With the classic 73-foot sailboat, the Spirit of Buffalo as a backdrop, members of the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation (ECHDC) and Buffalo Place Inc. announced the summer schedule of events at the waterfront. Congressman Brian Higgins and Erie County Executive Chris Collins were also on hand for the unveiling, as was Sue Gonzalez, special events coordinator for the City of Buffalo. The Spirit is the only vessel allowed to set sail out of Buffalo's Erie Canal Harbor Commercial Slip.
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The summer line-up features both entertaining and educational events and activities. Most of these events are free of charge. On Mondays, the Buffalo Museum of Science will sponsor educational programs focused on plants and animals, while Preservation Buffalo Niagara will host 1-hour guided tours that cover the canal's history on Saturdays and Sundays. Dug's Dive, an infamous saloon from the mid-1800s, will come back to life on the waterfront in the historic ruins section of the harbor. Saturdays and Sundays will also feature free musical performances.
This year also marks the second annual free Independence Day celebration at the waterfront, complete with fireworks and great local musical acts. The music will also keep going with Buffalo Place Rocks the Harbor, the annual music festival on the waterfront. Tickets for these concerts are on sale now for $10 in advance per concert, or $20 at the door. Call 716.852.5000 for ticket information. The lengthy schedule also includes children's activities, kayak and bicycle rentals, an indie marketplace, adaptive water sports, sailing classes, seminars and much more.
At today's ceremony, Jordan Levy, chairman for ECHDC, spoke first, emphasizing the growth of the Buffalo waterfront over the past year. According to Levy, during the last 12 months, more than 100,000 people have visited the new Erie Canal Harbor site.
Higgins spoke about Buffalonians seeing real progress on the waterfront, including the recent demolition of another section of the Aud. "It's not about knocking the Aud down," he said. "It's about building something up." For Higgins, the goal is to attract people to the waterfront, which will in turn spur private sector businesses to invest in the area. "Through a combination of progress and programming we are creating new excitement along the water's edge," he said.
Collins took the podium and further discussed the rebirth of the city's waterfront. "Once people come down and see what's here, they come back," he said. He continued to praise the ECHDC for its programming this summer, which will both entertain and educate visitors, making the waterfront a destination for Buffalo residents. "This new schedule of daily recreation, educational, and entertainment opportunities will help bring people of all ages to the waterfront and make this summer season exceptional," he said.
Gonzalez stepped up to the podium to represent the City of Buffalo and Mayor Brown. She discussed how the harbor has become a "true destination" in our city. In a statement, Brown echoed the same sentiment: "The Buffalo waterfront is quickly becoming a great recreational destination for city residents and visitors. The summer programs planned for Erie Canal Harbor will only add to the increasing appeal of this area."
The complete schedule of events at the Erie Canal Harbor is online now. See you at the waterfront!
(All photos were taken by Matt Biddle at the May 27th unveiling.)
Very nice!