The Alexander Fire Department will be hosting a drive-thru Father's Day Chicken 'n' Ribs BBQ on Sunday, June 20th from noon - 1:30 p.m.

Meals are as follows: Chicken only $12; Ribs only $16; and Chicken 'n' Ribs Combo $18. Sides will include mac 'n' cheese, baked beans and cornbread.

No grilling necessary for Dad on his day!

For preorder call (585) 356-3301 or (585) 507-9930.  

Your choices include: half chicken w/sides for $12; quarter chicken and ribs w/sides for $15; or ribs w/sides for $12.

Dinner will include roasted potatoes, corn on the cob, roll w/butter and a brownie.

To guarantee your dinners, call ahead for your presale order at (585) 356-3301.

Submitted photo and press release:

The Great Pumpkin Farm’s Fall Festival will celebrate its 24th year as Western New York’s favorite fall destination when it opens at 10 a.m. on Sept. 14.

For seven consecutive weekends, the Fall Festival offers something for every age, including: amusement rides; hayrides; corn maze; the pumpkins and mum patch; pumpkin cannon; shooting gallery; homemade donuts, pies, cookies and pastries; Halloween decorations; and special events, such as the World Pumpkin Pie Eating Contest, the Trebuchet Contest and OINKtoberfest, New York State’s BBQ Cook-off – and so much more!

This year, the Great Pumpkin Farm has once again declared opening weekend – Sept. 14 and 15 – to be Armed Forces Weekend, in collaboration with WNYHeroes, Inc. The regular admission fee will be waived for active duty and retired military, police or fire department personnel who present proper identification to WNYHeroes representatives at the gate; they will also be permitted to bring one guest for free.

WNYHeroes representatives will also be on hand at an informational booth in the Event Center at the Great Pumpkin Farm.

Kicking things off on Armed Forces Weekend, there will be dinosaurs -- animatronic Vinnie and Teddy roaming the Corn Maze from noon to 4 p.m. both days in search of prey, and The Balloon Experts will be around, too, making their incredible balloon characters.

All attractions will be up and running on opening weekend. New features added this year include a Superheroes-themed Corn Maze and The Witches Brew Bar, which will be open every weekend, with live music inside or out (depending on weather). View the schedule.

The Great Pumpkin Farm is located at 11199 Main St. in Clarence and features plenty of free, onsite parking. 

Festival Hours: 10 a.m. to dusk, weekends beginning Sept. 14-15.

Admission: $8 per person; children 2 and under admitted free.

(Discounted tickets ($6.50) can be purchased at all Buffalo & Rochester Wegmans locations.)

The admission fee includes the Magic Show with Mike & Annie; Cackling Hen Revue Show; petting zoo; face painting; cow train ride; tractor-drawn hayride; children and adult pie-eating contests; scarecrow-making contest; pumpkin decorating contest; mummy-wrapping contest and kids’ craft area. 

Coupons with paid admission include: $2 off the Corn Maze; $1 off Panning for Gems; Boo Barn; Zombie Train; Jumbo Pillows; Pumpkin Slingshots (not available Oct. 20). 

For More Info: Complete event information is available at www.greatpumpkinfarm.com.

WEEKEND #2: Sept. 20-22– OINKtoberfest 2019, including Friday Night BBQ Preview Night (FREE admission); OINKtoberfest, New York State’s official KCBS-sanctioned BBQ Cookoff on Saturday; Zombies in the Corn Maze; The Balloon Experts and live music in The Witches Brew.

WEEKEND #3: Sept. 28-29 – The World Pumpkin Pie Eating Contest on Saturday; Funny Face Drawing Contest; Dinosaurs in the Corn Maze; The Balloon Experts; live music in The Witches Brew and Indepumpkins Dayon Friday night (with fireworks!).

WEEKEND #4: Oct. 5 & 6 – Superheroes Weekend and World Pumpkin Weigh Off on Saturday;Dinosaurs in the Corn Maze; The Balloon Experts; live music in The Witches Brew and In Jest Juggling & Comedy Show

WEEKEND #5: Oct. 12, 13 & 14 (Columbus Day Weekend) Pumpkin Drop on Monday (Columbus Day); Pumpkin Olympics; In Jest Juggling & Comedy Show; Zombies in the Corn Maze; The Balloon Experts; live music in The Witches Brew; Awesome Paws Rescue and $20 Wristband Day (Monday only)

WEEKEND #6: Oct. 19 & 20 - Annual Trebuchet (catapult) Contest with local high school teams (practice Saturday, contest Sunday); Zombies in the Corn Maze; The Balloon Experts and live music in The Witches Brew.

WEEKEND #7: Oct. 26 & 27 – FINAL WEEKEND; Costume Contest; The Balloon Experts and live music in The Witches Brew.

WEEKDAYS AT THE GREAT PUMPKIN FARM:

The Great Pumpkin Farm will also be open weekdays, Sept. 16 through Oct. 31, from 10 a.m. to dusk. There is NO admission on weekdays, except on Columbus Day, Oct. 14.

The Pumpkin Palace is open weekdays and features Halloween decorations, a bakery and candy store. Guests can purchase pumpkins; cornstalks; gourds and cider. There’s also a petting zoo, hay maze and playground. Group tours are also conducted during the week for school and community organization groups.

About the Great Pumpkin Farm and the Fall Festival

Since 1996, when it first hosted the World Pumpkin Weigh-off and was included in the Guinness Book of World Records for the first 1,000-pound pumpkin, the Great Pumpkin Farm in Clarence has grown. Its annual Fall Festival is Western New York’s largest fall family event in the region, and includes popular events such as OINKtoberfest, New York State’s Official BBQ Cookoff; the Pumpkin Trebuchet competition and the Pumpkin Farm Olympics.

Join the Genesee County 4-H Swine Club for their annual Pulled Pork BBQ Fundraiser on Saturday, May 13, 2017 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

It will be held at the Kennedy Building at the Genesee County Fairgrounds, 5056 E. Main St. Road, Batavia. Eat in or take out.

The meal includes pulled pork, potatoes, coleslaw, baked beans and a beverage. 

Tickets are $10 per person and can be purchased at the door or in advance at the Genesee County 4-H Office, 420 E. Main St., Batavia.  Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Proceeds will be used to support the Genesee County 4-H Swine Club, including purchasing educational resources, awards and club supplies.

For more information about the Genesee County 4-H Program, contact the 4-H Office at genesee4h@cornell.edu or 585-343-3040, ext. 101.

      Where is the center of the Universe?  On Saturday, July 26, it will be Byron, New York.  So look it up on MapQuest, orient your GPS and set your Bat-radar for Byron.  Your life will improve, the community’s spirit will be lifted, flags will wave, and the world will be better!  Just look at these great activities and special events taking place throughout the day:

8:00 – 9:00 AM            Fishing Derby at Trestle Park (sponsored by Byron Kiwanis & Sackett Merrill White American Legion Post), for ages twelve and under.  Sign-in begins at 7:30 AM.  No entry fee.  Prizes will be awarded.

8:00 AM                       5K Run at Fireman’s Park (sponsored by the Byron Rescue Squad).  Registration begins at 7:00 AM, the race begins at 8:00 AM, and results are posted at 9:30 AM. 

9:00 AM – 5:00 PM      Craft and Food Vendors (in Fireman’s Park).  Contact the Town Clerk (548-7123 x 10) to reserve a space.  Non-profits may reserve for free, and a modest fee for others.   During this time the Byron Fire Department will be offering activities and games for children to enjoy.

9:00 AM - ??                Town-wide garage sales.  Contact the Town Clerk at 548-7123 x 10 to have your location added to the publicity list.  Lawn space is available for free at the Presbyterian Church in the center of town (please call 548-2800 to reserve space).

10:00 AM – 3:00 PM     Raffles (tickets sold at the Gazebo in Fireman’s Park).  Winners announced 3:00 PM.

10:00 AM - ??              Bounce House at Fireman’s Park (sponsored by Fullerino’s)

11:00 AM                      Red, White and Blue Parade.  Fire companies, vintage vehicles, and community organizations are invited to participate.  Please register with the Town Clerk (548-7123 x 10).  The parade will form on Caswell Road.  A panel of judges will review the parade.  Prizes will be awarded to fire companies and to community groups. 

11:00 AM – 3:00 PM     Cruise In.  Vintage vehicles are invited to participate in the parade, and then park in Fireman’s Park for judging by the public.  Trophies and door prizes will be awarded.  No pre-registration required, no entry fee.

3:00 PM                       Garden Contest.  Please register with Jeanne Freeman (548-7197).  Entrants must be from the Town of Byron.  Photos of your garden will be taken and then the public votes for their favorites at Fireman’s Park.  Prizes will be awarded.  Winners announced at 3:00 PM.

4:00 PM                       Horseshoe Tournament in Fireman’s Park (sponsored by Sue Fuller).  You may sign up at any time before 4:00 PM.  Prizes will be awarded to winning teams. 

4:00 PM                       Chicken BBQ (sponsored by Byron Kiwanis) at the Byron Fire Hall.  Continues until sold out!

12:00 PM – 11:00 PM     Live Music in the Fireman’s Park Pavilion

12:00 - 2:30 PM   “Side By Side” 

3:30 PM – 6:30 PM   “M.A.C.”

7:30 PM – 11:00 PM    “Savage Cabbage”

9:30 PM                       Fireworks (best location for viewing is Fireman’s Park)

For up-to-the-minute information about the Byron Heritage Festival, please visit Town of Byron Heritage Festival on Facebook. 

For more information or advance tickets call 585-409-5991 or 585-548-9008