Operating urban festivals is an important supplementary form for the protection and development of the Grand Canal,as well as an important means to polish canal cultural brand and drive the construction of the canal economy and cultural belt.Of course,there are already practical precedents in China.Based on the perspective of event management,this paper explores the classic paths and main inspirations of Canal Festival development in major cities in China,such as Hangzhou and Beijing.Meanwhile,this paper summarizes the development models presented in Suzhou Canal Festival,such as develpoment iteration,planning and execution and creative content.It analyzes its shortcomings in product system,professional operation,content development and festival marketing,then proposes improvement suggestions.Furthermore,this study will also provide experience for concluding festival development models and festival upgrade in other cities.