Music, food, entertainment, and good times with friends is something almost all of us agree on! The summer time is perfect for enjoying all four. Growing up in the area, I have had a lot of time getting to experience different summer festivals, well known, and up-and-coming ones. This post has my top three favorites that I think everyone would enjoy! Check them out and have a great time trying something new or going back to an old favorite!

1.) Festival: Music is Art

Where: Delaware Park, Buffalo

When: September 12^th 2015

What Is It?: “Music is Art is dedicated to exploring and reshaping music’s cultural, social, and educational impact on our community – supported by a variety of programs and events.  It is a not-for-profit, federal organization founded in 2003 by Goo Goo Dolls bassist and Buffalo resident, Robby Takac. Music is Art is proud to enrich our community with access to music. It is their hope to encourage people to find their musical voice, think about how music touches their lives, and most importantly think about the fact that…music is art.”

Why Go?: The Music is Art festival is like nothing I have ever been to before, all types of music are played live from 9am until late into the evening. Not only is there everything from country to alternative music there are all sorts of performers, artists, and local celebrities. The festival is held right in Delaware Park on the water, there is so much food, music, and friends to enjoy!

2.) Festival: Elmwood Art Festival

Where: Elmwood Ave, Buffalo

When: August 29^th – 30^th

What Is It?: The Elmwood Avenue Festival of the Arts mission is to foster growth in, and awareness of, Western New York’s artistic and cultural treasures and improve the fabric of our unique urban environment. Their goals for this event include:

• To give regional artists, crafts people, musicians, arts organizations and community groups a family-oriented venue in which to present their work, and to help foster the creation and growth of these grassroots enterprises.
• Create a children’s festival that celebrates and educates through the Arts. Offering hands-on art projects, some collaborative, that bring together children of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
• Commission and fund public art, tree plantings, and other beautification projects.
• Highlight the richness of the Elmwood Village stores, restaurants, and people.

Why Go?: Vendors, tattoos, food, and drinks is what this festival is all about! Over a mile of homemade crafts, local tattoo artists, food, and drinks for every one to enjoy! While you get to visit over 1,000 of local vendors you can experience all the beauty and individuality that Buffalo has to offer!

3.) Festival: Buffalo Wing Fest

Where: Coca-Cola Field, Buffalo

When: Sept 5^th and 6^th

What: Over 100 different flavors of chicken wings from restaurants throughout the country. Live music and contests including the U.S. Chicken Wing Eating Championships.

Why Go?: One simple fee and all the chicken wings you could possibly eat? What better reason do you need to go to this event?! If you don’t like hot chicken wings, don’t worry there are plenty of other options for you to try! Walk around the baseball stadium, listen to music, try some wings and enjoy the music! This is one of the area’s most well attended events and is a lot of fun!

This blog was contributed by Hospitality & Tourism Student Alexandra Audsley.