More historic and cultural sites in Western NY then you may realize.
Music, art and history are all in season here.
Immerse yourself in the traditions, history, music and cuisines of Ireland, Scotland and Wales at the Niagara Celtic Heritage Festival & Highland Games, September 15-16 by Lake Ontario in Olcott Beach. From highland games and bagpipe bands, to armored fighting and Celt encampments, demonstrations, stories and dancing, you’ll discover all the magic of the isles, not to mention the foods.
From its bluff above Lake Ontario, not far from the Falls, Old Fort Niagara has guarded the entrance to the Niagara River since 1726. Today this NYS Historic Site presents living history events, exhibits and collections within its original military fortifications. Special tours include an evening program on September 22 showing tools and techniques used to build the original fort, and live demonstrations in woodworking and blacksmithing shops.
The Grammy Award-winning Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra brings more than 120 Classics, Pops and Youth Concerts each year to eight counties in western New York. At its permanent home, Kleinhans Music Hall, it presents show stoppers like Sir James Galway and Galway’s Golden Flute on September 22, and Wynonna Judd on the 29th.
Bet you can’t count the 700,000 specimens of the natural world at the Buffalo Museum of Science, but they’re all there. Exhibits on natural and physical sciences span the globe in scope, with a special focus on western New York. A packed events calendar has something for every taste, including an evening stroll by moonlight in the Fall Harvest Moon Stroll on September 29.
Plant your feet in any greenhouse at the Buffalo Botanical Gardens and experience a different world. The Palm Dome teems with palms and tropical fruit trees while exotic rainforest orchids thrive in the Tropical House. From desert to swamp to rose garden, you’ll stroll through the world’s many plant environments without leaving the grounds.
Lockport’s Kenan Center brings fine arts exhibits, theater and craft shows to the region each year in its Kenan Arena and intimate 153-seat Taylor Theater. Storytelling, music, puppetry and hands-on programs are tailored for all ages. This year’s Missoula Children's Theatre production is Beauty Lou and the Country Beast, with a cast of local children in a fully choreographed, original musical production, October 20. Group audition is October 15.
Autumn themes have arrived at Explore & More Children's Museum in East Aurora, where hundreds of exhibits are designed especially for kids age 10 and younger. Kids and families can learn about Trees & Leaves, Apple Baking and Tricks and Treats throughout the fall season, while hands get busy with Design a House and Make it Go.
For more information visit the Greater Niagara region.