2015 Holiday Happenings: New Year’s Eve in Buffalo-Niagara

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Whether you’re into music, food, large crowds or intimate gatherings, New Year’s Eve in the Buffalo-Niagara region has something for everyone: celebrate a new year in Niagara Falls, downtown Buffalo or the suburbs on Thursday, December 31.

Hard Rock Café New Year’s Eve Party – the Hard Rock Café Niagara Falls, located at 333 Prospect St., will feature the band Joyryde from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. – call 716-282-0007 for reservations. Find out more at the HRC Niagara Falls website.

First Night Buffalo – 5 to 10 p.m. at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center, 153 Franklin St. in downtown Buffalo. For the 27^th year, Buffalo’s biggest drug- and alcohol-free New Year’s Eve celebration will feature family activities throughout the evening. Parking for the event is free at the Main Place Mall and Fernbach Ramps only; there will also be extended Metro Rail service until 2 a.m. Tickets are $10 pre-sale and available at Wegmans; tickets at the door will be $12 – find the complete First Night schedule at www.firstnightbuffalo.org.

Old Falls Street’s Family Fun New Year’s Eve – from 6 to 10 p.m. at The Conference & Event Center Niagara Falls, 101 Old Falls St. in Niagara Falls. This family-friendly event will feature a dance floor, inflatable obstacle courses, face painters, balloon artists, movies, costumed characters and more. Admission is $6 per person and is payable at the door. Find out more at fallsstreet.com.

Statler City Ice Ball – doors open at 6 p.m. at Statler City, 107 Delaware Ave. (entrance will be on Franklin and Genesee Sts.) in downtown Buffalo. The event will feature live music – including Boys of Summer and Jeremy Hoyle and the Strictly Hip – hot and cold food stations plus a dinner buffet and much more. Ice Ball tickets includes five hours of premium open bar, food, a champagne toast and seating for all guests. There will also be free parking at the Turner Ramp next to City Hall and free coat check at the Statler. Tickets are still available for the Golden Ballroom (single seats only) and the Terrace Room – celebrate with a “nightclub experience” at the Niagara Room (does not include Ice Ball access). Tickets can be purchased and more information can be found at www.statlercity.com/iceball.

Banchetti By Rizzo’s – celebrate New Year’s Eve with Nerds Gone Wild and more at Banchetti, located at 550 N. French Rd. in Amherst. The party begins at 7:30 p.m. with five hours open bar, includes champagne at midnight and food stations throughout the night. Joining the Nerds (performing in the Michelangelo Room) are the Buffalo 5 Band in the Rose Room and Bryan Berhalter in the café. Reservations are $90 per person – call 716-691-4045 for reservations, and visit www.banchetti.com for more information.

**More parties and activities are listed in Step Out Buffalo’s “Best New Year’s Eve Parties to Ring in 2016.”

BfloGirlWorld: Gift ideas from the heart of Buffalo

Loganberry from Gridlock Lacquer
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A few last-minute holiday gift ideas and some places to get them for the Buffa-lover on your gift list.

Gridlock Lacquer – I’m a nail polish junkie, and I LOOOOOOVE this brand – not just because it’s made right here in Buffalo, either! My favorites so far are Loganberry and Nickel City, but I’m hoping to find The French Connection soon!

Buffalo Bites Food Tours – take a food and walking historical tour through the Elmwood Village or East Aurora. Purchase a gift certificate for a tour ($49 per person), which run Thursdays through Sundays, April through December at 11:30 a.m. in the Village and Fridays and Saturdays, April through November at noon in East Aurora.

BFLO Gallery and Gift Shop – looking for just about ANYTHING Buffalo related? This is one of the best places to go! Photos, memorabilia, things for the kitchen, Gridlock Lacquer nail polish (see above), books, t-shirts…so much Buffalo in one place!

The gift of membership – give some culture with a membership to one of Buffalo’s cultural icons – the Buffalo Zoo, the Botanical Gardens, the Albright-Knox Art Gallery and the Buffalo Museum of Science are just a few ideas.

2015 Holiday Happenings: It WAS A Wonderful Life and the Rich-Twinn Octagon House

Rich-Twinn Octagon House
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Take a trip through history during Forest Lawn Cemetery’s production of “It WAS A Wonderful Life,” taking place in the Forest Lawn chapel at 1411 Delaware Ave. in Buffalo on weekends through Sunday, December 27. Join narrator “John Lay,” the first person to be interred in Forest Lawn in 1850, as he introduces you to the “friends” he’s made over the years. Tickets are $25 per person, and seating is limited for each performance, so reservations are required – call 716-885-1600 for reservations. Find out more at www.forest-lawn.com.

Check out some of the area’s historical architecture in full Victorian holiday regalia with a trip to the Rich-Twinn Octagon House, located at 145 Main St. in Akron. Sunday afternoon tours are available December 13 and 20 between 1 and 3 p.m. – admission is $5 for adults and $2 for children 6-10. Find out more about the Octagon House at www.newsteadhistoricalsociety.org. 

BfloGirlSports: Gift ideas for the Buffalo sports fan

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Looking for a last-minute gift for the Buffalo sports fan on your holiday list? Check out these affordable options from some of the area’s top teams.

Buffalo Bandits – affordable season tickets in pro sports? Absolutely – with all the action you would want to see as well. Season tickets for the National Lacrosse League Bandits start at just $108 per seat for a nine-game schedule that begins on January 9. Don’t want to commit to a full season? Individual tickets start at only $21 per game; all tickets go on sale December 5. One game to keep in mind: on Friday, March 11, Buffalo’s other No. 11 – John Tavares – gets his jersey hoisted into the rafters. Find out more at www.bandits.com.

Buffalo Sabres – the Sabres offer Hat Trick Pack, including two 300-level II tickets for selected Sabres games (see the list here) and a Sabres hat for $99. Visit sabres.nhl.com for more information.

Buffalo Bisons – the Bisons offer three Holiday Packs for the 2016 season, each including two tickets to the home opener at Coca Cola Field on Thursday, April 14. Pack No. 1 also includes two flex tickets, a Bisons ornament and Bisons Flag for $42; Pack No. 2 includes four flex tickets, a Bisons ornament and a Bisons polo shirt for $62; and Pack No. 3 includes six flex tickets, a Bisons ornament and a Bisons duffel bag for $82. Get more information here, and find out about other ticket packages and specials at the Bisons’ website.

2015 Holiday Happenings: Larkin Square and the Buffalo Zoo

Celebrate the season at "Larkinville" on Friday
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Get into the holiday swing this weekend at Larkin Square, or get the kids to the Buffalo Zoo for an upcoming event.

Holiday Live at Larkin – Friday, December 4 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Larkin Square, 745 Seneca St. in Buffalo. The fourth annual event will feature music from Robot Holiday, a holiday marketplace, and food from some of Buffalo’s favorite food trucks. Earlier in the day, check out the Indoor Holiday Market featuring over 30 local craft and food vendors from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Get more details at www.larkinsquare.com.

Buffalo Zoo Tree Lighting – Saturday, December 5 at 5:15 p.m. at the Buffalo Zoo, 300 Parkside Ave. in Buffalo. Zoo admission will be just $5 per person beginning at 3 p.m., and the gates will remain pen until 5 p.m.; the tree will be located near the new Arctic Edge exhibit. Find out more at www.buffalozoo.org.

Breakfast with Santa – Saturday and Sunday, December 12-13 and December 19-20 at the Zoo. Santa and his elves will visit kids for two seatings, 9 and 11 a.m., each day; featuring a breakfast buffet from CJ’s Catering. Pre-paid, non-refundable tickets are $17 for adults and $14 for children (members receive $5 discount per ticket); visit www.buffalozoo.org for tickets and more information or call 716-995-6133.

2015 Holiday Happenings: Power Vista Festival of Trees and Ontario Winter Festival of Lights

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Head up to Niagara Falls to check out the Festival of trees on this side of the border, or grab your enhanced license and cross the border for another Festival of Lights.

Niagara Power Vista Festival of Trees – December 1 through January 1 at the Niagara Power Plant Power Vista, 5777 Lewiston Rd. (Rt. 104) in Lewiston. Check out beautifully decorated trees and visit the nearby Niagara Discovery Center during the annual event. On December 12 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Power Vista hosts its annual Deck the Halls event, featuring crafts and entertainment, photo opportunities with Santa, trolley rides and more. Find out more at the Power Vista website.

Ontario Power Generation Winter Festival of Lights – now through January 31 at numerous attractions in Niagara Falls, Ontario. The festival features more than five kilometers of light displays through the Niagara Parks, Dufferin Islands and other tourist areas. There will be a number of spectacular fireworks shows during the course of the festival – click here for dates and times. For more information on the festival, visit www.wfol.com. 

2015 Holiday Happenings: Darwin Martin House and Fatima Shrine Festival of Lights

See the improvements to the Darwin Martin House
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Have out-of-town visitors coming in for the Thanksgiving holiday? Take them to see the improvements at the Darwin Martin House, or take them to Youngstown to see the Fatima Shrine Festival of Lights.

The Darwin Martin House will be open for tours Friday and Saturday, November 27-28. Located at 125 Jewett Pkwy. in Buffalo, visitors will see the improvements made to the estate during additional tours for the holiday weekend. The Martin House tour is offered both days at 10 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 2 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. – tour cost is $17 for adults, $15 for seniors, $12 for students and free for members. The Martin House Plus tour is offered both days at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. – tour cost is $35 for adults, $33 for seniors and $27 for students and members. Find out more at www.darwinmartinhouse.org.

The Fatima Shrine Festivalof Lights takes place November 21 through January 6 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, 1023 Swann Rd. in Youngstown. The lights will be on display nightly from 5 to 9 p.m., and the gift shop is open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Check out the festival from the top of the Basilica and see 75 displays and 15 acres of Christmas lights, and view the Avenue of Saints. Fatima Shrine will host Thanksgiving Day mass at 11:30 a.m., as well as Christmas Eve masses at 4 p.m. and midnight and Christmas Day masses at 9 a.m. and noon. Find out more at www.fatimashrine.com. 

2015 Holiday Happenings: Fairgrounds Festival of Lights and Victorian Christmas

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Two more events coming up – lights in Hamburg and Victorian elegance at one of Buffalo’s historic places.

The Fairgrounds Festival of Lights, featuring nearly two miles of light displays and lots of family activities, takes over the Erie County Fairgrounds in Hamburg (enter from South Park Ave.) on weekends beginning November 27-29 and running December 4-6, December 11-13, extended hours December 18-23 and December 26-27. New in 2015: The Great Lakes International Ice Carving Competition, taking place November 27-29, with pieces on display throughout the festival. Gates are open 5 to 9 p.m. (grounds remain open through 10 p.m.); admission is $25 per carload, $50 per busload.

The Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site, located at 641 Delaware Ave. in Buffalo, offers up its annual Victorian Christmas, with events taking place Thursday, December 3 through Saturday, December 12. The holiday display is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday (general admission $5 per person – December 4-12). The event will also feature fashion show luncheons, a traditional Irish Christmas dinner, wine and food pairings, musical performances and more.  Get more information on the events at www.trsite.org. 

2015 Holiday Happenings: Festival of Trees and Buffalo-Niagara Heritage Village

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Two more holiday venues to add to your itinerary this season are the Hyatt Regency in downtown Buffalo and the Buffalo-Niagara Heritage Village in Amherst – both host ongoing holiday events that are perfect for all ages.

The Festival of Trees is headquartered at the Hyatt Regency and runs from November 21 through December 3. General admission to see all of the beautifully decorated trees, wreaths, mantles and window displays, as well as shop the Boutique, is free. There are also a number of events, including the Black Tie Gala and the Designer Showcase and Reception that are ticketed. Find the full schedule of events at www.festivaloftreesbuffalo.com.

Buffalo-Niagara Heritage Village, located at 3755 Tonawanda Creek Rd in Amherst, hosts its first ever Holiday Shopping Extravaganza from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, November 21. The event will feature unique items from local artists and works from the Village’s own guilds. The Countryside Christmas Tours, giving visitors a glimpse of 19^th century Christmases, will take place Saturday, December 5 from noon to 7 p.m. Tours are approximately 90 minutes and reservations are required; tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for members and $7 for children.

Another event on December 5 is the Taste of Christmas Past from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., with historically-recreated Victorian Christmas dishes and drinks, plus a tree-lighting ceremony. Tickets are $55 per person or $100 per couple, and Countryside Christmas Tours will be available to attendees for a discounted price of $5. On Sunday morning, December 6, Santa visits the Village for breakfast, with seatings at 9:30 and 11 a.m. Breakfast includes pancakes, sausage and other snacks and costs $8 per person for non-members, $5 for members (reservations are required).

Finally, the Village hosts a Holiday Tea on Sunday, December 13 from 1 to 3 p.m., catered by the English Tea Ladies and featuring traditional tea sandwiches, quiche, scones and meringues. Tickets are $30 per person, and reservations are required by November 25. Learn more about these events and make reservations at bnhv.org. 

2015 Holiday Happenings: Lockport Tour of Homes and Take Another Look at Buffalo

Catch a view of Buffalo from City Hall on November 28
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Tour late 19^th and early 20^th century homes in a former Erie Canal boomtown and get a different look at the work going on downtown with two tours happening on November 28, just in time to show off the Buffalo-Niagara area to all the out-of-town guests you might be hosting.

The Lockport Tour of Homes on Saturday, November 28 from 2 to 6 p.m. begins at the Kenan Center, located at 433 Locust St. in Lockport. View some of the historic homes in the area as part of the Light Up Lockport activities, including the Palace Theatre, 196 and 250 Locust St. and 456 and 532 Pine St. The event ends at the Palace Theatre with a tour and hot chocolate and cookies from 4 to 6 p.m., Lockport’s holiday parade and a free showing of the movie Polar Express at 7 p.m. Tickets are $30 – find out more about the event at explorebuffalo.org.

Take Another Look at Buffalo, also on November 28 from 4 to 7 p.m. at City Hall in downtown Buffalo, will give visitors a view of the new Buffalo. The event will feature light refreshments in the Lobby, City Hall tours, art, live music and Buffalo-themed gifts. The 13^th floor and Council Chambers will feature a “Then and Now” video presentation and Buffalo-themed crafts for kids. The 25^th and 28^th floor observation decks will both be open, with aerial tours from both decks and desserts.. Find more information here.