Buffalo’s original celebration of the Buffalo River is set to take place from Friday, June 17 to Sunday, June 19, 2016. In recent years, the festival has organically grown in attendance, as the river has become a sort of rallying cry for the rebirth of the city. There was a time when the Buffalo River was considered ‘dead’ back in 1967. Today the river is being rejuvenated, and thousands of people are discovering the beauty of the natural resource for the first time.
One of the celebrated offshoots of the revitalization of the river is River Fest Park. The park was established along the banks of the river, so that visitors could interact with the waters, while having a welcoming place to picnic, listen to music, and enjoy the sights of the water and the majestic grain silos. Today River Fest Park has a dock for boating, a bandshell, gardens, and a restaurant and community lodge (opening for the festival). The park is also connected by bike path to myriad other waterfront destinations.
Live entertainment will be taking place all weekend! Entertainment includes Heard of Buffalo (Friday), Bleeding Hearts (Saturday), and Hit & Run (Saturday). More live music will be added on Sunday as well.
Buffalo River Fest is a celebration of the Buffalo River, and all that it has to offer. The three day festival features numerous activities, including the Rigidized Metals River Fest Regatta, a waterfront photo and memorabilia display, “I Got It” Bingo, food and refreshments, a kids area, vendors, historic walking tours, live entertainment, and a Father’s Day fishing contest.
The festival is super family friendly, and is one of the most anticipated waterfront events of the summer.
The Valley Community Association’s 16th Annual Buffalo River Fest
6pm to Midnight on Friday, from 11am to Midnight on Saturday, and 11am to 5pm on Sunday at Buffalo River Fest Park, located at 249 Ohio Street, Buffalo, NY, near Michigan Avenue.
Proceeds from the Buffalo River Fest will benefit Buffalo River Fest Park including capital maintenance, utilities, insurance, dock maintenance, and grounds maintenance. For more information on the 16th Annual Buffalo River Fest or on the Valley Community Association visit www.thevalleycenter.com, “like” Buffalo River Fest Park and the Valley Community Center on Facebook, follow on Twitter @VCAssociation or @BfloRFPark, or call 716-823-4707 ext. 2.