The Valley Community Association’s 18th Annual “Buffalo River Fest” is scheduled for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, June 15th – 17th, 2018. The event will be held from 6pm to Midnight on Friday, from 11am to Midnight on Saturday, and 11am to 5pm on Sunday at Buffalo River Fest Park, located at 249 Ohio Street, Buffalo, NY, near Michigan Avenue.

Included in this year’s event will be:

The Rigidized River Fest Regatta – Come roll down the Buffalo River on Saturday, June 16th!! Participants can paddle their traditional canoe, kayak, or stand up paddle board or let their inner “First Mate” come out and create a homemade watercraft. In the “Build Your Own Boat” category there are no restrictions or limitations other than your imagination. 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 10am for the 6 mile course and 11am for the 3 mile course. All vessels will end at the DEC Canoe Launch on Ohio Street. Participant check in will begin at 9am at each site. The entry fee is $30 per boat pre-sale ($35 the day of the event) for “Build Your Own” boats and $20 per boat presale ($25 the day of the event) for kayaks, canoes, and paddle boards. There will be awards for each category! There are cash prizes for both “Most Creative Vessel” and “Best Built Vessel” in the “Build Your Own Boat” category. The “Most Creative Vessel” also wins the coveted 13th Annual Wilkeson Cup! Shuttle service for participants will be available as well. For more information and applications call 716-849-4780, visit www.rigidizedregatta.com, or “like” Rigidized River Fest Regatta on Facebook!

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 and includes Breakaway (Friday), Hit N Run and another band TBA (Saturday), and Lancaster Carnival Kids Steel Orchestra (Sunday afternoon). 

Waterfront Photo & Memorabilia Expo –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!! 

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 and much more!! Cool down with an ice cold beer in the Beer Tent. The Tewksbury Lodge will also be open all weekend and serving food and beverages!

Vendors – Come ready to shop from local vendors who will be displaying their wares all weekend.

“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.

Kids Area – Bring the kids down on Saturday from 2pm-7pm for lots of fun including games, miniature golf, and a human powered sno-cone machine. 

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 Friday at 6pm and on Saturday at 4pm and 6pm. Space is extremely limited. No children under the age of 12 are allowed on the boat and access to the boat is difficult for those with limited mobility. Call 716-823-4707 ext. 3 to reserve your spot. Donations are gladly accepted.

InTomes.Com Fishing Derby – Spend some quality time with Dad on Father’s Day at the InTomes.Com Fishing Derby! The fishing competition will take place from 11am 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 and registration will begin at 10am the day of the event. Putt Putt golf will be available after the contest for family fun. Every participant will receive a free ticket to the human powered sno-cone machine.

Proceeds from the Buffalo River Fest will benefit Buffalo River Fest Park including capital maintenance, utilities, insurance, dock maintenance, and grounds maintenance.

The 18th Annual Buffalo River Fest is sponsored by Rigidized Metals, KeyBank, OSC Charitable Foundation, PVS Chemical, Irish Welding Supply, Ellicott Development, Fichte Endl Elmer Eye Care, Grove Roofing, Morgan Services, Arcara Zucarelli Lenda & Associates, Larkin Service, and Dixon Enterprises.

Parking is free and is widely available.

For more information on the 18th Annual Buffalo River Fest visit www.thevalleycenter.com, “like” Buffalo River Fest Park and the Valley Community Center on Facebook, follow on Twitter @VCAssociation or @BfloRFPark, or call 716-823-4707 ext. 2