Canal Fest

July 14-21/TONAWANDAS – The largest outdoor festival of its kind, encompasses 2-square miles along the banks of the Historic Erie Barge Canal. Each year, this family-focused, 8-day festival shared by the Twin Cities of Tonawanda & North Tonawanda draws thousands of visitors to its attractions, food, live music, and premier events, including a chalk art contest, parade, car cruise, bike cruise, and arts & crafts show. Admission is free. For more information, visit https://www.canalfest.org/

Great Wellsville Balloon Rally

July 19-21/WElLSVILLE – Prepare to soar to new heights over the Chautauqua-Allegheny region at Allegany County’s largest event. The place to be is Island Park as more than 30 hot air balloons are inflated across four baseball fields before taking flight and filling the sky in a delightful rainbow of color, while gracefully floating over the Genesee River and the beautiful green hills and fields of Wellsville and the surrounding communities. The park’s natural amphitheater provides an opportunity to be in the middle of the action, and with over 35 vendors selling everything from traditional carnival food to balloon memorabilia, you will not leave empty handed. Admission is free. https://wellsvilleballoonrally.com/

Summer for the City

Through Aug. 10/NEW YORK CITY – Lincoln Center. An exciting lineup of over 200 free or choose-what-you-pay events, thousands of artists, and food under the theme “Life, Liberty, and Happiness.” events include the Big Umbrella Festival with multi-sensory experiences, performances, installations, and workshops specifically welcoming neurodivergent audiences and their families, a week-long celebration of Indian cultural traditions, jazz and hip-hop performances, and more. Choose-what-you-pay tickets start at $5.