Look for more calendar events on our UPDATED website! www.wnyfamilymagazine.com
Buffalo Cherry Blossom Festival Cele-
brate spring at The Museum and in the Jap-
anese Gardens, Saturday & Sunday, May 4
& 5, 11am-3pm, with Music Is Art, Taiko
drummers, dancers, vendors, and pink boat
rides! Free! The Buffalo History Museum, 1
Museum Ct. (Nottingham Terrace), Buffalo,
716-873-9644. www.buffalohistory.org
World Video Game Hall of Fame Cel-
ebration Weekend Celebrate the newest
inductees to the World Video Game Hall
of Fame, Saturday, May 4 (11am-4pm) and
Sunday, May 5 (1pm-4pm). Dance to live
music performed by three-man band Glitch
from 1 to 4pm as they feature music and
trivia from classic video games. Take pic-
tures with costumed members of Rochester
Institute of Technology’s Cosplay Group.
Saturday only, enjoy a family-friendly
performance of Story Quest: Escape from
Video Game Land at 2pm. The Strong Mu-
seum, 1 Manhattan Square, Rochester. 585-
263-2700. www.museumofplay.org
Dragons Love Tacos When mom is away,
don’t let dragons in to play! When a boy
throws his new dragon friends a spicy salsa
taco party… well, oh, boy, red-hot trouble
ensues! Kids and adults alike will enjoy this
fiery fun production about the importance of
family, friendship, and communication. Per-
formances at 2pm, May 4 & 5, 11 & 12, 18
& 19 and on June 1 (1pm & 4pm). Theatre
of Youth, 203 Allen Street, Buffalo. 716-
884-4400. www.theatreofyouth.org
May the Fourth be with you: The Music
of Star Wars Relive the music from Star
Wars, including Return of the Jedi, The
Force Awakens, and Rogue One. Special
themed activities and photo ops courtesy of
The North Ridge set the stage for this galac-
tic concert, Saturday, May 4 (8pm) & Sun-
day, May 5 (2pm). Kleinhans Music Hall, 3
Symphony Circle, Buffalo. 716-885-5000.
www.bpo.org
SUNDAY | MAY 5
WNY Doulas Better Birth Conference
This annual event, 9am, is for moms,
moms-to-be, new moms, their families and
anyone else interested in learning about the
resources available to them in WNY. Birth
and postpartum experts will inform you
with presentations, resources, and demos.
Admission includes conference, buffet
lunch, goody bag, favor and chances to
win door prizes and raffles. A portion of
2019 ticket proceeds will be donated to GO
Buffalo Mom, an initiative of United Way
of Buffalo and Erie County. Banchetti By
Rizzo’s, 550 N. French Rd., Amherst. www.
wnydoulas.com/better-birth-conference
Buffalo RPM Bowl-a-thon Fundraiser
This is a family-friendly fundraiser. Par-
ticipants receive two hours (4pm-6pm) of
bowling, shoes, pizza, fries and pop with
the purchase of a lane. Basket raffles, 50/50
split, silent auction and grand prize draw-
ings. Buffalo RPM is a 501(c)3 nonprofit
organization serving the autism commu-
nity by increasing awareness about Rapid
Prompting Method, a learning method
for individuals with limited speech or
no speech. Net proceeds will help Buf-
falo RPM provide workshops with highly
trained RPM practitioners, social outings
for families, community outreach, commu-
nication group meetings, and support group
meetings for parents. Transit Lanes, 7850
Transit Rd., Williamsville. 716-406-7018.
www.buffalorpm.org
Trek Tifft Get out of the house and drop in
at Tifft Nature Preserve for a casual volun-
teer-led tour of the Preserve, 2pm-3:30pm,
May 5, 19, 26. For all ages. FREE, although
a donation of $2 per person is appreciated.
Call 716-825-6397 to confirm walk will
take place. Tifft Nature Preserve, 1200
Fuhrmann Blvd., Buffalo. www.tifft.org
TUESDAY | MAY 7
Toddler Story Time Bring your little one
to our monthly program, 10am-11am, and
spend some quality time at The Museum.
We will read a book and do a related activ-
ity. The Buffalo History Museum, 1 Mu-
seum Ct. (Nottingham Terrace), Buffalo.
716-873-9644. www.buffalohistory.org
WEDNESDAY | MAY 8
Wild Wednesday Together, kids
and parents/caregivers can enjoy a fun
hour-long outdoor activity, 4pm-5pm.
For children in grades K through 5. No
registration required. FREE. Reinstein
Woods Nature Preserve, 93 Honorine
Dr., Depew. 716-683-5959.
BAVPA Side by Side Concert The Buf-
falo Academy for Visual & Performing Arts
joins the BPO for an in-depth side-by-side
experience for the music department stu-
dents, while also providing a showcase for
all the disciplines at BAVPA, including vi-
sual arts, media arts, drama and dance. This
concert, 7pm-9pm, is FREE of charge to in-
spire budding young musicians and artists.
Kleinhans Music Hall, 3 Symphony Circle,
Buffalo. 716-885-5000. www.bpo.org
THURSDAY | MAY 9
64th Annual Holland Tulip Festival May
9-11. Rides by Hammerl Amusements
Thursday, 5-9pm, Friday, 6pm-10pm; Sat-
Fairy
Gnome
Festival
Delights The
Whole Family!
Enter the Botanical Gardens’ en-
chanted forest for some fun with mysti-
cal friends at The Fairy & Gnome Festi-
val, which takes place May 4 from 10am
to 4:30pm. Activities will include fairy-
themed crafts and activities, a magical
scavenger hunt, and Fairy and Gnome
House viewing.
Scout groups, classrooms, families,
individuals, neighborhoods and teams
have been busy, as part of a contest,
constructing original houses, gardens,
campgrounds — or wherever they think
fairies and gnomes spend their time —
from natural or natural-looking materi-
als. All entries will be on display from
May 4 through May 20, and winners will
be chosen at the Festival.
Mama Earth will entertain guests with
30-minute Fairy Shows featuring mu-
sic, sing-alongs and interactive instru-
ment playing in the Main Palm
Dome at 11:30am, 12:30pm,
1:30pm and 2:30pm. Nick
Presents Magic will also be part
of the fun with shows at 11am and
1pm, with balloon animals
between shows.
Attendees who wear a
fairy or gnome costume
will receive $1 off Gardens’
admission.
The Fairy Garden Make-
It Take-It Workshop is also part of the
Festival, and will be offered at 9:30am
or 2pm on May 4. Kids ages 5-12 with
great imaginations are encouraged to
create their own miniature garden for
fairies or gnomes. This artistic work-
shop will use found and natural mate-
rials to ensure fairies and gnomes will
feel right at home. A parent or guardian
is encouraged to help their child create a
home for their mythical friends. There is
a separate fee for the workshop. Pre-reg-
istration is required as space is limited.
For more details visit www.buffalog-
ardens.com or call 716-827-1584.
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May 2019 WNY Family 25