History of Niagara Homecoming
Two years ago at this time I was in a very different countdown. It was exciting and I never thought I could be prouder than I was at that very moment. I was part of Buffalo Homecoming 2008 and wow what an amazing four days I had. What a great celebration for the City of Buffalo.
Last year we had our first Niagara Homecoming Events and we were successful in getting the word out about Niagara County. This year, we have changed a few things and I am proud to announce we have another four days scheduled with exciting things to do! Not bad for a group of volunteers working on a shoestring budget.
I sit here in awe of what each of them have accomplished. We thought when we met late last year that we would add a couple of events bringing people to Niagara Falls during Buffalo Homecoming. What happened is what we have happening at the end of June this year!
Buffalo Homecoming welcomes Niagara Homecoming
But let me back up just a little bit and fill those of you who are wondering what exactly is Niagara Homecoming? How did Niagara Rises get the idea?
To do this, I have to give my return to Western New York at the end of 2007. Seeking an opportunity to meet new people and build my Real Estate business I got involved in Twitter. I went to the very first Buffalo Tweetup and met Marti Gorman, and I immediately got involved with Buffalo Homecoming, now Buffalo Citybration.
I had been involved with Niagara Rises organization but like many grass roots organizations we were stuck. I saw an opportunity to do greater good with Buffalo Homecoming at that time, so I focused on that still involved with Niagara Rises. Still very much part of Niagara Rises, but not sure how I was going to make a difference, I got Niagara Rises involved with Arts at the Park last year.
Little did I know that that my involvement with Buffalo Homecoming would turn the energy from Niagara Rises around and plot us on a new course. At the end of Buffalo Homecoming, I looked at Marti and said “Niagara Falls should do something like this”. Marti never missed a beat, and said absolutely! She has been a resource for us and we lovingly refer to the two events as “Hands Across Grand Island”.
But sparking the idea does not create a four day of amazing events in Niagara Falls. No that happened because of great volunteers in our group, Niagara Rises. Niagara Rises, as an organization took it on.
All of us excited and thrilled, everyone having a part of this great event. People started coming to our meetings, new people started to join our efforts. For those of us that sat at that very first meeting what we have today is amazing. We thought, oh we thought we might have some tours, perhaps a job fair, and something involving the Aquarium. Then we brainstormed, I tossed the idea of a Sunrise Service at the Top of the Falls, someone else suggested a Sunday Brunch, someone else suggested doing something with the Niagara Power Baseball team. We talked about the “old days” and how we envisioned Niagara Falls in the future. No longer were we looking back but we are looking forward, and the city is following our lead.
The Folks at Main Street moved their festival Positively Main Street to the same weekend. We talked about a Happy Hour and we now have every month a Still Fallin for the Falls Happy Hour. Niagara Falls Mayor, Paul Dyster has stood proud with us from the beginning.
So this event, Niagara Homecoming, has become the bolt of lightening that Niagara Falls has needed to effect change. We all feel it. We all are excited and proud. We know that we made a difference, a small but significant change in how people see Niagara Falls. So on June 24-27 we ask you to support our efforts and celebrate what is and what we can become. Everyone at Niagara Rises stand up, take a bow! We did it!
2010 Niagara Homecoming Events
The Niagara Homecoming Event to be held on June 24-27, 2010.
The 4-day event features a number of free and low-cost events all designed to celebrate the city of Niagara Falls, NY, both for current residents and to entice those who have moved away to come back home.
Thursday June 24, 2010
The Career Fair and Expo begins with the Awards luncheon at noon and runs until 4:30 followed by a Social Hour from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. We expect to have 75 employers and attracts hundreds of job seekers. The hope is to pair some former residents with jobs so that they might move back to the community.
The Niagara Power Baseball game is an opportunity for current and former residents alike to enjoy collegiate-level baseball coupled with Christian-based values.
Also Happening Today in Niagara County:
- Youngstown - “Here Comes Summer” Street Dance 6-10pm. Enjoy live entertainment from The Carl Motyka Band!
- Check out the Journey to the North: New York Freedom Trail N. Tonawanda History Museum
- Lockport Historic Palace Theatre – Ragtime & Dixieland Concert- Benefit for Olcott Beach Carousel Park
Friday June 25, 2010
The Kick-Off Gala will feature an 18-piece orchestra and wine-tasting from selections culled from the Niagara Wine Trail. It will be held at the newly-renovated Rapids Theater and the Niagara Rises “Volunteer of the Year” award will be presented.
The NACC will conduct an open-house featuring the artwork of dozens of local artists, particularly centering on the history of daredevils who have attempted to conquer Niagara Falls in a barrel.
Also Happening Today in Niagara County:
- Lockport – Molson Canal Concert Series – Rusted Room 5:30-11pm
- Old Falls Street – Music at Lunch Series
- Check out the Journey to the North: New York Freedom Trail N. Tonawanda History Museum
Saturday June 26, 2010
There are a variety of things happening in Niagara County today. We have special fares for tours, and encourage you to explore Niagara County or spend quality time with your family. We will be conducting walking-tours of downtown Niagara Falls that will feature the history of the architecture of the region. We will also conduct a tour that imparts Niagara’s important role in the Underground Railroad.
Also Happening Today in Niagara County:
- Lockport 35th Annual Outdoor Arts & Crafts Festival
- Check out the Journey to the North: New York Freedom Trail N. Tonawanda History Museum
- New York Free Fishing Days
- Old Falls Street – Music at Lunch Series
Sunday June 27, 2010
There will be a county-wide real estate open-house event that will attempt to pair returning residents with a new house to move in to.
We will also conduct a Sunday “Arise and Shine” program where multiple churches will all center their sermons on the rebirth and regrowth of the city of Niagara Falls.
Also Happening Today in Niagara County:
- Lockport 35th Annual Outdoor Arts & Crafts Festival
- Olcott – Sunday evenings brings motorcycles of all kinds to Olcott.
- Old Falls Street – Music at Lunch Series
- Check out the Journey to the North: New York Freedom Trail N. Tonawanda History Museum
Contact niagararises@yahoo.com or call 716-990-1910 for more information about this unique event! Join us on Facebook or Twitter.
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