NEWSLETTER
Buffalo, NY - In partnership with New York State Assemblyman Pat Burke, the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens is opening for free admission from 5:00pm to 8:00pm on the first Wednesday of each month through 2024. This brand-new series of events called, Community Nights, will welcome visitors and partners from the community, old and new, to enjoy the Botanical Gardens and share in all that Buffalo and Western New York has to offer.
The Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens and New York State Assemblyman Pat Burke have teamed up to introduce an exciting new series called Community Nights to invite the Buffalo community to enjoy the Botanical Gardens free of charge in the evenings from 5:00pm to 8:00pm on the first Wednesday of every month in 2024. Each month, partners from the community will be invited to participate with information tables, interactive programs, performances, and more to create a fun, accessible night to come together and enjoy the City of Good Neighbors. Each month will celebrate a different theme or occasion to uplift the voices and impactful missions that the Buffalo community's wide range of organizations and businesses has to offer. Western New Yorkers are encouraged to visit to enjoy the beautiful gardens while learning more about what's happening in the area and all of the amazing opportunities that the community offers for its neighbors. Each Community Night will also feature educational programming with members of the Botanical Gardens' team through learning stations, scavenger hunts, activities and information about events and classes.
The first Wednesday of 2024 kicked off with "Escape the Winter" for an evening of warmth and relaxation after the busy holiday season on January 3. Over 600 guests attended the free event and enjoy the soothing sounds of music by Ravi Padmanabha. February's Community Night, "From Soil to Soul: A Celebration of Buffalo’s Black Heritage" will welcome the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center, the Buffalo History Museum, and the Colored Musicians Club and Jazz Museum to highlight and share some of Buffalo's Black stories from then and now on February 7. Visitors will also be able to enjoy the brand-new Orchid Exhibit at the Botanical Gardens during February and March featuring thousands of stunning orchids highlighted with dazzling lights. March will follow with "Beyond Barriers: A Celebration of Inclusion" as a local celebration of Disabilities Awareness Month on March 6. Partners will include Unique Theater, Erie County Office for People With Disabilities, Spina Bifida of WNY and more. April is "Springtime at the Botanical Gardens," and visitors will get to enjoy the gorgeous and fragrant spring flowers with over 30,000 blooming bulbs on April 3.
More themes and partnerships will be announced in the in the coming months. Organizers are asking for interested cultural organizations from the Buffalo community that would like to participate to reach out to events@buffalogardens.com. Performances, programming, or other educational opportunities are encouraged to make the most impact on each Community Night.
Community Nights are completely free of charge. Free online reservations are encouraged to help partners to plan their programming, but are not required. Walk-ins will be welcomed. Community Nights are proudly sponsored by New York State Assemblyman Pat Burke. For more information, please visit buffalogardens.com.
Use @BuffaloGardens and #CommunityNights when posting and tagging on social media. For more information, visit the Botanical Gardens’ website at buffalogardens.com. The Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens Society Inc., is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization with a mission to inspire curiosity and connect people to the natural world through its historic living museum.
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CONTACT:
Shaunna Rospierski
Director of Marketing and Events, Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens
srospierski@buffalogardens.com
716.827.1584 ext 219