NIAGARA FALLS: City co-hosting annual Homecoming event

By Rick Forgione<br><a href="mailto:forgioner@gnnewspaper.com">E-mail Rick</a>

Former residents of Niagara Falls and Buffalo have a big reason to come home next summer.

The two cities are partnering to host a four-day Buffalo/Niagara Homecoming that will highlight numerous attractions and opportunities the areas have to offer, including festivals, job fairs, wine tastings, art, concerts and sporting events. While it’s also a celebration for locals, the gathering’s main objective is to attract thousands of former residents and entice them to move back to Western New York.

Over the past 50 years, Niagara Falls has lost 50,000 people and Buffalo has lost 200,000, according to population estimates.

“The timing couldn’t be better for something like this,” Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster said. “We’re targeting people who have moved away but are maybe thinking of coming back.”

The grassroots group Niagara Rises has been working for months on planning a celebration to replicate the success of the annual Buffalo Homecoming, which was brought back in 2006 after a 99-year hiatus. A partnership between the two cities to hold the events simultaneously was announced during a press conference Tuesday at Niagara Falls State Park.

“People have been talking about it for years, but this event will be the first true example of regionalism between Niagara Falls and Buffalo in my opinion,” said Frank Thomas Croisdale, one of the founders of Niagara Rises. “We’ve been working our tails off to make this happen.”

Scheduled for June 25-28, Buffalo/Niagara Homecoming will feature a variety of events split up among the two cities. Organizers are currently trying to arrange a trolley service from Erie County to Niagara County, making it easier for out-of-towners to attend events, said Marti Gorman, organizer of Buffalo Homecoming.

In an unprecedented outreach effort, area colleges, universities and high schools, sports teams, businesses, arts and cultural organizations and civil groups are being brought together to host events and provide information on available opportunities such as jobs and housing, Gorman said.

“We’re excited to create that synergy you get with two events being held in concert,” she said, adding more than 10,000 people attended last year’s Buffalo Homecoming. “We want every single person coming from outside the area to take another look at the region and consider being part of the renaissance that is underway here.”

Already planned for Niagara Falls’ portion of the celebration will be a kickoff and wine tasting June 25 at the Crowne Plaza. Day two will include a job fair at the Power Vista, art exhibits at the Niagara Arts and Cultural Center and fireworks in the evening.

The festival Positively Main Street, held for the first time last year, is being organized for the same weekend and will highlight the area’s best food and entertainment. In addition, a Niagara Power baseball game will be played at Sal Maglie Stadium and tours of the Niagara Wine Trail and the area’s ties to the Underground Railroad will be offered as part of the Homecoming.

The end of the four-day event will include a morning spiritual service at the Top of the Falls Restaurant, brunch at the Aquarium of Niagara Falls and a variety of open houses throughout Niagara County that will have information about housing and jobs, among other opportunities.

NACC Director of Operations and Marketing Bob Drozdowski and Director of Development Trudy Christman both know the feeling of moving back to Niagara Falls after leaving their hometown. They said they’re excited that the NACC will play a part in next year’s Homecoming and help attract others to come back.

“There’s nothing like building up your hometown to give you a good feeling,” Christman said.

For more information on Buffalo/Niagara Homecoming, or to find out how you can help out, visit www.info@buffalohomecoming.com or www.niagararises.com.

Niagara Homecoming

The cities of Niagara Falls and Buffalo are partnering to host a four-day homecoming event June 25-28. Here is a tentative list of events scheduled for Niagara Falls:

Thursday

• Kickoff and wine tasting at the Crowne Plaza

Friday

• Job fair at the Power Vista

• Art at the NACC (continues Saturday)

• Fireworks at the falls

Saturday

• Positively Main Street festival (continues Sunday)

• Niagara Wine, Underground Railroad and Mob tours.

• Lewiston Garden Walk

• Niagara Power baseball game at Sal Maglie Stadium followed by fireworks

Sunday

• Morning spiritual service at the Top of the Falls

• Brunch at the Aquarium of Niagara

• Open houses throughout Niagara County

For more information, visit www.info@buffalohomecoming.com or www.niagararises.com