Festivals
We're off to see The Wizard

The Yellow Brick Road will lead to the Lancaster Opera House for The Wizard of Oz Festival, July 12-17.

From Munchkins to Judy Garland, the festival will celebrate the magic and wonder of a Hollywood classic.

Highlights include:

• Movie With The Munchkins, featuring "The Wizard of Oz" and appearances by the original MGM Munchkins, 7 p.m. July 13 and 14, 3 and 7 p.m. July 15, 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. July 16, 11 a.m. July 17. Admission: $10 adults, $7 c hildren.

• Judy Garland: The Dressing of a Legend, an exhibit of Judy Garland's gowns from her movies, provided by collector Michael Siewert, opening night gala celebration from 7 to 9 p.m. July 12. Admission is $15 per person. Exhibit hours: 6-10 p.m. July 13; 2-10 p.m. July 14; 2-7 p.m. July 15. Admission: $5.

• The Joy of Judy Garland, with two-time Emmy Award-winning Garland documentarian John Fricke, noon and 8 p.m. July 13. Luncheon and refreshments at Eddie Ryan's, across from the Lancaster Opera House. Admission: $15.

• Meet the Munchkins Sunday Brunch, 11:30 a.m. July 15, the Millennium Hotel, Walden Avenue, Cheektowaga. Admission: $17 adults, $10 children.

• Making of The Wizard of Oz, with John Fricke, 2 p.m. July 14. Admission: $5.

There will also be "Wizard of Oz" costume contests and much more.

For tickets and more information, call 683-1776 or visit www.lancoper a.org.
now-sun. 19
Sterling Renaissance Festival -
More than 80 stages and 200 actors are
part of the event, which includes a pub
sing, a wench auction and trial and dunk
tank. The festival runs 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Saturdays and Sundays at the Sterling
Renaissance Festival grounds, 15385
Farden Road, Sterling. 1-800-879-446,
www.ster lingfestival.com
thurs. 12-sun. 15
Sorrento Cheese Italian Heritage
Festival - Hey piasano, there will be
live music, entertainment, food and
drink available starting at noon
Thursday, July 12 on Hertel Avenue,
Buffalo, as the annual Italian Heritage
festival starts. Eddie Mekka, Junction
West, The Youngbloods, Big Wheelie &
The Hubcaps and Bobby Militello are
the featured performers.
www.buffaloitalianfestival.com
fri. 13-sun. 15
Ellicottville Island Weekend
Festival - Pack up your grass skirts
and coconuts and head to Ellicottville
for a weekend of island-themed
costumes, food, decorations and
entertainment. 1-800-349-9099,
www.ellicottvilleny.com
sat. 14
East Aurora Garden Club's Show
and Tell - Annual event will take
place from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, July
14 starting at either Vidlers, Main St.,
or at the Millard Fillmore House, 24
Shearer Ave., East Aurora. The event
will feature a display of five members'
gardens. 655-1482
sat. 14-sun. 15
Old Sanborn Days - The Rotary
Club of Niagara County sponsored event
includes a country fair and craft show,
petting zoo, chainsaw art, food and a car
show, among other things, starting at 10
a.m. Saturday, July 14 at the Sanborn
Fire Company grounds, 5811 Buffalo
St., Sanborn. 754-9500,
www.northof thefalls.com
Lancaster Garden Walk - The
Lancaster Bee and Village of Lancaster
sponsored event will take place from 10
a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 14 and
Sunday, July 15 starting at the Lancaster
Municipal Building, 5423 Broadway,
Lancaster. Maps for the self-guided tour
will be available in front of the building
at the beginning of the event. 683-7026,
wwww.lancaster village.org.
Lockport in Bloom - The City of
Lockport will host its third annual

garden tour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday, July 14 and Sunday, July 15 at
the Kenan Center, 433 Locust St.,
Lockport. The self-guided tour consists
of 35 sites. Maps of the locations are
available at Lockport City Hall and
Discovery Center. Admission is free.
sun. 15
Buffalo Alive! Garden Walk -
The seventh annual event will be held
from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, July 15.
The self-guided tour will feature
approximately 30 gardens. Participants
can get maps at the Tim Russert Child
Garden, 2010 South Park Ave., Buffalo
(next to the Dudley Library). 826-3158
mon. 16-sat. 21
Allegany County Fair - The 163rd
annual event will feature J&J
Amusements on the midway,
mini-theater, exhibits, live
demonstrations, model building,
domestic arts, 4-H, tractor pulls and
more on Common Road, Angelica.
585-466-7453,
www.alleganycount y fair.org
sun. 15-sun. 22
The 25th annual Canal Festival wil l
take place Sunday, July 15 through
Sunday, July 22 on the canal banks of
the historic Erie Canal in the cities of
Tonawanda and North Tonawanda.
There will be rides, games, food, craft
show, parade (6:30 p.m. Tuesday) and
entertainment at the festival. 692-3929,
www.c analfest.org