This Weekend in WNY

Looking for something do do this weekend? Here are just a few of the fun ideas happening in the area. Fun ideas for families enjoying the end of winter break, ideas for ringing in the New year and more can be found here.  

Friday Winter Frolic

Friday December 30^th from 10:00am until noon Tift Farms invites visitors to join them on a winter tour of the nature preserve. The cost for non-members is $5.00 per person and pre-registration is required. For more information see the Tift Farms website.

Glenn Colton Holiday Show

Glenn Colton will be performing at The Lancaster Opera House on Friday December 30^th. Tickets are $10.00. Specializing in children’s music, Glenn Colton is popular with many of the local elementary schools and parents alike for his healthy choices messages...read more

Sprague Brook Park

Serving Western New York since 1963, Sprague Brook Park is an Erie County park, camp ground and recreation area. 9674 Foote Road in Glenwood, NY is the location for the park, which includes more than 2,200 acres of reclaimed state and federal land.

In the summer season, Sprague Brook Park is a reasonably priced campground, featuring 123 campsites, 30 of which are electric. Ponds, playgrounds, tennis and hiking are just a few of the summer activities. The camping season may be over for the year, but the park remains open. Admission to the park is free and there are trails that can be used year around.

Snowmobile trails, cross country skiing, and snowshoeing are popular winter time activities. There is a great sledding hill located near the newly built casino so bring a sled or toboggan!

It is never too early to start thinking ahead for next year to guarantee a reservation at a desired site. Camping reservations can be made year-round by calling 716-858-8355 M-F 8am - 3:30pm.

Another unique feature at Sprague Brook Park is the Vietnam Veteran Memorial Park. Over the years, an overgrown field with a pond along the back edge of the property has been transformed into a moving tribute to those who served in Vietnam and those who never returned. Just taking a moment to reflect in this serene setting is a humbling experience, making the trip to the park well worth it any time of the year.

Our Lady of Victory Basilica

Our Lady of Victory Basilica, known in short as OLV Basilica, is located on the corner of Ridge Road and South Park Avenue in South Buffalo. Completed in 1925, Father Baker, the buildings founder and patriarch helped to build this magnificent piece of architecture. The most incredible part is it was debt free after it was built. Father Baker reached out to the community and asked people to buy a brick for $10.00 each. And it worked!

Besides the incredible architecture on the exterior, the interior is even more impressive. Detailed painting, vivid stained glass and white statues that seem to oversee the church and its visitors.

A gas well was found on the site of the Basilica. Local legend has it that Father Baker told the drillers where it would be and even though it was a difficult drilling process the gas well was tapped at an unusual depth. The gas well continues to produce still today and helps to offset the heating costs of the building.

Father Baker didn’t stop with this incredible shrine. He also built a home for unwed mothers and an orphanage for parentless youth. He was often called the “Padre of the Poor” according to many sources, including the OLV website. Tours can be scheduled, but a public tour is held every Sunday at 1:00pm. The building is open from 7am to 7pm and visitors are welcome for free. Call (716) 828-9444 for more information.

Other locations near by the OLV Basilica are South Park and The Buffalo Botanical Gardens. A visit to this area is an entire day of sight-seeing and inexpensive too!

Erie County Disc Golf Courses

Courtesy of Bing Images

Disc Golf has become incredibly popular, and for good reason; it's cheap. Some of the Disc golf courses are free or relatively inexpensive to play. With over 20 courses in Western New York there is sure to be one close by. Maybe even plan a “disc golf getaway” and spend the weekend exploring the many different courses in an area.
In Erie County, Evangola State Park in Farnham has 18 holes which have recently been reworked to accommodate the construction of reintroduced wetlands that were removed years back for roads and other park plans. 10191 Old Lake Shore Road is the address for the course. During the summer there is an entry fee to get into the park, but off season disc golf is free.
In 2010, Ellicott Creek Park in Tonawanda opened up an 18 hole disc golf course within the grounds of this scenic park. It is a mostly flat course, with trees scattered throughout. Also in Tonawanda, Veterans Park has a 9 pitch and putt that was added in 2009.
Como Lake Park in Lancaster created The Lighthouse Disc Golf course in 2007. It is very scenic, with some shots near wild fields, others amongst big, old trees and still others leaving players holding their breath near the water holes. 2220 Como Park Blvd is the address for this course.
6121 Chestnut Ridge Road in Orchard Park is another free disc golf course. Established in 2001, beautiful views of the City of Buffalo can be seen from the hilltop. This course is rather hilly and is one of the shorter courses in the area. Because of the terrain it makes for a more challenging work out.
Emery Park located at 2084 Emery Rd in South Wales is a free 18 hole course laid out in two loops of nine holes each. The first half of the course is heavily wooded and hilly, while the second half is flatter and takes players through the historic park.

Delaware Park

Delaware Park in Buffalo, New York is a 350 acre park, Buffalo’s “Central Park.” A beautiful lake is just one of the features added when Frederick Law Olmsted designed the park, in 1868.
The Marcy Casino overlooks Hoyt Lake. The original boat house burned to the ground in 1900, but was rebuilt in 1901 for the Pan-Am Exposition. In 1990 the building was restored and now offers rentals for showers, brunches, weddings and more.
Delaware Park has an 18 hole golf course, three baseball diamonds, tennis courts, basketball courts, picnic shelters and more. The Buffalo Zoo sits next to the park and is one of the oldest zoos in the country.
There is a Japanese Garden that is a popular place for pictures, especially weddings. The Buffalo History Museum overlooks Mirror Lake, and is the backdrop for the unique garden area.
Stone bridges and reflective pools bring a variety of visitors to the park. Entry to Delaware Park is free and is a beautiful place to take a walk, enjoy activities or just admire the scenery of this historic Olmstead Park. The park is located at 84 Meadow Drive in Buffalo.