The fact that Buffalo really doesn't have a winterfest is kinda bizarre. After all, cities like Quebec and Montreal pride themselves on their winter wonderlands. A couple years back, Labatt took a stab at a pond hockey tournament. Now moving into its third year, the event has captured the imaginations of people who actually want to celebrate winter. This year the event will be held in conjunction with another big one on February 27th and 28th.
Recently, there has been an additional festival in the works that organizers (myself included) are in the midst of planning. For now, it's being called the Buffalo Powder Keg Festival - to pay homage to both the snow as well as our history of brewing. You could also say that the image of a powder keg harkens back to the era when our city was both turbulent and volatile... some might say that we still are in that state. But it's an exciting time and those fighting the good fight continue to push the envelope. Powder Keg even plays on the War of 1812.
With the support of Pearl Street Brew Pub, HSBC Bank, Labatt and others, the Powder Keg Festival will take place in and around the streets of the Pearl Street Brew Pub (same weekend as pond hockey). The plan is to have a number of different sites including the plaza surrounding HSBC Tower, multiple levels of the Pearl Street Brew Pub, neighboring parking lots, the Erie Hills people park under the skyway ramp and the encompassing street grid (that will hopefully be closed to traffic for those two days). It is also our hope to possibly utilize the Seneca Street exit from the 190 as a tubing hill. The exit will most likely be closed to traffic due to surrounding street closures.
There will be plenty of festivities planned for those two days - some of the ideas being bandied about are: Ice sculptures, snowman building contests, sleigh rides, a snow maze, hot cider booths, hot pretzels and peanuts, sledding hills, live music, snow queen contest, toboggan pulls, festival of lights, a bike race, tubing, a parade, 5k snow run, snow shoveling contest, sorority/fraternity igloo building, fireworks, snow shoeing, pancake breakfasts, curling demonstrations, a festive ball, ice snow globes, chili contest... The festival will be family friendly, with a variety of chalet inspired retreats including the wrap-around decks of the Pearl Street Brew Pub that would mimic ski chalet decks.
At this point we are looking for people who are interested in participating or volunteering for the festival. We have selected 40 images from winter festivals around the world that we feel lend themselves to our downtown event footprint. If you have suggestions we want to hear them. Also, if you have a group of people, such as a business or organization, let us know and we can brainstorm levels of involvement. I can be reached at Newell@BuffaloRising.com.
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Recently, there has been an additional festival in the works that organizers (myself included) are in the midst of planning. For now, it's being called the Buffalo Powder Keg Festival - to pay homage to both the snow as well as our history of brewing. You could also say that the image of a powder keg harkens back to the era when our city was both turbulent and volatile... some might say that we still are in that state. But it's an exciting time and those fighting the good fight continue to push the envelope. Powder Keg even plays on the War of 1812.
With the support of Pearl Street Brew Pub, HSBC Bank, Labatt and others, the Powder Keg Festival will take place in and around the streets of the Pearl Street Brew Pub (same weekend as pond hockey). The plan is to have a number of different sites including the plaza surrounding HSBC Tower, multiple levels of the Pearl Street Brew Pub, neighboring parking lots, the Erie Hills people park under the skyway ramp and the encompassing street grid (that will hopefully be closed to traffic for those two days). It is also our hope to possibly utilize the Seneca Street exit from the 190 as a tubing hill. The exit will most likely be closed to traffic due to surrounding street closures.
There will be plenty of festivities planned for those two days - some of the ideas being bandied about are: Ice sculptures, snowman building contests, sleigh rides, a snow maze, hot cider booths, hot pretzels and peanuts, sledding hills, live music, snow queen contest, toboggan pulls, festival of lights, a bike race, tubing, a parade, 5k snow run, snow shoveling contest, sorority/fraternity igloo building, fireworks, snow shoeing, pancake breakfasts, curling demonstrations, a festive ball, ice snow globes, chili contest... The festival will be family friendly, with a variety of chalet inspired retreats including the wrap-around decks of the Pearl Street Brew Pub that would mimic ski chalet decks.
At this point we are looking for people who are interested in participating or volunteering for the festival. We have selected 40 images from winter festivals around the world that we feel lend themselves to our downtown event footprint. If you have suggestions we want to hear them. Also, if you have a group of people, such as a business or organization, let us know and we can brainstorm levels of involvement. I can be reached at Newell@BuffaloRising.com.
Seems like you risk having melted ice and no snow when you push this to so late in winter. What gives with that?