Community Calendar

Old Fort Niagara assumes a particularly festive air during the holiday season. Special activities kick off on Saturday evenings, December 6 and 13, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm, as the Fort presents Castle by Candlelight, a tour of the Great Lakes’ oldest building illuminated entirely by candles. Throughout the Castle, visitors will encounter members of the Fort’s 18th-century garrison demonstrating everything from quill pens to fur trading to traditional games of skill.

Twice each evening, the garrison turns out to perform a grand feu de joie (firing of joy), a rolling fire of muskets and cannons. Cooks demonstrate 18th-century holiday recipes, musicians play popular songs of the era, and a Recollet priest reads the Christmas story in Latin in the Fort’s 299-year-old chapel. Visitors to the event can make a holiday ornament and a bird feeder and enjoy Native American songs and stories.

Visitors can warm up and enjoy hot refreshments in the Fort's log cabin, which will be available for purchase. Menu items include bread pudding, soup, hot chocolate, coffee, and tea.

Admission to the event is $25.00 per person in advance and $30.00 at the door. Please note, general admission tickets are not valid for this fundraising program, and tickets for this event are non-refundable. All proceeds benefit Old Fort Niagara’s educational programs and the site's preservation efforts.

Join Houghton University in celebrating Christmas Prism, featuring Handel's Messiah, as we invite audiences into that brilliant display of timeless Scripture and magnificent music converging in a celebration of divine light entering the world.

Ever wanted to try something totally new? Our Beginner Balinese Gamelan class is a hands-on introduction to one of the world’s most vibrant musical traditions. No prior experience needed — just an open mind and a willingness to learn! Starts Oct 12 at Nusantara Arts. 🎶

Class Fees are sliding scale to ensure people with any economic status may participate.

Curious about Javanese gamelan? Join our 6-week Intro to Javanese Gamelan class starting October 15, where you’ll learn theory, instrument techniques, and the cultural roots behind the music. A rare chance to dive into something new and transformative in a community oriented setting.

Class Fees are sliding scale to ensure people with any economic status may participate.

Poesy Shines is a Buffalo-based poetic music ensemble that combines sounds of the African diaspora with provocative poetry.

Poesy Shines is a nostalgic experience for adults seeking to skip the club scene for a melodious tour of the African diaspora. Blues / Jazz / Rock and Reggae are interlaced beautifully and then kissed with soul-stirring poetry.

Bandleader and percussionist Atria “Lil Momma” Shinette was first inspired to create a poetry-set-to-music production when she played classical piano amongst Zydeco and Southern Soul musicians in her home of Lake Charles, Louisiana. Her grandparents were friends with musical powerhouses like James Cleveland, Boozoo Chavis, and Janis Joplin. After relocating to western New York, she appreciated the diversity, but felt that people here had missed out on Creole traditions like jazz brunch, trail rides and Sunday teas.

Lil Momma had been a fan of Dr. Majadi Baruti’s writing since 2015, and the two began collaborating in 2022 when she edited his first published book of poetry entitled A Blues Man’s Blues: Poems of Love, Sex and Revolution. Dr. Baruti’s primary musical influence was his great-grandfather, Grammy-nominated Delta Blues star Johnny Shines. Dr. Baruti began writing after reading album covers and observing the emergence of hiphop culture on the south side of Chicago. As a teen, he joined a dance troupe and was introduced to jazz and poetry by his step-father.

Lil Momma and Dr. Baruti met Jacob Jurewicz when he was volunteering at PUSH Buffalo in 2023. Jacob is the now group’s lead guitarist and saxophonist. He is formally trained in jazz guitar and displays a musical wisdom decades beyond his years. What sets this group apart is that every performance is a one-time experience.

Unlike traditional songs, poems can take on a different character with every recitation. In keeping with the Delta Blues tradition, the members of Poesy Shines play multiple instruments and feature local artists in every performance.

Memphis Minnie was chosen for this special tribute because Johnny Shines named her as his greatest inspiration. She is an unsung trailblazer in country music who later revolutionized Delta Blues and helped to develop what would later be known as Rhythm and Blues.

Join our fun community oriented dance classes and get moving! We will demonstrate and practice basic Balinese dance skills and methods in an inclusive and fun environment. Balinese dance is beautiful movement art that uses the whole body and is incredibly expressive.

Class Fees are sliding scale to ensure people with any economic status may participate.

Old Fort Niagara assumes a particularly festive air during the holiday season. Special activities kick off on Saturday evenings, December 6 and 13, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm, as the Fort presents Castle by Candlelight, a tour of the Great Lakes’ oldest building illuminated entirely by candles. Throughout the Castle, visitors will encounter members of the Fort’s 18th-century garrison demonstrating everything from quill pens to fur trading to traditional games of skill.

Twice each evening, the garrison turns out to perform a grand feu de joie (firing of joy), a rolling fire of muskets and cannons. Cooks demonstrate 18th-century holiday recipes, musicians play popular songs of the era, and a Recollet priest reads the Christmas story in Latin in the Fort’s 299-year-old chapel. Visitors to the event can make a holiday ornament and a bird feeder and enjoy Native American songs and stories.

Visitors can warm up and enjoy hot refreshments in the Fort's log cabin, which will be available for purchase. Menu items include bread pudding, soup, hot chocolate, coffee, and tea.

Admission to the event is $25.00 per person in advance and $30.00 at the door. Please note, general admission tickets are not valid for this fundraising program, and tickets for this event are non-refundable. All proceeds benefit Old Fort Niagara’s educational programs and the site's preservation efforts.

Ever wanted to try something totally new? Our Beginner Balinese Gamelan class is a hands-on introduction to one of the world’s most vibrant musical traditions. No prior experience needed — just an open mind and a willingness to learn! Starts Oct 12 at Nusantara Arts. 🎶

Class Fees are sliding scale to ensure people with any economic status may participate.

Curious about Javanese gamelan? Join our 6-week Intro to Javanese Gamelan class starting October 15, where you’ll learn theory, instrument techniques, and the cultural roots behind the music. A rare chance to dive into something new and transformative in a community oriented setting.

Class Fees are sliding scale to ensure people with any economic status may participate.

Join our fun community oriented dance classes and get moving! We will demonstrate and practice basic Balinese dance skills and methods in an inclusive and fun environment. Balinese dance is beautiful movement art that uses the whole body and is incredibly expressive.

Class Fees are sliding scale to ensure people with any economic status may participate.