The Festival Season in Buffalo and Western New York
Fun, Food, and Festivals, Festivals, Festivals
The Festival Season in Buffalo and Western New YorkNeighborhood: Western New York
Buffalo, NY
Buffalo, NY
Fun, food and festivals, festivals, festivals
Summer is the season of festivals in Western New York. Our cold, snowy winters and sometimes shorter summers make us manic this time of year. There are so many festivals, carnivals, church-run lawn fetes, and fairs, you can get your fix of fried dough, cotton candy, charbroiled Italian sausage sandwiches with peppers and onions, or swiftly spinning, vomit-inducing rides nearly every weekend in June, July, and August.
In Western New York, it's not fun unless there's food, and many of the festivals showcase an ethnic flavor. The summer season kicks off each year with the Hellenic Festival (http://www.hellenicfestival.com), a celebration of Greek heritage, food, culture, and entertainment. Have a shot of Uzo or a taste of baklava and enjoy a little bit of Greece in Buffalo. Opah!
After the Greeks have packed up their wooden horse, Buffalonians continue the celebration with other festive offerings. The Allentown Art Festival (http://allentownartfestival.com) is a street bizarre that attracts artists from all over the world to show, and offer for sale, their paintings, sculptures, woodworkings, and other artistic creations - and, of course, there is food to sate the appetite while wandering in and out of the various stands and booths. The Taste of Buffalo (http://www.tasteofbuffalo.com) is another street event, brings local restaurants to a central location in Downtown Buffalo offering sample-sized portions of their various culinary specialties.
In June, the Juneteenth Festival (http://www.juneteenthbuffalo.com) celebrates African American heritage and culture with music, dance, performance art, and - you guessed it - food. July brings the aroma of steak and dandelion sandwiches, sfingi, calamari, and cannoli, at the Italian Heritage and Food Festival (http://www.buffaloitalianfestival.com). And Buffalo celebrates its rich cultural diversity throughout the summer with other ethnic festivals, including the Scottish, Polish, and German Festivals in case you prefer haggis, kielbasa, or dark beer.
Also in July, festival-goers can enjoy Canal Fest (http://www.canalfest.org), games, rides, amusements - and food - near the historic Erie Canal. Enjoy the exciting events or just watch boats leisurely cruise the canal. And if you still crave more, North America's second largest county fair, the Erie County Fair and Exposition, runs for eleven days in August (http://www.americas-fair.com). Surrounding the giant midway are live entertainment, animal shows, agricultural displays and demonstrations, 4-H exhibits, expos, a rodeo, demolition derby, the America's Fair Pageant. This year you can catch Willie Nelson or ZZ Top performing at the grandstand.
Finally, how can one mention Buffalo, and not mention the chicken wing? Buffalo is the birthplace or the hot chicken wing (known elsewhere as the Buffalo Wing). You can visit the Anchor Bar (http://www.anchorbar.com), the originator of the chicken wing, or enjoy yet another festival in September - the Buffalo Wing Festival (http://www.buffalowing.com), which includes live music and family and children's entertainment. This weekend-long event has a Best Wing Sauce competition, wings from over 30 local restaurants, the Buffalo Division Wing Eating Championship, and the US Chicken Wing Eating Championship semi-finals and finals. Try bobbing for wings and watch the crowning of Ms. Buffalo Wing.
For a listing of events in Buffalo and surrounding Western New York, check out http://www.wnywired.net/events. For additional information link to http://www.buffalo.com.
Summer is the season of festivals in Western New York. Our cold, snowy winters and sometimes shorter summers make us manic this time of year. There are so many festivals, carnivals, church-run lawn fetes, and fairs, you can get your fix of fried dough, cotton candy, charbroiled Italian sausage sandwiches with peppers and onions, or swiftly spinning, vomit-inducing rides nearly every weekend in June, July, and August.
In Western New York, it's not fun unless there's food, and many of the festivals showcase an ethnic flavor. The summer season kicks off each year with the Hellenic Festival (http://www.hellenicfestival.com), a celebration of Greek heritage, food, culture, and entertainment. Have a shot of Uzo or a taste of baklava and enjoy a little bit of Greece in Buffalo. Opah!
After the Greeks have packed up their wooden horse, Buffalonians continue the celebration with other festive offerings. The Allentown Art Festival (http://allentownartfestival.com) is a street bizarre that attracts artists from all over the world to show, and offer for sale, their paintings, sculptures, woodworkings, and other artistic creations - and, of course, there is food to sate the appetite while wandering in and out of the various stands and booths. The Taste of Buffalo (http://www.tasteofbuffalo.com) is another street event, brings local restaurants to a central location in Downtown Buffalo offering sample-sized portions of their various culinary specialties.
In June, the Juneteenth Festival (http://www.juneteenthbuffalo.com) celebrates African American heritage and culture with music, dance, performance art, and - you guessed it - food. July brings the aroma of steak and dandelion sandwiches, sfingi, calamari, and cannoli, at the Italian Heritage and Food Festival (http://www.buffaloitalianfestival.com). And Buffalo celebrates its rich cultural diversity throughout the summer with other ethnic festivals, including the Scottish, Polish, and German Festivals in case you prefer haggis, kielbasa, or dark beer.
Also in July, festival-goers can enjoy Canal Fest (http://www.canalfest.org), games, rides, amusements - and food - near the historic Erie Canal. Enjoy the exciting events or just watch boats leisurely cruise the canal. And if you still crave more, North America's second largest county fair, the Erie County Fair and Exposition, runs for eleven days in August (http://www.americas-fair.com). Surrounding the giant midway are live entertainment, animal shows, agricultural displays and demonstrations, 4-H exhibits, expos, a rodeo, demolition derby, the America's Fair Pageant. This year you can catch Willie Nelson or ZZ Top performing at the grandstand.
Finally, how can one mention Buffalo, and not mention the chicken wing? Buffalo is the birthplace or the hot chicken wing (known elsewhere as the Buffalo Wing). You can visit the Anchor Bar (http://www.anchorbar.com), the originator of the chicken wing, or enjoy yet another festival in September - the Buffalo Wing Festival (http://www.buffalowing.com), which includes live music and family and children's entertainment. This weekend-long event has a Best Wing Sauce competition, wings from over 30 local restaurants, the Buffalo Division Wing Eating Championship, and the US Chicken Wing Eating Championship semi-finals and finals. Try bobbing for wings and watch the crowning of Ms. Buffalo Wing.
For a listing of events in Buffalo and surrounding Western New York, check out http://www.wnywired.net/events. For additional information link to http://www.buffalo.com.
Published by Don Willard
Don is a freelance writer, husband, and father of four. He and his wife run an educational enrichment center. He writes fiction, humor, and various types of articles. See some of his published fiction at... View profile
- Must-Eat-At Restaurants in Buffalo, New YorkMost people do not realize that Buffalo is home to some of the country's best foods.
- Buffalo NY is a Fun Place to LiveIf you are visiting Buffalo New York, then there are some interesting places that you should see an visit. This article will show you the many places in Buffalo New York that you can visit.
Winter Activities in Western New YorkWestern New York is a winter-lover's dream for those who like any snow related activity or sport. With a plate of hot Buffalo wings and a cold beer at the local pub, anyone can...- Six Flags Darien Lake: Theme Park Fun in Western New YorkLocated in Western New York, Darien Lake has always been a popular amusement park for family vacations, day visits, or school field trips. Six Flags Darien Lake offers plenty of activities for everyone of all ages.
- More Winter Headaches in Western New YorkRochester, NY has been battling wild winter weather for the latter half of this week.
- Free Summer Activities in Buffalo, New York
- A Taste of Buffalo
- Buffalo Food, Architecture, Facts, Clubs, Music, Culture, Tourism Info
- New York Yankees Tickets Options
- Top Buffalo Wings in New York City
- Summer in Buffalo, NY: Free, Fun Activities
- Buffalo, NY: What New Residents Should Know
5 Comments
Post a CommentIn responses to the insult against the area as a racist region all I have to say is do some research. While I do think the entire country needs to work on improving equal rights for all not just African Americans, we do have a wonderful June-teenth festival held here in June that is honoring the African community. There really is nobody left out when it comes to festivals in this region. All are welcome to any.
@ Enell Riley (Still)
I appreciate the fact that you are in the Military defending our country, but comments like that honestly disgust me.
Please don't stereotype an entire region in the same way that you claim Western New York disrespects an entire race.
By the way, the Mayor of Buffalo is an African-American, idiot.
@ Enell Riley
What an awful thing to say about a wonderful region. You say that Wesern New York is the most racist regions you've ever been too? You yourself are a biggot my friend, in requesting such a thing as an artist, or group that appeals to the "African American Consumer" you are being just as racist as anyone else.
I don't know if you noticed a very simple fact while you were here, this city was built on the backs of european immigrants. Guess what, this region is still predominitly of European origin. Maybe this is why we have Greek and Italian festivals.
Furthermore, If you are commenting on the choice of acts at the Erie County Fair, you are indeed a moron. This is a COUNTY FAIR you imbecile. This is where people bring their horses and cows for competition purposes. The people who attend this fair are from the country and the suburbs. Why would the organizers of the Erie County Fair even give a thought to having a group such as Snoop Dog, or Kanye West?
I
I think you should have an artist or group that appeals to the African American consumer as well as the Caucasian. Why should one group of people be catered to completely while another group of people is igmored completely? I was in the military and I haved lived across the nation and overseas. Yet I have never experienced a more racist area than Western New York. Please consider the community as whole when you choose next year's performers.
Makes me homesick! (I'm a Jamestown transplant)