

Warm regards,
Cassie Garrett
Whitewater Canal Byway Association
President

P.S. Feel free to share this invitation with others! The more voices at the table, the better.