Featured News - Current News - Archived News - News Categories

ECHDC, Canalside Management Group announce Canalside's 'busy' summer season

Submitted

Thu, May 25th 2017 12:40 pm
2017 programming and events schedule includes new activities, music, fitness, food, family fun
Erie Canal Harbor Development Corp. (ECHDC) and Canalside Management Group on Thursday announced Canalside's 2017 season of summer events and programming.
 
This year, Canalside will host hundreds of programs and daily activities from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, as well as special events, on Buffalo's waterfront. The packed calendar includes options just for kids and families, fitness enthusiasts, music lovers, history buffs and festivalgoers.
 
Visit www.canalsidebuffalo.com for the full calendar of events, which is continuously updated as activities and events are booked.
 
"We are absolutely thrilled that another exciting summer season is nearly upon us at Canalside," ECHDC Chairman Robert Gioia said. "Our new management team, Canalside Management Group, has been hard at work making sure there is something for everyone, every single day, so get out your shades and head on down to our beautiful waterfront."
 
"Our mission is to provide world-class entertainment and food and beverage options to the visitors of Canalside all summer long," said Jon Dandes, president of CMG and Be Our Guest Ltd. "With an eye on keeping the integrity of public access to Canalside, our team has put together a comprehensive and diverse entertainment lineup that will keep visitors coming back to the waterfront all year."
 
New offerings at Canalside in 2017 are plentiful and include:
 
•Canalside "Boardwalk Bazaar" presented by Five Star Bank, a new partner of Canalside, is a signature event on Friday evenings featuring food from local restaurants, live music, eclectic art, a ParKour class, rotating physical activities presented by BlueCross BlueShield of WNY starting with a rock climbing wall and street performers. "Bazaar" will start the season on Friday, May 26, and occur on June 9 and 23, July 7 and 21, Aug. 11 and 25. Attendance to this event is free and the performances are open to all.
 
•Roswell Park Cancer Institute's "Wellness on the Water" series is every Wednesday night, starting June 14, inside the VIP tent. The 10-week series will feature the world's leading doctors and professionals from Roswell Park educating and encouraging attendees on healthy living.
 
•"716 Day at Canalside," on July 16, will celebrate Western New York heritage.
 
•The Beach at Canalside will feature a new attraction with the addition of a themed dinosaur play area highlighted by an 18-foot-tall dinosaur. The play area will also have themed programming provided by the Buffalo Museum of Science.
 
•A children's programming series called "Canalside Kids." This series, composed of three different weekly occurring programs ("Get Moving," "Discover" and "Create"), will take place at the beach.
 
•The Buffalo History Museum will offer a history program from noon to 4 p.m. every Monday starting June 12. Additionally, Canalside has teamed up with Dana Saylor to provide a daily history trunk and Erie Canal-era actors telling stories of Buffalo's storied past along the Erie Canal.
 
When you work up an appetite, The Dish is expanded this year and features a new menu and beer garden area that doubles the size of its current footprint. Construction is beginning and the work will be done early July. New food options incorporate several local options, including Wardynski Hot Dogs, Ru's Buffalo Chicken Pierogi and BW's Pulled Pork.
 
The menu will also feature gluten-free options, vegan and vegetarian menu items. On those hot summer nights, The Dish will offer soft serve and hard-packed ice cream cones. Check out the entire menu here: THE DISH MENU.
 
Additionally, The Dish will feature entertainment all summer long, with live music on Sunday and Monday evenings; local beverage tastings on Tuesday; and trivia on Wednesday evenings.
 
The Dish is open from 11 a.m. until sunset daily.
 
New food cart options will also expand service on the boardwalk during Canalside events and on those warm summer days. The food carts will give people new options for sandwiches, snacks and ice cream, making it easier for visitors enjoy refreshments.
 
Every day at Canalside will feature something to do, starting with Memorial Day weekend. The variety of programming includes culture, kids' activities and fitness.
 
"Fitness at Canalside," presented by BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York, will feature returning classes such "RevFit," Zumba, "Barre Centric," "Jada Blitz," "POUND" and "Everyone Can Dance," as well as new classes featuring "Love in Motion Yoga," Catalyst Fitness kickboxing, "Sow it Now" and the Little Gym of Williamsville.
 
"BlueCross BlueShield is excited to kick off another season as the official health plan of Canalside," said Julie R. Snyder, vice president, corporate relations, BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York. "This summer, there will be an even greater variety of fitness classes and new activities every day, for every age group to join in and get healthy."
 
Canalside favorites will return, including the music and dance series on the boardwalk at 7 p.m. every Wednesday. Visitors can learn a new dance to the music of a live band every week. New weekly dance classes will also be offered, including belly dancing, Bollywood, jazz and hip-hop cardio.
 
The Saturday Artisan Market returns for seven dates (beginning Saturday, May 27); children's programming with Explore and More Children's Museum, EPIC, Empower Girl's and WNY Family Magazine; and a revamped Tuesday Night movie night featuring a movie every Tuesday night with themed programming around the movie's title, all return to round out the summer's schedule.
 
Amenities, such as table games/game rentals, BFLO Kayak tours/rentals, water bike rentals, paddle and pedal boat rentals, Spirit of Buffalo rides, history tour boat rides and Buffalo Sunset Chairs, will also be available throughout the summer, beginning Memorial Day weekend. Blue Bike rentals presented by BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York also have a new location on the boardwalk at the new Canalside information kiosk. The rental of a Blue Bike will include complimentary use of the Queen City Bike Ferry to access the Outer Harbor.
 
This schedule is in addition to the continuation of the popular Canalside concerts, now dubbed "Canalside Live," which will take place over 10 weeks this summer (Thursday, June 15 through Thursday, Aug. 17). In addition to the nine Thursday concerts, a special Friday night show is scheduled for June 30. Find out more about "Canalside Live" HERE.
 
Additionally, third-party concerts will also take place this year at Canalside, including Kerfuffle on Saturday, June 17, and "Kiss the Summer Hello" on June 18.
 
Canalside will welcome back The Buffalo Rib Fest as a three-day weekend event, July 28-30, with each day featuring the top rib restaurants from around the country - and a concert on each day.
 
Canalside will celebrate July 4 with a newly designed fireworks show presented by Russell Salvatore. The celebration will feature live music, children's programming and food and beverage options from the Dish.
Visit www.canalsidebuffalo.com for the full schedule of events, as new activities and events are being added daily.
 
Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown said, "I am so pleased to see another exciting schedule planned for Canalside during the 2017 summer season. We're going to have a great summer! From concerts, to fitness classes, food choices, and more, there is so much to enjoy at Canalside for residents citywide and visitors.
 
Assemblywoman Crystal D. Peoples-Stokes said, "With summer around the corner, families will soon be looking for all kinds of affordable and stimulating outdoor activities. Canalside continues to be a major destination. The lineup presented today caters to these needs, healthy lifestyles and more. Congratulations to Canalside Management Group and Be Our Guest and ECHDC. I look forward to partaking in the programming and events being put forth."
 
Assemblyman Sean Ryan said, "Visitors to Canalside have another great summer of fun to look forward to. There are many exciting additions to Canalside programming for 2017, and I encourage everyone to visit Buffalo's amazing waterfront this summer. Canalside offers events and attractions for all ages, and is a truly family-friendly destination."
 
Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said, "Summertime at Canalside is a unique experience that is packed with fun for everyone. No matter what your age or your interests, visitors are sure to find activities, food, music and fun to last all summer long, including a full slate of new offerings for 2017. Bring your family, friends and guests from out of town to enjoy a day on the waterfront."
 
Sponsors include Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation, City of Buffalo, BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York, Five Star Bank and Roswell Park Cancer Institute.
 
For more information on ECHDC, visit www.eriecanalharbor.com.

Hometown News

View All News