By Julia Foy:
For the third year running, block clubs on the West Side have put together a 'Festival of Lights'. Between November 26th and January 7th, households from Richmond to the Peace Bridge get in the holiday spirit and participate in a friendly competition to see who can make their houses look the most festive. Originally, the Cottage District Neighborhood Association came together as a block club to beautify their small section of the neighborhood with lights.
The Festival of Lights brings in people from all over Buffalo to see the improvements that have been made over the year, as well as enjoy a beautiful light show. Over the past two years the festival has grown exponentially, and is getting closer and closer to becoming the 'Garden Walk of the winter season.' This year the Cottage District Neighborhood Association, Fargo Estate Neighborhood Association, Fargo 300, Kleinhans Community Association and the Columbus Park Association are all participating.
One anonymous donor gave money to kick-start this beautification effort, enabling the block clubs to give a cash prize incentive for participants.
A cash prize of $300.00 is split between the house with the best light display, and a randomly selected house. As the competition has grown, fifteen businesses now donate gift certificates for the winners. These businesses include: Sweetness7, Morning Glory, Elmwood Village Fabrics, Grassroots Gardens, Chef's, Delish, Allentown Hardware, Amory Tavern, Avalon Scarves, Chuck Cardone Barbershop, Faces of Buffalo- Art Mosaics, Louie's Charcoal Hot Dogs, ING Photography, Boomerangs, Marco's Ristorante, Buffalo State College, Wegman's, Tops, and Entertainment Book.
Judges, John Borsa of Channel 7 News, Councilman and West Side native David Rivera, and neighborhood advocate Harvey Garrett weave their way through the neighborhoods during December. Households, who participate with one string of lights or thousands of lights, are entered in the competition for prizes.
I had the opportunity to speak with Mike Siracusa who has been an avid participant in the Festival of Lights since its inception. Siracusa has lived at 158 Normal Avenue for four years and is active in the Problem Properties Committee on the Cottage District Neighborhood Association's Board. His zeal for this friendly competition is apparent the second you drive down Normal. He uses over ten-thousand lights, which takes about a week to decorate, and is always thinking of new ideas to enhance his light show. The ultimate goal is that his home will one day be seen from space.
There is an open party on January 9th at Carpelli's on Jersey and Porter from 2-4pm to announce the winners of this year's competition and hand out prizes. Drive through the West Side this winter and enjoy the beautification of the West Side due to the year-round efforts of block clubs and caring neighbors.
View image
For the third year running, block clubs on the West Side have put together a 'Festival of Lights'. Between November 26th and January 7th, households from Richmond to the Peace Bridge get in the holiday spirit and participate in a friendly competition to see who can make their houses look the most festive. Originally, the Cottage District Neighborhood Association came together as a block club to beautify their small section of the neighborhood with lights.
The Festival of Lights brings in people from all over Buffalo to see the improvements that have been made over the year, as well as enjoy a beautiful light show. Over the past two years the festival has grown exponentially, and is getting closer and closer to becoming the 'Garden Walk of the winter season.' This year the Cottage District Neighborhood Association, Fargo Estate Neighborhood Association, Fargo 300, Kleinhans Community Association and the Columbus Park Association are all participating.
One anonymous donor gave money to kick-start this beautification effort, enabling the block clubs to give a cash prize incentive for participants.
A cash prize of $300.00 is split between the house with the best light display, and a randomly selected house. As the competition has grown, fifteen businesses now donate gift certificates for the winners. These businesses include: Sweetness7, Morning Glory, Elmwood Village Fabrics, Grassroots Gardens, Chef's, Delish, Allentown Hardware, Amory Tavern, Avalon Scarves, Chuck Cardone Barbershop, Faces of Buffalo- Art Mosaics, Louie's Charcoal Hot Dogs, ING Photography, Boomerangs, Marco's Ristorante, Buffalo State College, Wegman's, Tops, and Entertainment Book.Judges, John Borsa of Channel 7 News, Councilman and West Side native David Rivera, and neighborhood advocate Harvey Garrett weave their way through the neighborhoods during December. Households, who participate with one string of lights or thousands of lights, are entered in the competition for prizes.
I had the opportunity to speak with Mike Siracusa who has been an avid participant in the Festival of Lights since its inception. Siracusa has lived at 158 Normal Avenue for four years and is active in the Problem Properties Committee on the Cottage District Neighborhood Association's Board. His zeal for this friendly competition is apparent the second you drive down Normal. He uses over ten-thousand lights, which takes about a week to decorate, and is always thinking of new ideas to enhance his light show. The ultimate goal is that his home will one day be seen from space.
There is an open party on January 9th at Carpelli's on Jersey and Porter from 2-4pm to announce the winners of this year's competition and hand out prizes. Drive through the West Side this winter and enjoy the beautification of the West Side due to the year-round efforts of block clubs and caring neighbors.
^Click to enlarge:
Is it also a tradition for people to leave the lights up until March? Unfortunately this is what usually happens.
Sometimes it's too dangerous to remove them, it's not a good ideas to go on a roof or ladder in the snow. It's not like people leave them on until March.