Written by Jessie McKay, YNPN Greater Bflo Co-Director of Marketing & Communications
Summer in the Greater Bflo region can feel…overwhelming. Here to help you navigate the summer with some budget-friendly options (and, okay, a few splurges here and there) is your YNPN Greater Bflo leadership team! Please note that this is not a sponsored post–but feel free to get in touch with us if you want to sponsor some of the great work we’re doing!
Of course, the best summer events, IOHO, are our upcoming summer events! Make sure to keep track of all our great summer offerings, especially our Summer Mini Golf Powered by YNPN Greater Bflo on July 11th (free for members!) and our Summer Happy Hour at Lafayette Brewing Company (free for EVERYONE!).
Without further ado:
Cost: $23 for adults for Buffalo River Tour
Take 90 minutes and enjoy two of Buffalo’s greatest treasures: our waterways and our incredibly rich history. Our Co-Director of Membership, Kaelyn Gates, promises this small splurge is worth the investment!
Cost: $7 per car (or invest in your summer and buy an Empire Passport for $80 and enjoy admission to all NYS Parks for the entire season!)
Located on the eastern-most terminus of Lake Erie, Woodlawn Beach State Park has all the summer beach vibes you could hope for. With spectacular views (and great sunsets), swimming, picnic areas, an interpretive nature boardwalk, beach volleyball, and a playground right on the beach, load up your car to maximize the value! You may even spot our Director of Operations and Finance, Stephen Lutter!
Cost: Varies depending on your order!
If you don’t catch Stephen at Woodlawn Beach State Park, you may find him enjoying Happy Hour (running from 4-8 pm on weeknights) at his favorite local bar, Nine29. Located at 929 Elmwood Ave (get it?!). Enjoy great bartenders and specialties such as the Pickle Shot and Captain Crunch Shot.
Cost: $10 ages 12 and over
Recommended by two of our Ambassadors, Melanie Brem and Bridget Scott, the Transit Drive-In Theatre is a summer staple for WNYers. With two features, you’re paying $5 per movie! If you can manage to stay up late and still make it to work the next day, check out their Retro Movie Tuesday line up (each benefiting a different local nonprofit)! Bring a car you’ll be comfortable in (bigger is, in this case, sometimes better), chairs in case you need to stretch out, and long sleeves for when it starts to cool off. You can bring food with you or stop by their snack bar.
Cost: Free
The YMCA Buffalo Niagara has teamed up with Independent Health to offer over 400 classes in over a dozen parks across Western New York, you should be able to find something that appeals to you! While Bridget loves the classes at Canalside, she also notes that there’s a class almost every day for the whole summer!
Cost: Free
Our Board Co-Chair Aurora Schunk is a fan of all 7 available trails (ranging from easy to difficult), and notes that while Niagara Falls may be full of tourists during the summer season the trails are typically secluded and provide an opportunity to enjoy nature at the edge of one of the most (in)famous waterways in the country. Aurora recommends the Whirlpool Rapids Trail as her favorite!
Cost: Free!
As the second-oldest and one of the largest outdoor Shakespeare festivals in the United States, Director of Marketing & Communications Alex Lauer recommends you join the 40,000+ people each year who enjoy Shakespeare in Delaware Park. The best way to enjoy the show is to bring a blanket and/or chairs, your own food and drinks, and get there early for a good spot on the hill! This season will see The Tempest playing June 20-July 14, and Love’s Labour’s Lost playing July 25-August 18.
Feel free to share your favorite summer events with us in the comments!
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