Events

[FESTIVAL] It’s springtime in Buffalo, and naturally our thoughts turn to ice: to great swaths of churning river ice, set loose at last to rush toward the Niagara Falls, freeing our riparian city of its chilling effect. It is time for Boom Days, the annual celebration marking the removal of the ice boom that prevents lake and Buffalo River ice from clogging the intakes of the Niagara Falls power turbines. This year’s festival has grown out of its usual habitat at Silo City to encompass the entirety of the old First Ward neighborhood. The event, which runs 1-9pm on Saturday, April 7, offers a wide range of happenings at venues throughout the First Ward: The Old First Ward Community Center (62 Republic St., Buffalo) and Undergrounds Coffee House & Roastery (580 South Park Ave., Buffalo) hosts family-friendly activities and performances, 1-4pm, including the Buffalo Zoomobile, the Buffalo & Erie County Library on Wheels, Penn Dixie Fossil Park & Nature Preserve, and programming by Young Audiences of Western New York. Waterfront Memories and More museum at Mutual Riverfront Park (41 Hamburg St., Buffalo) will be open for visitors. At 4pm the Buffalo Brass Machine will lead the way as the “boom ball” will be rolled from the community center to Riverfront Park and launched into the Buffalo River. All are welcome to join the parade. Then, 5-8:30pm, live music from the Blues Society of WNY and the Sportsmen’s Americana Music Foundation will take place at the Barrel Factory (65 Vandalia St., Buffalo) and Gene McCarthy’s (73 Hamburg St., Buffalo). There will be food and drink specials at these locations and Undergrounds as well. The evening wraps up with a boom as fireworks will light up the sky at 8:30 pm; they can be seen from Riverfront Park and the streets of the First Ward. For more information, check out the Boom Days Facebook page.