With the second annual Powder Keg Festival taking place (announcement soon) and the return of holiday decorated windows to Main Street, along with yesterday's announcement of the Olmsted Nights Winter Lights, Buffalonians are finally starting to embrace winter. As if that wasn't enough, the Olmsted Parks Conservancy is unleashing a park-oriented winter festival called Flurrious! to the mix. On the weekend of January 15-16, a 15-acre site surrounding the Parkside Lodge will be dedicated to family-friendly winter activities and sporting events.
The action starts Saturday morning with igloo building, a quidditch tournament and an international snow tennis tournament. Further activities include a bike race and a women's rugby tournament. There will be plenty of activities for the kids too. Sledding and skating will be two of the most popular ongoing family events, while the Parkside Lodge will be transformed into a ski chalet featuring a fireplace, hot coco and plenty of warm food provided by The Lunch Box Cafe. After warming up, it will be time once again to get back out into the winter weather via X-country ski and snowshoe rentals.
Along with sleigh rides there will be dedicated parkland designed to look like a scene right out of the TV show Gunsmoke, with a chuckwagon, kettle corn, blacksmithing and lumberjack demonstrations. Got a hankering for a beer or an ice wine? Head over to the beer tent (with live music) or visit the ice wine station - a former storage shed decked out as an igloo-like area where people can sample a variety of regional ice wines. Check out the curling demonstrations on the ice rink or partake in a snowshoe softball game with Buffalo Audubon. Don't forget to look for the snow sculptures along the light festival trail.
Sunday kicks off with a Fleet Feet 2-mile snow run around Ring Road. If that sounds like too much exercise, then sign up for a game of snow golf! Rounding out the day will be an ultimate Frisbee game/s and the finals of the Flurrious! kickball tournament. All of this (and more) will take place during the day, while Olmsted Nights Winter Lights ignites the evening with music, more food, family and friends.
Stay tuned as more details are released. If you would like information on Flurrious! or would like to enter any of the tournaments, sporting events or activities, please send an email here. Or 'Like' the festival on Facebook. Visit the conservancy's website for further information on the parks and events. Both festivals will be within walking distance of the Metro Rail so be sure to plan ahead and leave the car behind!
*Flurrious! logo designed by Dan Zeis.
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The action starts Saturday morning with igloo building, a quidditch tournament and an international snow tennis tournament. Further activities include a bike race and a women's rugby tournament. There will be plenty of activities for the kids too. Sledding and skating will be two of the most popular ongoing family events, while the Parkside Lodge will be transformed into a ski chalet featuring a fireplace, hot coco and plenty of warm food provided by The Lunch Box Cafe. After warming up, it will be time once again to get back out into the winter weather via X-country ski and snowshoe rentals.
Along with sleigh rides there will be dedicated parkland designed to look like a scene right out of the TV show Gunsmoke, with a chuckwagon, kettle corn, blacksmithing and lumberjack demonstrations. Got a hankering for a beer or an ice wine? Head over to the beer tent (with live music) or visit the ice wine station - a former storage shed decked out as an igloo-like area where people can sample a variety of regional ice wines. Check out the curling demonstrations on the ice rink or partake in a snowshoe softball game with Buffalo Audubon. Don't forget to look for the snow sculptures along the light festival trail.
Sunday kicks off with a Fleet Feet 2-mile snow run around Ring Road. If that sounds like too much exercise, then sign up for a game of snow golf! Rounding out the day will be an ultimate Frisbee game/s and the finals of the Flurrious! kickball tournament. All of this (and more) will take place during the day, while Olmsted Nights Winter Lights ignites the evening with music, more food, family and friends.
Stay tuned as more details are released. If you would like information on Flurrious! or would like to enter any of the tournaments, sporting events or activities, please send an email here. Or 'Like' the festival on Facebook. Visit the conservancy's website for further information on the parks and events. Both festivals will be within walking distance of the Metro Rail so be sure to plan ahead and leave the car behind!
*Flurrious! logo designed by Dan Zeis.
Sounds Extremely ambitious!!! I'm thankful that we're once again starting to embrace the natural rhythm of seasons. As a region we need to recognize our heritage. Winter strengthens our connection to the earth. Easy living isn't all its made out to be. Take notice of change, and embrace the sudden epiphany that challenge may bring!!! Here we go winter, here we go!!