It’s hard to imaging that it’s been twelve years since the Elmwood Avenue Festival of the Arts (EAFA) was founded. In that time, the festival has grown in many ways, while at the same time it has remained true to its grassroots beginnings. The festival has helped to raise the cultural tide of Buffalo, and has been referenced time and time again as national media sources continue to acknowledge the driving players behind Buffalo’s thriving art scene.
This year, along with the best Kidsfest to be found anywhere, a second solar stage will be introduced. Combine that with a Cultural and Environmental row featuring an astounding 50+ not for profit organizations, 4 stages hosting 70 performers and 170 artists in attendance*… it’s no wonder that attendance is anticipated to be 100,000 this year. At the same time, EAFA continues to promote local businesses via the Merchant Showcase as well as arts and family-friendly activities. The festival provides a diverse array of healthy foods to choose from, thanks to organizers who feel that the food should represent many of the same sensibilities as the host neighborhood.
For those planning on riding their bikes, there will be valet parking. As for bringing your dog… the SPCA encourages people to NOT bring dogs to this festival (unless the owner is willing to crawl on his or her bare hands and knees on the hot pavement while the dog rides on the owner’s back). And when it comes to smoking, the Erie-Niagara Tobacco-Free Coalition is asking that people leave their smokes at home on that day as well.
Kids might be king at the festival, but that doesn’t mean that there’s not room for an after hours concert to be held at the Lafayette Stage on Saturday. 6:15pm is when the Skiffle Minstrels will take the stage, while guests continue to enjoy good food and beer from Flying Bison.
*All this will take place rain or shine from 10 AM to 6 PM on Saturday, August 27th and from 10AM to 5 PM on Sunday, August 28th, 2011. Festivities are free and open to the public.