Since its inception in 1968, the Valley Community Association (VCA) has served the needs of the community by providing programs aimed at improving the social well being of the residents.  The VCA building is 21,000 square feet with day care and youth center, a recreation area, and a senior area.

 

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The Valley Community Association is ready to rock with their upcoming 9th Annual “Buffalo River Fest”, scheduled for Friday and Saturday, June 19^th and 20^th, 2009. The event will be held in Father Conway Park, which is located between Louisiana and Ohio Streets in downtown Buffalo, just one mile south of HSBC Arena. The event is scheduled to run from 6pm to Midnight on Friday and from 9am to Midnight on Saturday. Included in this year’s events will be:

The Rigidized Metals River Regatta – Come roll down the Buffalo River on Saturday, June 20^th!! There will be canoe, kayak, and “float your boat”, categories. Get ready to paddle as the 6 mile canoe’s and kayak’s start from Harlem/Clinton and the “float your boat’s” and 3 mile canoe and kayak’s will start from the Smith Street Pocket Park at the foot of Smith Street. Launch time for both sites is 11am. All vessels will end at the DEC Canoe Launch on Ohio Street. Participant check in will begin at 10am at each site, with the boats taking to the water at 11am. There will be prizes for each category! Shuttle service for participants will be available as well. Once again this year there are cash prizes for the “Float Your Boat” category. The “Most Creative Seaworthy Vessel” will win a cash prize of $1000 while the runner up will receive a $500 cash prize. Visit http://www.rigidizedregatta.com/ for an application and registration information.

Live Entertainment– Get your dancing shoes on and get ready to listen to some of the top bands and entertainers in Western New York!! The stage will be rockin both days to the sounds of Hit N Run (8pm-Midnight on Friday), C&D Sounds (12pm-4pm Saturday), Large Marvin (4pm-6pm Saturday), Bill LaRusch (6pm-8pm Saturday) and Urban Renewal (8pm-Midnight Saturday).

Neighborhood Reunion - Stop down and see all your old friends from the “Old Neighborhood” on Saturday Night in the entertainment tent, starting at 6pm!! There will also be a chicken dinner available from 1pm-8pm.

Classic Car Show – Some of Detroit’s hottest cars will be on display on Saturday from 4pm-8pm. Come see everything from 1900 to the present. Special awards for the best looking cars that cruise on down!! Hosted by the Lakeside Classic Cruisers Car Club.

Waterfront Photo & Memorabilia Expo – One of our most popular exhibits!! See pictures, artifacts, and memorabilia from the Buffalo Waterfront’s Glory Days including the Old First Ward, Valley, Times Beach, grain milling district, and more!! The tent will be open on Friday from 6pm-10pm and Saturday from Noon-10pm. A special presentation by Tug Captain Vic Noonan will take place on Saturday from 12:30pm to 2:30pm in the Waterfront Tent. Noonan will discuss the famous river and lake disasters – the Penobscot, Sachem, and Tewksbury.

Food and Refreshments – Make sure to come to Buffalo River Fest with an empty stomach and a big appetite!! We will have all your summer favorites – hot dogs, hamburgers, Italian sausage, chicken sandwiches, fries, cotton candy, nachos, and much more!! A chicken dinner will be served Saturday from 1pm-8pm as well. Cool down with an ice cold Coke or an even colder beer in the Beer Tent.

Mens Slow Pitch Softball Tournament – The 8 Team tournament will begin on Saturday at 9am and will continue all day.

“I Got It Bingo” – A Buffalo River Fest favorite, “I Got It Bingo” returns with great prizes and games running all night Friday and all day Saturday.

Kids Fishing Contest – Get out your rods and reels for the annual Buffalo River Fest Kids Fishing Contest. The event will be held on Saturday, June 20^th from 10am to 12pm at the Ohio Street Canoe Launch. Kids will be broken down by age group – 4-6 years old, 7-10 years old, and 11-14 years old – and will compete for prizes for the biggest fish!

Father Conway Park is easily accessible from both the 190 South (Louisiana St. Exit), 190 North (Hamburg St. Exit), and Route 5 (Ohio St. Exit).

The 9^th Annual “Buffalo River Fest” is sponsored by Rigidized Metals, First Niagara Bank, Larkin Development Group, Integrity Office, General Mills, Coca Cola, PVS Chemical, Ontario Specialty Contracting, Arcara & Borczynski, Ellicott Development, Larkin Service, Wegmans, Sysco Foods, and the Law Office of Jason Luna.

Proceeds from the Buffalo River Fest will benefit the Valley Community Association, a non-profit United Way agency that serves the residents of the Buffalo River Community. The VCA offers programs and services for all ages including child care for ages 6 weeks to 12 years old at the Valley Child Care and Valley Child Care at LCo; a comprehensive youth program – “Striving For Excellence” - for grades K-12; programs and services for Senior Citizens; and Family Support Services such as a food and clothing pantry, job skills trainings and more.

For more information on any of the Buffalo River Fest activities, call 716-823-4707 ext.2.

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