Western New York Happenings: August Events

Walk Off Hunger and Summerfest - Sunday, August 1st at Temple Beth Am, 4660 Sheridan Dr. in Williamsville. The third annual Walk Off Hunger benefits the Food Bank of WNY; registration is $15 for adults (includes hot dog and bottle of water) and children under 13 are free. Summerfest is free and features food, music, and family fun. Both events start at noon; register for the walk at www.foodbankofwny.org.

Kingdom Bound - Sunday through Wednesday, August 1st through 4th at Darien Lake Theme Park and Resort. Christian music, seminars, and more in the organization's "Gospel through the Arts." Three main stages featuring music from newsboys, BarlowGirl, MercyMe, Skillet, Toby Mac, and others, plus a special appearance by Jim and Jill Kelly. For festival schedule, ticket information, and more, visit kingdombound.com.

St. Leo's Lawn Fete - Friday through Sunday, August 6th through 8th, at St. Leo the Great, 885 Sweet Home Rd. in Amherst. Live music, rides and games from Hammerl Amusements, theme basket auction, wine and cheese tasting, nightly dinners, and cruise night (Friday). For more information, schedules, and pre-sale tickets, visit www.stleoslawnfete.com.

Erie County Fair - Wednesday, August 11th through Sunday, August 22nd at the Hamburg Fairgrounds, 5600 McKinley Pkwy. in Hamburg. Motorsports, concerts, agricultural events, rides, games, food, vendors, and more at one of the country's largest county fairs. For schedules, ticket information, and more, visit www.ecfair.org.

Dancing Under the Stars - Saturday, August 14th at Sunset Bay Beach Club in Irving from 3 p.m. to midnight. Dance workshops with some of Western New York's best instructors take place from 3 to 7 p.m., followed by a dance party at 8 p.m. with Nicholas Picholas from Kiss 98.5. A fundraising event by Tommy Radon's STORM, proceeds will be donated to Kiss's Radiothon for Women and Children's Hospital of Buffalo. Full day passes are $35; tickets for either the workshops or the dance party are $20 each. For more information, visit www.stormbuffalo.com.

Buffalo Sabres Street Hockeyfest - Saturday and Sunday, August 21st and 22nd from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days on the streets surrounding the HSBC Arena in downtown Buffalo. Newly expanded to two days, the tournament is open to boys and girls ages 5 to 17; new this year - six all-girls divisions. Entry deadline is August 13th; visit sabres.nhl.com for registration information.

Scottish Festival and Highland Games - Saturday, August 21st from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Amherst Museum, 3755 Tonawanda Creek Rd. in Amherst. Features the annual Amateur and Professional Scottish Highland Games and the Heavy Events Junior World Championships, as well as pipe bands, live music, demonstrations, food, and numerous vendors. Admission is $10 for adults, $9 for Museum members, and children 14 and under are free. Visit www.amherstmuseum.org for more information.

Buffalo Irish Festival - Friday through Sunday, August 27th through 29th at the Hamburg Fairgrounds, 5600 McKinley Pkwy. in Hamburg. Entertainment, food and beverage, bilingual mass (Sunday at 10 a.m.), Parade of the 32 County Flags of Ireland (Friday at 5:30 p.m.), raffles, and more. Hours are Friday 5 to 11 p.m., Saturday noon to 11 p.m., and Sunday noon to 9 p.m. Pre-sale tickets are $6 at Tara Gift Shoppe, Dublin House, Buffalo Brew Pub, and Shannon Pub; tickets at the door are $10 for adults, $8 for kids ages 4 to 12 and seniors over 60. Find out more at www.buffaloirish.com.