Saturday turned out to be a stellar day for activities along Buffalo’s waterfront. The Erie Basin Marina was the beneficiary of having Steve’s Clams open and conducting a steady business. While seafood lovers enjoyed their clams casino, ocean kayaks headed out from the Inner Harbor thanks to an increased selection of personal water crafts offered at BFLO Harbor Kayak. I would imagine that by this time next year, kayak adventurers will be able to pull up directly to the Buffalo lighthouse and explore the previously out-of-bounds Outer Harbor property.
Not far from Steve’s Clams, a significant new American flag flew over the grounds of the military park and memorials. A gift from the Rotary Club of Buffalo, the city’s largest flag and flagpole greeted visitors as they passed by. While Erie Basin Marina basked in its patriotic glory, the Inner Harbor played host to the Great Lakes Experience Festival. If you were there, then you may have witnessed the festival’s mascot, a fish, playing tambourine on stage with the band Free Henry! as the band jammed away to a song by, you guessed it, Phish. All weekend long the food trucks set up at each event, giving festival-goers the chance to try out R&R’s, The Whole Hog and Lloyd Taco Truck – having these mobile culinary units around is certainly a slice of hog heaven.
Just down the path from the Inner Harbor, River Fest Park was busy attracting both boaters and landlubbers. The captain of the Buffalo Marine Construction barge had rigged the craft to accommodate a few visitors interested in partaking in food and drink – in order to get the barge guests were required to walk ‘the plank’… not everyone made it on board without falling into the ‘drink’. Members of the ‘The Most Creative Seaworthy Vessel’ made a valiant attempt at capturing grand prize at the river regatta, but fell just short as Cooks snagged first prize (next year guys!). It was nice to see the Washington tugboat tied up alongside the park, as the White Electra (Buffalo Maritime Center) gave rides to guests up and down the Buffalo River. These were just a handful of waterfront highlights from Saturday afternoon. Get out there and enjoy another sunny day at whichever harbor or waterfront destination that you choose!