Buffalo Entertainment

Buffalo has some good all-round entertainment, so there should be something for everyone. There are plenty of pubs and bars to discover as well as lively clubs, and the last few years have seen an upturn in the cultural and arts scene.

Nightlife

Drinking establishments vary dramatically, from loud and raucous to chic and sophisticated. Although Buffalo is traditionally a blue collar city, there are now many trendy bars and restaurants catering for locals and visitors alike.

The largest and liveliest nightlife area is to be found on the Chippewa Entertainment Strip, bounded by Tupper Street to the north; Huron Street to the south; Main Street to the east; and Elmwood Avenue to the west. The street comes alive at weekends from about 22:00 and doesn't stop until closing time at 04:00. There are plenty of places to choose from as well as some good restaurants and there's ample parking.

The Elmwood Strip on Elmwood Avenue runs from Allen Street north to Buffalo State College. It's similar to Chippewa in terms of venues, but it’s located in a quieter business/residential area. The other main entertainment area is the University Heights Strip on Main Street from LaSalle Street to Niagara Falls Boulevard. It caters primarily to the many university students and has a wide range of bars and clubs.

For live music, the best place to head to is the Tralf, a 450-seat music hall on Main Street. Here, you will find bands playing several times a week, with a choice of rock, pop, jazz, blues and R&B. It's mostly local bands that play here, but occasionally they have a larger, national act. The Lafayette Tap Room on Washington Street is strictly a blues bar and has regular gigs. 

The city's club scene is varied and accommodates most tastes including commercial dance tunes and hip-hop as well as more specialist nights such as indie and trance. Venues come and go, so it's best to check the listings in the local papers to see what's on.

Theatre and music

Shea's Performing Arts Center is a former movie theatre dating from 1926, built in the style of a European opera house. It now hosts touring shows, concerts, opera and dance performances. The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra performs at the Kleinhans Music Hall every week from mid-September to the end of June. One of the best theatres in the country is Studio Arena, which usually features six productions each season. Further information can be found in the free weeklies: Blue Dog Press and Art Voice.

Festivals

Buffalo is well-known for the popularity of its festivals, and some of the ones worth looking out for are:

• Allentown Art Festival held in June. Tens of thousands of art lovers visit this festival held in the Allentown Historic District of Buffalo. Over 400 exhibitors displaying arts and crafts can be found on Delaware Avenue between Tupper and North Streets. Exhibits include jewellery, paintings, crafts, photography, painting, clay, ceramics and mixed media.
• Canal Fest of the Tonawandas in July is an eight-day festival held each year, featuring musical tributes, food tastings, art shows, canal trips, mime performances and more.
• Taste of Buffalo in July is one of the largest street festivals in Buffalo and is held on Delaware Avenue. It's usually on the weekend immediately following 4th July. Over 140 restaurants offer samples of some of their most popular dishes and there is a full range of entertainment on four specially built stages including live bands and performances.
• National Buffalo Wing Festival in September. Started in 2002 because of the movie Osmosis Jones, the National Buffalo Wing Festival features more than 25 area restaurants who compete for the title of best buffalo wing and hot sauce. Chicken wing eating contests, live music and more round out festival events.