While the Allentown Art Festival is currently in full swing, the folks down in the old First Ward are preparing for next weekend’s mighty river festival appropriately called Buffalo River Fest. I’ve attended this festival for years now, and can honestly say that there is nothing else like it around. While the Riverfest Regatta is a big draw for both contestants and onlookers alike, there are so many other fun-filled events and activities taking place throughout the course of the weekend.
The Valley Community Center does a spectacular job each year… and while the past eleven years have been action packed with tons of family fun, this year is looking like it will be the best yet. Why? Because Riverfest is, for the second season, showing off its new home at Buffalo River Fest Park located at 249 Ohio Street, Buffalo, NY, near Michigan Avenue. New to this year’s festival will be Buffalo Scholastic Rowing Club Races (see latest news of the boathouse to be built). Now that the festival is located so close to the rowing club, it’s a natural fit for coinciding races… hopefully we’ll see the numbers of rowers and spectators grow each and every year. Also, don’t pass up the chance to take a ride on Buffalo’s historic EM Cotter Fireboat -the oldest operating fireboat in the world!
If you’re tired of going to the same festivals year after year, you need to expand your horizons and get down to the Buffalo River next weekend. The festival is situated directly in-between the Inner and Outer Harbors, which means that you can spend more time exploring new waterfront parks, restaurants, bike trails, boardwalks… you can even check out the massive grain silos, Mutual Riverfront Park, The Swannie House, McCarthy’s Irish Pub… there’s so much to see and do that one weekend is just not enough!
Here are all of the details!!!
The Valley Community Association’s 12th Annual “Buffalo River Fest” is scheduled for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, June 15th – 17th, 2012. The event will be held from 6pm to Midnight on Friday, from 11am to Midnight on Saturday, and Noon to 6pm on Sunday at Buffalo River Fest Park.
Included in this year’s event will be:
The Rigidized Metals River Regatta – Come roll down the Buffalo River on Saturday, June 16th!! There will be canoe, kayak, and “float your boat”, categories. Get ready to paddle as the 6 mile canoe’s and kayak’s start from Harlem/Clinton and the “float your boat’s” and 3 mile canoe and kayak’s will start from the Smith Street Pocket Park at the foot of Smith Street. Launch time for both sites is 11am. All vessels will end at the DEC Canoe Launch on Ohio Street. Participant check in will begin at 10am at each site, with the boats taking to the water at 11am. There will be prizes for each category! Shuttle service for participants will be available as well. Once again this year there are cash prizes for the “Float Your Boat” category. The “Most Creative Seaworthy Vessel” will win a cash prize of $1000 while the runner up will receive a $500 cash prize. Visit www.rigidizedregatta.com for an application and registration information.
Live Entertainment – Get your dancing shoes on and get ready to listen to some of the top bands and entertainers in Western New York!! Live entertainment will be taking place all weekend!! Entertainment on Friday includes Hartzmetz Sounds (6pm-8pm) and Urban Renewal Band (8pm-Midnight). On Saturday, Hartzmetz Sounds (Noon-3pm), West of the Mark Band (3pm-7pm), and The Diva Show Band (8pm-Midnight) will take to the stage throughout the day. On Sunday Landslide (1pm-3pm) and Nick Battistella “Sinatra & More” (3:30pm-5pm) will entertain the crowd.
Waterfront Photo & Memorabilia Expo – One of our most popular exhibits!! See pictures, artifacts, and memorabilia from the Buffalo Waterfront’s Glory Days including the Old First Ward, Valley, Times Beach, grain milling district, and more!! The tent will be open on Friday from 6pm-Midnight and Saturday from Noon-10pm.
Food and Refreshments – Make sure to come to Buffalo River Fest with an empty stomach and a big appetite!! We will have all your summer favorites – hot dogs, hamburgers, Italian sausage, chicken sandwiches, fries, cotton candy, nachos, and much more!! Cool down with an ice cold beer in the Beer Tent.
Arts & Crafts Show – Come and check out the best of Western New York’s talented artisans as they display their goods.
“I Got It Bingo” – A Buffalo River Fest favorite, “I Got It Bingo” returns with great prizes and games running all night Friday, all day Saturday, and on Sunday.
Waterfront Walking Tour – Buffalo Hiking Tours will be hosting a walking tour of the Buffalo River Industrial Heritage Area. The tour will take place at Noon on Saturday.
“Take Your Dad” Fishing Contest – Spend some quality time with Dad on Father’s Day at the “Take Your Father Fishing” Contest! The fishing competition will take place from 10am till 1pm. Families with children under the age of 14 are welcome to compete for lots of prizes. Anyone 14 and over will need a fishing license to take part in the event. The event is free for participants and registration is preferred. Pre-registration forms can be downloaded at www.thevalleycenter.com. Registration will begin at 9am the day of the event as well.
Buffalo Scholastic Rowing Club Races – The “Buffalo River Fest” will open with the Buffalo Scholastic Rowing Club’s “Mutuals Sprints”, which will be held in the Buffalo River, alongside the Buffalo River Fest Park. The Sprints, which will take place from 6pm till 7pm on Friday, June 15th, will feature competitors from local schools such as Bishop-Timon St. Jude High School, Buffalo Seminary, Canisius High School, and Buffalo Maritime Charter School. Also taking place as part of “Buffalo River Fest” is the “Buffalo River Stake Race”, which is scheduled for Sunday, June 17th from Noon to 3pm. The race will take place in the Buffalo River from Canalside to Buffalo River Fest Park, where viewing is available from the boardwalk.
Historic E.M. Cotter Fireboat Rides – Take a cruise aboard a National Historic Landmark – Buffalo’s own E.M. Cotter Fireboat! Rides will take place on Saturday and Sunday, June 16th and 17th at 4pm. The cost is $10 per person and space is extremely limited. Tickets must be pre-purchased at the Valley Community Center, 93 Leddy Street, from 9am to 5pm, Monday through Friday. No reservations over the phone will be taken.
For more information on any of the Buf
falo River Fest activities, call 716-823-4707 ext.2 or visit www.thevalleycenter.com for a complete schedule of events.
falo River Fest activities, call 716-823-4707 ext.2 or visit www.thevalleycenter.com for a complete schedule of events.