The Chittenango Area (Chittenango, Sullivan, Bridgeport, Lakeport)

Everyone has seen the movie or read the book, and phrases like "There's no place like home" are part of the American lexicon. Of course we are talking about L. Frank Baum's "Wizard of Oz" and the Village of Chittenango is proud to be the birthplace of this legendary author. The village celebrates its native son with an annual Oz-Stravaganza the first week of June. The festivities include fireworks, balloon flights, a huge parade, amusement rides and character costume contests, but the main attraction is the return to Chittenango each year by a few of the original Munchkins from the movie. You can get an autograph, have breakfast or dinner with the munchkins and even get your picture taken with them. It is a great time for the entire family.

Chittenango hasn't always been an Oz town, first it was a canal town and it sits right in the middle of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor. Stop into the Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum and explore the sense of history that highlights all that the hard boat builders accomplished on this site. The museum was given The Award of Excellence by the National Parks Service for providing an outstanding interpretive experience for visitors. Stop and have a picnic, see a boat being constructed and learn about life on the Erie Canal.