Celebrate fall 2015: Frightworld

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Witthaya Phonsawat

Frightworld returns for its 14^th season to scare Buffalonians with its unique brand of haunting on Friday, September 25. In a new location, 800 Yong St. in Tonawanda (formerly BJ’s) for the 2015 season, Frightworld features five haunted houses spread across thousands of square feet.

Previously voted one of the best haunted attractions in the country, this Eerie Productions haunt allows visitors to explore all five haunted houses under one roof (the entire attraction is indoors). Returning this year are Grindhouse, Eerie State Asylum, Condemned and Insanity; new for 2015 is Night Stalkers, an interactive flashlight experience.

It is recommended that children 10 and under be accompanied by an adult – find answers to other frequently asked questions here.

Tickets are $25 for admission to all haunted houses, $33 for the VIP Frightpass or – brand new for 2015 - $15 for admission to any two houses; tickets are available at the website listed below, and a $3 off admission coupon is also available on the website. Group rates are also available – check the website listed below for information on registering your group.

Frightworld is open various nights through Sunday, November 1, including 11 days straight from October 22 through November 1 (for exact dates and times, click here). More information is available at frightworld.com. 

Celebrate fall 2015: House of Horrors and Haunted Catacombs

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House of Horrors and Haunted Catacombs returns for the 2015 Halloween season at Union Consumer Square, 3757 Union Rd. in Cheektowaga (next to Sam’s Club). This year’s haunted attraction, which opens Friday, September 25, includes six haunted houses.

The haunted houses making up the House of Horrors and Haunted Catacombs this year include Hell House, Killer Theater, The Infected, Where Evil Dwells, Zombie Apocalypse Shooting Gallery and Mark of the Beast. The houses are recommended for teenagers and adults, and it is suggested that children under 10 be accompanied by an adult. Find other FAQs here.

Tickets for the House of Horrors and Haunted Catacombs start at $23, with a VIP Speedpass available starting at $33 (no waiting in line); group admission for 20 or more people is also available. Discount coupons are available online here.

The House of Horrors and Haunted Catacombs is open various dates and times from now through Saturday, November 7, including 10 straight days from October 22-31 – find the complete schedule here. Find out more about House of Horrors and Haunted Catacombs at www.houseofhorrorsbuffalo.com. 

Smithsonian’s Museum Day Live!: September 26, 2015

The Buffalo History Museum is one of the
museums you can visit for free on
Saturday, September 26
credit: paulathompsonfreelance.com

Smithsonian Magazine presents Museum Day Live! on Saturday, September 26 across the country. Museum Day Live! is an annual event where participating museums open their doors to anyone with a Museum Day Live! ticket free of charge. Each ticket – print yours here – is good for admission for two people.

The following WNY-area museums are participating in Museum Day Live!:

• Niagara History Center – 215 Niagara St. in Lockport (14094)
• Burchfield Penney Art Center – 1300 Elmwood Ave. in Buffalo (14222)
• Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum – 180 Thompson St. in North Tonawanda (14120)
• Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site – 641 Delaware Ave. in Buffalo (14202)
• Albright-Knox Art Gallery – 1285 Elmwood Ave. in Buffalo (14222)
• Nash House Museum – 36 Nash St. in Buffalo (14204)
• Buffalo History Museum – 1 Museum Ct. in Buffalo (14216)
• Colored Musicians Club Jazz Museum – 145 Broadway St. in Buffalo (14203)
• Steel Plant Museum – 100 Lee St. in Buffalo (14210)
• Forest Lawn Cemetery – 1411 Delaware Ave. in Buffalo (14209)
• Buffalo Niagara Heritage Village – 3755 Tonawanda Creek Rd. in Amherst (14228)
• Erie Canal Discovery Center – 24 Church St. in Lockport (14094)
• Buffalo Harbor Museum – 66 Erie St. in Buffalo (14202)
• Museum of disABILITY History – 3826 Main St, in Amherst (14226)

For more information on Museum Day Live! visit www.smithsonianmag.com. 

Celebrate fall 2015: Sonnenberg Gardens and Mansion

credit: paulathompsonfreelance.com

Sonnenberg Gardens and Mansion, located at 151 Charlotte St. in Canandaigua, has a few fall-inspired events coming up before the facilities close for the season on Saturday, October 31 – take a road trip for one of these fun events.

History Symposium: Gone Fishin’ – Saturday, September 26 from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Patricia Tice, curator of Genesee Country Village’s John L. Wehle Gallery talks about the Village’s latest exhibit, Gone Fishin’: The Artist and the Angler. Event includes lunch and park admission. Tickets are $15 for members and $20 for non-members.

Fall Day Car and Motorcycle Cruise – Sunday, October 4 from noon to 4 p.m. Music, food, classic cars, bikes and wine tastings are in order on this fall day. Vehicle registration is $6 per vehicle before September 30 or $12 the day of the show; registration begins at 10 a.m. Admission to the show is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors (60+) and AAA members, $6 for students and military with ID and youth ages 13-17, $1 for kids 4 to 12 and free for ages 3 and under.

Fall Gardening Symposium – Saturday, October 10 features a day-long seminar with Wayne Cahilly of the New York Botanical Garden on historic landscapes around the U.S. as well as a guided tour of the Sonnenberg arboretum. Admission is $75 for Sonnenberg members, $85 for the general public.

Mansion Mysteries – Friday through Sunday, October 16-18 and Friday and Saturday, October 23-24, from 7 to 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 4 to 6 p.m. on October 18. Take part in a "whodunit" at Sonnenberg: guests can take part in this live-theater event by uncovering clues that will solve the mystery and bring the guilty party -or parties- to justice! Guests are welcome to attend in costume if desired. Tickets are $24 for general admission and $20 for Sonnenberg members and youths 12 to 18.

Haunted Garden Stroll – Sunday, October 25 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Hear strange Sonnenberg tales and encounter spooky characters during the walk. $5 per person, children under 5 free.

Find more information about these events and Sonnenberg Gardens and Mansion at www.sonnenberg.org. 

Celebrate fall 2015: Mason Winfield ghost walks and pub crawls

Mason Winfield, the author of a number of books on the paranormal and supernatural in upstate New York, will host a variety of ghost walks and haunted pub crawls beginning this weekend and leading up to Halloween.

Take a ghost walk through Larkinville
on Tuesdays
credit: paulathompsonfreelance.com

On Tuesdays in October from 7 to 8:30 p.m., a new tour of Larkinville begins at the Flying Bison Brewing Company (840 Seneca St.) as part of Larkinville’s Food Truck Tuesdays. The tour costs $15 for adults, $10 for kids 7 to 12 and free for kids under 7.

On Wednesdays and Fridays through October 30, Haunted History Ghost Walks of Canalside run from 10 to 11:30 p.m. The tours begin at the VIP Tent on the Dart Lawn and cost $15 for adults, $10 for kids 7 to 12 and free for kids under 7.

Ghost walks through the Village of Williamsville take place every Thursday in October from 7to 8:30 p.m. Groups will meet at the Old Mill on Spring St. and tours are $15 for adults, $10 for kids 7 to 12 and free for kids under 7.

The popular Haunted Pub Crawls happen Saturdays in East Aurora (meet at Tony Rome’s Globe Hotel at 711 Main St.) beginning September 26 and running through October 31.  The Pub Crawls run from 7 to 9 p.m. (registration begins at 6:30 p.m.).

This is only a sample of the upcoming programs offered by Mason Winfield for the Halloween season, and there are programs offered throughout the year. Visit www.masonwinfield.com for more information on these and other events.

Celebrate fall 2015: Kelkenberg Farm

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digidreamgrafix

Kelkenberg Farm, at 9270 Wolcott Rd. in Clarence Center, will open for Fall Pumpkin Fun Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from Saturday, September 19 through Saturday, October 31, plus Columbus Day (Monday, October 12). Hours are 1 to 5 p.m. Fridays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and Columbus Day.

Admission is $11 and includes a hayride, pony rides for the kids, a farm tour, a straw maze and a pumpkin from the pick-your-own patch. Birthday party rentals are available at the farm as well: $11 per guest (children and adults) plus a $75 barn rental fee for three hours.

There will be baked goods, cornstalks, gourds, pumpkins, apples, cider and squash available for purchase, and refreshments are also available. Visit kelkenbergfarm.com for more information.

Celebrate fall 2015: Cambria Corn Maze

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In the heart of Niagara County, the Cambria Corn Maze, located at 5274 Lockport Junction Rd., Rt. 270 in Lockport, features two corn mazes in a 12-acre field as well as pumpkins, refreshments, local products and produce for sale. The Cambria Corn Maze is open Saturday, September 19 through Saturday, October 31.

In addition to the corn mazes, there will be a corn cannon, specialties at the Wine Trail Italian Bistro, kettle corn, cupcakes and cookies. Become a fan of their Facebook page to learn more about upcoming events at the Corn Maze.

The Cambria Corn Maze is open Thursdays through Sundays. Hours are 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; the last tickets are sold one hour prior to closing. Tickets are $10 for adults (15+), $5 for kids 5 to 14 and free for kids 4 and under – cash only please; on Halloween (October 31), wear a costume for half-off admission! Find out more about this maze at www.cambriacornmaze.com. 

Celebrate fall 2015: Darien Lake Harvest Fest

credit: Wikimedia Commons/
Whit Andrews

Darien Lake Amusement Park presents Harvest Fest on Saturday and Sunday, September 19-20 and September 26-27. Located at 9993 Allegheny Rd. in Darien Center, Harvest Fest features fun for all ages from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Families will enjoy harvest-themed decorations and activities, crafts, the Haymazing Adventure maze and scavenger hunt, the Harvest Fest Express and more. On Saturday, September 19 and 26, the park will present the Ignite the Night Laser Show at the Laser Lawn at 8 p.m.

There are live performances scheduled throughout the park on both weekends, featuring music, dancers and martial arts, and food trucks and arts and craft vendors will be on hand as well.

The park is offering camping packages for Harvest Fest starting at $59 per night – for more information, visit www.darienlake.com or call 585-599-4641.

Curtain Up! Buffalo – September 18, 2015

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The 34^th annual Curtain Up! Buffalo celebration kicks off the theatre season on Friday, September 18 at more than a dozen professional theatres in the Buffalo area. The festivities include dinners, performances and a post-performance party in downtown Buffalo.

Attendees may choose to start the evening off with dinner at any one of the Theatre District's numerous restaurants, or attend the Gala Dinner, taking place on the main stage of Shea’s Performing Arts Center. Tickets for the Gala Dinner, which begins at 5:30 p.m., are $95 per person and $180 per couple.

After dinner, check out a show at one of more than a dozen of Buffalo's outstanding professional theatres. Shows on stage that night include:

• For Heaven’s Sake! By Laura Pedersen at 710 Main Theatre (710 Main St. in downtown Buffalo)
• Doubt by John Patrick Shanley at Buffalo Laboratory Theatre (5200 South Park Ave. in Hamburg)
• A Little Night Music at Irish Classical Theatre Company (625 Main St. on downtown Buffalo)
• Monty Python’s Spamalot at Lancaster Opera House (21 Central Ave. in Lancaster)
• Ten Days to Happiness by Donna Rae Davidson at O’Connell and Company in residence at The Park School (4625 Harlem Rd. in Snyder)

The free Theatre District street party kicks off when the shows are over and lasts until 1 a.m. The party features live music, dancing, street performers and more. 

Get a full schedule of events for Curtain Up! 2014 at the Curtain Up! website.

Celebrate fall 2015: The Great Pumpkin Farm

credit: Wikimedia Commons/jkb

The Great Pumpkin Farm, located at 11199 Main St. in Clarence, is full of fall fun for families, especially on festival weekends. The Farm is open daily from 10 a.m. to dusk from Saturday, September 12 through Saturday, October 31, but the weekend festivals are what really draw in the crowds.

The Farm will open Saturday and Sunday, September 12-13 for a free preview weekend, with activities available for a small fee. The Farm also hosts the Zombie Mud Run on Saturday, September 12 – the event is held separately from the festival; get more information at buffalozombiemudrun.com.

“Oinktoberfest,” taking place Friday through Sunday, September 18-20, is the annual BBQ cook-off at the Farm. Friday is preview night, with free admission from 5-9 p.m., but the Farm’s activities will not be open; admission on Saturday and Sunday is $7 each day. In addition to great food, there will be live music all three days.

On Saturday and Sunday, September 26-27, check out the World Pumpkin Pie Eating Championship, plus Pig Races throughout the weekend.

The famous World Pumpkin Weigh-Off weekend is Saturday and Sunday, October 3-4. The weekend will also feature the “Mutt-alica" Dog Show and the Just Horsing Around Show both days.

Columbus Day weekend (Saturday through Monday, October 10-12) features the Pumpkin Olympics, plus the annual Pumpkin Drop on Monday.

The High School Trebuchet Contest takes place Saturday and Sunday, October 17-18, where local high school building their own pumpkin catapult for the distance contest.

Saturday and Sunday, October 24-25, is the final weekend for 2015. A costume contest will be held both days, and all attractions will be running.

Tickets for all Great Pumpkin Farm festivals are available in advance at Wegmans; admission during non-festival days is free. For more information on the Great Pumpkin Farm, visit www.greatpumpkinfarm.com or call 716-759-8483 or 716-759-2260.

Celebrate fall 2015: Pumpkinville

credit: Wikimedia Commons/Lusitana

For a fun family adventure in the fall of 2015, visit Pumpkinville, located at 4844 Sugartown Rd. in Great Valley, just minutes away from Ellicottville and Holiday Valley Resort. Pumpkinville is open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. starting Saturday, September 12 through Saturday, October 31.

Pumpkinville features hayrides, “pumpkin jumpin’ pillows,” a six-acre corn maze, gem mining, farm pedal carts, a cow train and more (some charges apply – visit website for complete details). There are also a variety of harvest treats available at Pumpkinville, including weekend chicken BBQs, kettle corn, homemade pies, fresh fudge and the Pumpkinville Grill. Apples and apple cider are also available for purchase, and visitors can even watch the cider being pressed in the antique cider press.

Everyday admission to Pumpkinville is free, but charges may apply for some festivals and activities. For information on group trips, festivals, harvest treats, and more, visit www.pumpkinville.com or call 716-699-2205.

24 hours of summer, four-wheel style

Last year, Labor Day weekend was marked by four days of four-wheel fun – auto racing and car shows. This year, we’re cutting it down to two days – Friday night at Oswego Speedway in Central NY and the Olcott Beach Car Show in Niagara County on Saturday.

The trip to Oswego itself is something to talk about as a racing fan, because the route we take goes through Cato, NY – home of Xfinity Series driver Regan Smith.

The race has become a tradition – a stop by the Race of Champions Modifieds plus qualifying action for the Supermodifieds and SBS Modifieds. I’ve become a bit spoiled, having spent the season on the infield at Lancaster, and now catchfences just bother me…

Andy Jankowiak won the RoC race, followed by Matt Hirschman and Tony Hanbury.

Andy Jankowiak

Matt Hirschman

Tony Hanbury

The Supermodifieds are really cool and really quick, and have their own celebrities: No. 00, Joe Gosek – known as “Double-0 Joe” – raced in the 1996 Indy 500, and Indy Racing League veteran and IndyCar Series co-owner Davey Hamilton (No. 6 Supermodified) raced in 11 Indy 500s.

Davey Hamilton

On Saturday, we took the trek to Olcott Beach – it was a beautiful day for a car show, and there were plenty of cars to be seen: more than 800! It was about 10 degrees cooler than it was when we left Amherst, and there was a breeze – it felt soooooo nice!

all photos: paulathompsonfreelance.com

Five Things to do in September 2015

Luna, circa 2013
credit: paulathompsonfreelance.com

September is a time for harvest events, music, craft beer and theatre – plus the long-awaited opening of a new exhibit at the Buffalo Zoo. Just because school is back in session doesn’t mean you can’t fill up the weekends with fun!

Arctic Edge at the Zoo – we’re all hoping sweet little Luna will be making an appearance at the Buffalo Zoo when her new home, the Arctic Edge, is opened to the public on Saturday, September 12. It’s a 1.5-acre exhibit with two polar bear enclosures and underwater viewing areas for Luna and her mama, Anana. Also housed in the exhibit are American bald eagles, Eurasian lynx and arctic wolves.

Celebrate fall – autumn in the Buffalo-Niagara region is beautiful, and there are a number of places to celebrate the season beginning this month, including Becker Farms in Gasport, the Great Pumpkin Farm in Clarence and Pumpkinville in Great Valley (near Ellicottville).

Music Is Art with the Goo Goo Dolls – the Music Is Art Festival, Saturday, September 12, is in its 13^th year, and this year is extra-special, as it’s headlined by Robby Takac’s band, the Goo Goo Dolls. The festival, at Marcy Casino in Delaware Park, features more than 100 bands, DJs, performance artists, a kids’ zone and much more – and admission is free! Hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Buffalo Beer Week – actually, more like 10 days, but when you’re celebrating beer, who’s really counting?! From Saturday, September 26 through Monday, October 5, beers from Buffalo and around the world will be celebrated with a number of events, including the Ballpark Brew Bash on September 26. Find out more about the festival here.

Curtain Up! – Buffalo’s theatre season opens up with this downtown celebration on Friday, September 18. The 34^th annual event has three “acts”: dinner and cocktails at a restaurant in the Theatre District or at Shea’s Performing Arts Center; a show at one of the area’s theatres; and a street party when the show is over. There are 15 theatres participating in the event, with “curtain up” at 8 p.m. at all of them – find a complete list and more information here.

2015 National Buffalo Wing Festival: September 5th and 6th

credit: buffalowing.com

The 2015 National Buffalo Wing Festival will take place Saturday and Sunday, September 5^th and 6^th at Coca Cola Field in downtown Buffalo. First held in 2002, the festival serves up more than 500,000 wings annually.

The festival features contests, entertainment, the Miss Buffalo Wing Pageant, and wings and other food items from nearly three dozen restaurants and vendors. Among the restaurants scheduled to participate this year are:

• Anchor Bar – Buffalo
• (716) Food & Sport – Buffalo
• Brick House Tavern – national chain
• Hot Rod Café – Connecticut
• LaNova – throughout Buffalo area
• Legend Larry’s – Wisconsin
• Quaker Steak & Lube – national chain
• RuChDa - Atlanta
• Slider’s Grill & Bar – Connecticut 

Other food vendors include Chrusciki Bakery with Buffalo Angel Wings and Lloyd Taco Truck.

Day one of the festival will include two Amateur Sauce-Offs (Creative and Traditional) and the Amateur Wing Eating Championships, along with the Buffalo Buffet Bowl Eating Contest and the Healthy Zone Recipe Challenge. Day two will feature the Miss Buffalo Wing Pageant, the US Chicken Wing Eating Championship, the College Wing Eating Competition and the Hot Buffalo Wing Eating Contest. Entertainment will be provided throughout the weekend by the Heavenly Chillbillies.

Admission to the National Buffalo Wing Festival is $5 each day – children 8 and under are free. Food tickets are $1 each; beer, soda and bottled water can be purchased throughout the stadium for cash. Hours are noon to 9 p.m. Saturday and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday.