BUFFALO, NY (WKBW) -- The first ever Buffalo Powder Keg Winter Festivial was announced Friday, and aims to bring a 'flurry' of activity to Downtown.
Picture the Skyway full of weekday traffic. Now picture the Skyway’s Seneca Street off-ramp closed to traffic, full of people snow-tubing. That’s exactly what you’ll see Feb. 27-28 during the first-ever Buffalo Powder Keg Winter Festival. Free and open to the public, the two-day event will celebrate Buffalo winter in all its snowy glory. Dozens of outdoor activities are planned for adults and children alike.
“The Buffalo Powder Keg Winter Festival will reflect the stuff winter dreams are made of,” said Jeff Empric, festival co-chair and founder of Roaming Buffaloes, the group charged with organizing the festival. “Families can enjoy hot food and refreshments, participate in classic winter activities like ice skating and snowshoeing, while experiencing unique attractions like the World’s Largest Ice Maze, igloo building, a snow shoveling contest, and snow tubing down a Skyway off-ramp.”
Activities will take place around the re-energized southern end of downtown, including One HSBC Center, Pearl Street Grill and Brewery, and neighboring parking lots and streets which will be closed to traffic during the festival. Horse-drawn carriage rides will be available for festival attendees.
Taking place the last weekend in February, the festival coincides with the third annual Labatt Blue Buffalo Pond Hockey Tournament at the Erie Basin Marina. Festival-goers and tournament fans can intermix in downtown Buffalo to experience two lively events that celebrate Buffalo winter.
“It will be exciting to see so many people drawn to Buffalo’s Waterfront and downtown streets,” said New York State Senator William Stachowski. “Two great events sharing a weekend will bring people together from all over the region.”
A portion of the festival proceeds will benefit Wellness Institute of Greater Buffalo and WNY Inc. Buffalo Powder Keg Winter Festival sponsors to date include: Labatt USA, Try-It Distributing, AllPro Parking, HSBC Bank USA N.A., One HSBC Center, City of Buffalo, Pearl Street Grill and Brewery, Signature Development, Arctic Glacier, Ellicott Development, The Buffalo News, Roaming Buffaloes, New Era Flagship Store - Buffalo, Cricket Communications, Hodgson Russ, Admar Supply, Centimark Roofing, All Season Rental, Holiday Valley, Leisure Living/PoolSupplies.com, Tim Horton’s and Dean-Sutton Architects. Sponsorship and volunteer opportunities are still available by emailing Jeff at jeffempric@roamingbuffaloes.com.
“This festival is a great idea, both for helping to revive downtown Buffalo and improving our weather-laden image at the same time,” said New York State Assemblymember Sam Hoyt. What a great way to celebrate our city – embrace the wintery weather and highlight Buffalo as the fun-loving City of Good Neighbors we all know it to be.”
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