It's Independence Day Week in WNY
That's right. There are a full five days of fireworks in store, providing the weather cooperates. The fun starts tonight with a huge Canada Day fireworks display right across the mighty Niagara, and continues at dozens of locations throughout WNY straight through Sunday. Find out where and when, and also discover what the heck we're celebrating.
Since Buffalo is right across the river from Canada, we can legitimately celebrate Canadian holidays as well as our own. Honoring Canada's independence as a British dominion on July 1, 1867 is a great way to start off the celebration of US independence from Britain on July 4, 1776.
The Friendship Fesitval in Fort Erie, Ontario has been celebrating "Peace Between Neighbors" all week and will culminate on Canada Day on Wednesday, July 1, with a huge fireworks display starting at dusk. Pssst: the Fontana Boathouse at the foot of Porter is a great vantage point, as are LaSalle Park and the Yacht Club. And there are fireworks at the brink of the Falls at 10:00pm, too!
In fact, there are a full five days of fireworks in store. On Thursday, July 2nd, there are fireworks at the Seneca Niagara Casino, and at Kenney Field in the Town of Tonawanda.
In addition to the huge Independence Eve fireworks extravaganza accompanied by the BPO Chorus and Orchestra following the Bison's game at Coca-Cola Field on Friday, July 3rd, there will also be fireworks at Newstead Veterans Park in Akron, over Woodlawn Beach in Hamburg, at Hamlin Park in East Aurora, at Lake Erie Beach Park in Evans, at Lancaster Speedway in Lancaster following the show, and on Goat Island at Niagara Falls, NY.
On Saturday, July 4th, the two biggest shows are at Canalside and at Baird Point on the UB North campus, but fireworks may also be enjoyed at Cheektowaga Town Park, at Darien Lake Amusement Park, at the Transit Valley County Club in East Amherst, on Grand Island at Martin’s Fantasy Island (wear red, white & blue for a discount), at the Fireman’s Park in Lancaster, at Artpark in Lewiston, on Tonawanda Island, following the Orchard Park Parade, and at Niawanda Park in Tonawanda. The Ellicottville Music Festival will feature the BPO meets Star Wars, complete with costumed characters – oh, and fireworks. Choreographed, of course.
The Friendship Fesitval in Fort Erie, Ontario has been celebrating "Peace Between Neighbors" all week and will culminate on Canada Day on Wednesday, July 1, with a huge fireworks display starting at dusk. Pssst: the Fontana Boathouse at the foot of Porter is a great vantage point, as are LaSalle Park and the Yacht Club. And there are fireworks at the brink of the Falls at 10:00pm, too!
In fact, there are a full five days of fireworks in store. On Thursday, July 2nd, there are fireworks at the Seneca Niagara Casino, and at Kenney Field in the Town of Tonawanda.
In addition to the huge Independence Eve fireworks extravaganza accompanied by the BPO Chorus and Orchestra following the Bison's game at Coca-Cola Field on Friday, July 3rd, there will also be fireworks at Newstead Veterans Park in Akron, over Woodlawn Beach in Hamburg, at Hamlin Park in East Aurora, at Lake Erie Beach Park in Evans, at Lancaster Speedway in Lancaster following the show, and on Goat Island at Niagara Falls, NY.
On Saturday, July 4th, the two biggest shows are at Canalside and at Baird Point on the UB North campus, but fireworks may also be enjoyed at Cheektowaga Town Park, at Darien Lake Amusement Park, at the Transit Valley County Club in East Amherst, on Grand Island at Martin’s Fantasy Island (wear red, white & blue for a discount), at the Fireman’s Park in Lancaster, at Artpark in Lewiston, on Tonawanda Island, following the Orchard Park Parade, and at Niawanda Park in Tonawanda. The Ellicottville Music Festival will feature the BPO meets Star Wars, complete with costumed characters – oh, and fireworks. Choreographed, of course.
And if you miss all of these light shows, no worries. Catch some red, white and blue fun at the Collins Town Park Liberty Fest on Sunday, July 5th.
But when did all of this revelry start and why?
Although July 4th has only been a national holiday since 1941, Independence Day celebrations go back to the American Revolution. On July 2nd, 1776, the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence, and two days later its delegates adopted the Declaration of Independence. Despite John Adam's belief that July 2nd was the correct date on which to celebrate the birth of American independence (he reportedly turned down invitations to appear at July 4th events in protest), July 4th has been celebrated as the birth of American independence since 1776, with fireworks, parades and concerts, as well as family gatherings and barbecues. Coincidentally, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died on July 4, 1826, the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.
Have a wonderful Independence Day week!
