Festivals
fri. 29-sun. 1 The Summer Festival of the Arts - Featuring music by the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Eric Burdon & the Animals and Starship featuring Mickey Thomas in Ellicottville. Call 1-800-349-9099 or visit www.ellicottvilleny.com for more information. fri. 29-wed. 4

fri. 29-sun. 1 Ellicottville Championship Rodeo The 19th annual event opens at 7 p.m. Friday, June 29 at 6319 Sommerville Valley Road, Ellicottville. One of the largest International Professional Rodeo Association's sanctioned rodeos in the Northeast, it features seven different events, Western trade show, chicken barbecue, concessions and crafts. Call 699-4839 or visit www.ellicottvillerodeo.com for more information.

Friendship Festival - Celebrated on both sides of the border, the Friendship Festival features free concerts, arts and crafts, kids activities and more each day. The American side is held in Riverside Park, 2607 Niagara St., Buffalo, and the Canadian side is held under Mather Arch in Fort Erie. Highlights include 54-40 under the Mather Arch with special guest Oliver Black at 8 p.m. Friday, June 29, and Rock Star Party featuring finalists from the television series for Inxs and Supernova, and fireworks on both Canada Day and the Fourth of July. Call 1-888-333-1987 or visit www.friendshipfestival.com for more information. sat. 30-sun. 1

GardenFest - The Lewiston Garden Club's second annual GardenFest will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Lewiston. Guests can pick up a brochure for the event on Center Street. Garden tours, vendors and workshops are some of the events planned. There will also be a "trash to treasure display" that will show discarded items that have been recycled as garden decoration. sat. 30 Clarence Day in the Park - Neighbors will celebrate starting at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 30 at Clarence Town Park, Main Street, Clarence. The event features a Chiavetta's chicken barbecue (2:30 p.m. until sold out), Kidzplay dunk tank and bounce house, rock climbing wall, Clarence girl's softball all-star games (9 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.), Clarence Lions hospitality tent, Genesee Warbirds flyover, Wegmans pie eating contest (5:30 p.m.), bake sale, music, food and entertainment. Clarence Day in the Park concludes with a fireworks display at dusk. Call 759-1111 or visit www.clarencedayinthepark.com for more information. sat. 30-sun. 1

Lewiston Garden Fest - Activities, displays, live music, vendors and decorating ideas and demonstrations start at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 30 in the Town of Lewiston. Call 754-2084 or visit www.northofthefalls.com for more information. fri. 1-sun. 8

Buffalo Old Home Week - Originally held 100 years ago, Buffalo Old Home Week is a celebration of the American urban ideal in Buffalo. The Buffalo Niagara Association of Realtors sponsored kickoff is titled "Tapestry Buffalo," and begins at 11 a.m., Sunday, July 1 at The Central Terminal, 495 Paderewski Drive, Buffalo. Events will include open houses and tours of historical homes, Canada Day Boat Tour, tours of various neighborhoods and landmarks, career fair, Buffalo's 175th birthday celebration as well as live local music and theater on the street. There will be a brunch and artist fair Sunday, July 8 at Shanghai Red's. Call 903-7155 or visit ww.buffoldhome.com for more information. now-Aug. 31 Historic Garden Tour

- Runs now through Aug. 31 and starts at the North Tonawanda History Museum, 314 Oliver St., North Tonawanda. Participants can pick up books and maps there for the self-guided tour of 44 sites, which include private and historic homes.