The days are fast approaching when thousands of people will set out to attend the Elmwood Avenue Festival of the Arts (August 25th and 26th) . Can you believe that this will be the eighth year for this grassroots festival? This year there will be four stages showcasing over sixty performers to coincide with the 170 artists. There was a time when organizers were considering a much smaller stretch of roadway to host the event. Now it turns out that every square inch of Elmwood, between West Ferry and Lafayette is jam-packed with cultural curiosities.
This year there will be a special tribute to Mark Freeland, a musician who helped to keep the arts alive in Buffalo for so many years. Kidsfest will dedicate their activities to the many trees that were damaged in the October Surprise storm. The ode to trees will wrap up with a gigantic Tree Float that will march down the middle of Elmwood past throngs of parents and friends. Cultural Row will be back, and this year don't miss Environmental Row at Auburn. And don't forget to pick up a Crystal Beach sucker before you leave. The two-day event has become one of the region's favorite activities for the family. Check out the 'to do' list:
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE 2007
SATURDAY, AUGUST 25
MAIN STAGE at Lafayette
10:30 Stacy Zawadski's Choreographer's Showcase
11:30 Folkloric Productions Dance
12:30 Festival Ballet Ensemble
1:00 LehrerDance
2:00 Buffalo Contemporary Dance
3:00 Greater Buffalo Youth Ballet
3:30 Aaron Piepszny
4:00 Janet Reed & Dancers
5:00 The Steam Donkeys
CENTER STAGE at Wilson Farms
10:00 Les Amis Fencing
11:00 Beat by 3
12:00 Outofar Jug Band
1:00 Alan Syms Guitar
2:00 Mary Ramsey-Celtic
3:00 Noa Bursie
4:00 WNY Chorale
5:00 According Two: Brooke and Elaine
SUNDAY, AUGUST 26th
MAIN STAGE at Laffayette
11:00 John & Mary & the Valkyries
12:00 Gretchen Schulz & the Morvells
1:00 Babik
2:00 Configuration Dance/Babik
3:00 Them Jazzbeards
CENTER STAGE at Wilson Farms
11:00 Davey O
12:00 City Fiddle
1:00 Nadia Ibrahim's Ensemble
2:00 RBR Recording Artist Michael Meldrum
3:00 Daughters of Creative Sound
4:00 Bass Reeves, Frank Grazanti, and Smilin' Eddie
Look for in the Festival:
Taoist Tai Chi and Capoeira Mandinga at Auburn
City Fiddle in Cultural Row
WNY Chorale's a capella in Cultural Row
Ilya's Bellydancing
DANCE TENT SCHEDULE (at the Unitarian Universalist Church)
SATURDAY
10:00 TBA
11:00 Amanda Nagurney
11:30 Michael Weber
12:30 ROCKED
1:30 Dr. Z and Doug Yeomans
3:00 Sitar Jamz
4:00 Jama Jama Community Drumming with Baba M'Baye
5:00 Outer Circle Orchestra
SUNDAY
11:00 Tapestry Charter School Ukelele Band
11:30 TBA
12:00 Ismail & Co.
1:00 Rey Scott + Co.
2:00 Nikki Hicks and the Soul Music Souljahs
3:00 Aediem
4:00 Remembering Mark Freeland with Carla, David Kane, Bud Redding, The Painkillers, and other guests.
KIDSFEST PERFORMANCE TENT
***MC: Michael Meldrum (Sat & Sun)
KIDSFEST ACTIVITY TENTS
Woodland - Polish one of Cousin Kelly’s hand-carved wooden forest creatures or make a stick with bells and wishes . Silly Cool - Use an old newspaper in a new way: fold a classic hat and add some artistic feathers. Fanciful face-painting to match!
Not Just for Kids - Create a leaf rubbing or dip and dye a colorful wind wand.
The Parade of Trees - Paint 90 feet of parkland on Saturday, then bring it to life with trees and birds on Sunday!
Tot Tent - Build houses for tiny gnomes using Waldorf-inspired log building blocks. Or float away with a helium balloon.
AUGUST 25 & 26, 2007
Saturday
10:00- Garth Sinclair-Scottish Bagpipes
11:00- Mr. Sky- Eric Hahn- Storyteller
12:00- Community Music School- Interactive Music & Movement
1:00- Concerto- Theatre Figuren- Michele Costa- Puppetry Performance
2:00- Buffalo Suzuki Strings - Children's Orchestra
3:00- Michael Meldrum & the Buffalo Song Project
4:00- Hawk Creek Wildlife Center- Live Animal Demonstration
5:00- Mary Ramsey and the Fiddlers - Interactive Student Fiddle Performance
Sunday
11:00- Mark Carra- Live animal demonstration
12:00- Rince Na Tiarna- Irish Dancers
1:00- Karima Amin- Storyteller
2:00- TBA
3:00- Michael Meldrum & the Buffalo Song Project
4:00- Tree of Life Parade with Puppeteers Franklin La Voie and Kyla Kegler. Music by the 12/8 Path Band accompanied by the Gaia Tribe
***MC: Michael Meldrum (Sat & Sun)
FESTIVAL CAFE under a big tent Something for all tastes can be found at the Café. Come sit under our big shade tent and enjoy Poco Tazons, Tamales, Thai salad, gourmet teas—wow what food! ENJOY
2007 FESTIVAL CAFÉ participants
Participants:
Abbotts Frozen Custard- Sundaes, rootbeer floats and cones.
Artichoke French -Beans and greens, sautéed artichokes
Fat Bobs Smokehouse- St. Louis ribs and pulled pork
Gifty's- Steak subs and grilled goodies.
Globe Market- Thai noodle salad and other Artisinal fare
Lafayette Development Corp w/Edritos’-. Poco Tazon and fish tacos
Lombardo’s Pita Place- Portabella, meat, veggie and seafood gourmet pitas
Louie's Hot Dogs- Old-time favorites plus veggie dogs and yellow fin tuna
BM Ventures- Veggies, veggies and veggies
Mineo & Sapio- Italian Sausage Got Chorizo?
Mrs. Coffee- Smoothies Latte and more.
Red Osier- Hand carved roast beef sandwiches.
Soo’s Chinese Food- Moo Shu, Sesame chicken and daiquiris.
Chile Connection- Southwestern cuisine at it’s best!
Look for in the Festival: Cinnamon Roasted Nut Co.- Fresh roasted and delicious.
Country Popper- Delicious A Festival favorite.
Crystal Beach Candy Co.- A Buffalo tradition
Tropical Ice- Cool of with delicious flavors.
tru-teas- Fine iced teas and fresh baked desserts.
There's so much more that it would be impossible to list. That means that you'll have to check out the festival website to the get the whole rundown.