2008 Erie Canal Harbor Events & Activities

The City of Buffalo, Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation and Buffalo Place, Inc. plan to coordinate various activities, events and concerts at Erie Canal Harbor throughout the summer. Some of these upcoming events and activities include:

 

 

Click Here to View Full Summer Schedule

Friday Family Fun - Join Explore & More Children’s Museum beginning July 11thon the Central Wharf for fun children’s activities. This program is free to the public and takes place from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. every Friday (except on August 15th - when we will be readying the site for Buffalo Place Rocks the Harbor.) Look for the Explore and More activity tent located on the grassy area at the northern end of the Central Wharf. The first session (scheduled for Friday, July 11th) will be Making a Mess Makes Sense! – were children can enjoy a hands-on, multi-sensory experience. Participants will play with and explore all sorts of fun feeling materials. Children will use their senses to create a unique piece of art to take home. There is no need to register, participants can just show up, so long as they are prepared to learn and have fun! Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian throughout the program - there will be no drop-off sitting service.

Click Here to View Full Summer Schedule

 

Canal District Tours and Lecture Series - Join the Campaign for Greater Buffalo History, Architecture & Culture for tours of the Canal District. These events are free to the public, and take place every Thursday beginning July 10th. Hear from the experts on the history of the Canal District. The tour will meet under the green tent on the northern end of the Central Wharf. The tour will depart at 12:00 noon and return at 1:00 p.m. Wear comfortable clothing, good walking shoes and bring your own water. The Erie Canal transformed Buffalo into a bustling city and there are many compelling stories from the era that will make the hour seem like ten minutes!

 

Historical Lecture Series – Every Saturday night come down to Erie Canal Harbor for our Historical Lecture Series. Guest lecturers, coordinated by the Campaign for Greater Buffalo History, Architecture & Culture, will host informative and engaging educational sessions in the ruins area (located on the east side of the re-watered Commercial Slip). The first lecture is scheduled for Saturday, July 12th, from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Limited folding chairs will be provided - feel free to bring your own chair!

 

 

 

Ask the Experts - Every Saturday and Sunday afternoon, between the hours of 12:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m., (July 12th - August 31st), Erie Canal Harbor history guides will be on-hand to help answer visitors. These information providers are well-versed in the history of both the Erie Canal Harbor and Buffalo’s waterfront past (as well as future)!

 

Be Active Buffalo! -Phil Habestro and our friends at Be Active NY State will kick-off a Friday Fitness “Waterfront Walks”. This 30-minute walk will take place every Friday beginning July 11th - August 29th. This wellness event is free to the public, and we invite all Downtown workers, visitors and residents to participate. Registration will take place under a tent near the new Naval Museum on the west side of the Commercial Slip. Please wear comfortable clothing, good walking shoes and bring your water. The walk will take you along the Buffalo Creek to flower gardens at The Hatch and back to the Naval Museum. The 30-minute walk meets the U.S. Surgeon General’s recommendation for adults of at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity per day. This is a great way to spend lunch with your friends and co-workers! Registration opens at 11:30 a.m. and will include information on healthy living. The walk will depart at 12:15 p.m. and return at 12:45 p.m. sharp. Participate with the group once a week; you might begin a new routine. This is a terrific setting and will give you a chance to enjoy our beautiful new waterfront!

 

Dug’s Dive Re-Visited - Kevin Cottrell of Motherland Connextions and a talented group of local actors will re-create the Dug’s Dive experience in the ruins located on the east side of the Commercial Slip. Dug’s Dive was located in the Erie Canal Harbor district for nearly 40 years during the mid-1800’s. Join Dug as he is perched behind his bar speaking on the life, times and documented incidents that took place in his establishment and the Commercial Slip District. Artifacts from the District will be incorporated into the re-enactments. This event is free to the public. The program will take place every Wednesday and Saturday beginning July 16th - August 30th. The show runs approximately 30 minutes. Wednesday performances will take place at 12:15 p.m. There will be two performances on Saturdays, one at 4:30 p.m. and one at 5:30 p.m. A limited number of folding chairs will be provided so we encourage you to bring a lawn chair.

 

 

 

Music on the Central Wharf - The northern portion of the Central Wharf will feature a variety of musical acts every Saturday (6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.) and Sunday (4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.). Come down to the harbor and enjoy the ambiance of Music on the Central Wharf. These performances are free to the public. Watch the Buffalo Place E-Report for a complete list of performers.

 

 

Buffalo Place Rocks the Harbor - This two-day concert event makes its triumphant return this year on Friday, August 15th and Saturday, August 16th. Newfoundland Celtic rockers Great Big Sea will kick off the weekend event on Friday with special guest Mason Jennings. The Robert Cray Band will headline the Saturday concert and blues singer-songwriter Keb’Mo’ will kick off the evening’s performance. Tickets for Buffalo Place Rocks the Harbor are on sale now for $10.00 each day and $15.00 each day of show. Tickets are available at all Ticketmaster locations, including www.ticketmaster.com. To charge by phone call 716-852-5000. Looking to avoid the service charge? A limited number of tickets are available at each Thursday at the Square ticket tent. You can also purchase tickets at the Buffalo Place offices, 671 Main Street, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

 

Navy Week - Saturday, August 23rd - Sunday, August 31st, will be Navy Week in Buffalo! The Navy Show Band, under the direction of Naval Reservist Phil Stacey (a former American Idol finalist) will perform a number of free concerts on the Central Wharf - stay tuned for specific times.

 

 

(7/4/08 – schedule subject to change)