Family events in West Seneca, NY

PickleFest Buffalo is a full day devoted to all things pickle, hosted by Mind Over Foundation Inc. and Buffalo RiverWorks. Come for the pickleball tournament, stay for live music and entertainment, meet local makers and vendors, and enjoy family friendly activities. Food and drink specials lean into tangy flavors, including the chance to sip a pickle themed beverage by the waterfront. Spectator admission is free, and registration is encouraged to help organizers prepare for a busy day. Tournament registration is open, with early bird pricing at $40 per doubles team and standard registration at $50 per doubles team.

Now in its fourth year, the FAM Cookout brings the community together at Buffalo River Fest Park to raise funds for WNY first responders and their families. The focus is gratitude and support for the men and women who protect the community every day. Attendees can enjoy basket raffles, a Family Fun Zone, the Ring It & Win It game, plenty of food and beverages, and live music from Cami Clune & The Fringe.

Take in Buffalo on a crowd-favorite sightseeing tour that showcases what makes the city special. Suitable for first-time visitors and lifelong residents alike, this experience offers fresh insights and new discoveries about the city.

Experience a free concert that channels the music and style of The Beatles, with classic songs and period-inspired outfits that feel like a trip back to the height of Beatlemania. The performance takes place at the Cultural Center Stage/Mega Shelter at Cheektowaga Town Park.

Young cooks spend a week in Williamsville discovering the fun of the kitchen through a hands-on camp that blends cooking, creativity, and play. Each day participants prepare two child-friendly dishes while practicing essentials like measuring, mixing, reading and following directions, and safe food handling. Between recipes, they create art inspired by food and culture and take part in cooperative games that build movement, teamwork, and social skills. Highlights include a read-aloud of Ice Cream Summer paired with making chocolate ice cream in a bag and banana sushi, sequencing steps for cinnamon toast alongside kitchen math and the energetic game Yes, No, Stand Up!, spotting tools during an I Spy activity before crafting banana pops, designing a pinwheel, and rolling tortilla pinwheel lollipops, exploring sprinkle math with treats like s’mores trail mix and homemade hummus, and wrapping up with a grocery sort, a dancing popcorn kernels science experiment, frozen yogurt bark, and a party animal snack mix. Ideal for kids who enjoy creating, trying new flavors, and spending time with friends.

Grossology Summer Camp invites kids to laugh and learn as they explore the wonderfully icky side of science. Campers investigate germs, mucus, poop, bugs, and other gross topics to discover how germs spread and how to stop them, why snot helps the body, what our poop can reveal about health, and the important roles insects play in the world. Each day blends stories, experiments, creative art, cooperative games, math, social studies, and culinary activities. Highlights include showing how soap defeats germs, creating blown-paint germ art, making germ-themed cookies, crafting a DIY whoopie cushion, sampling unusual foods, mixing up fake snot and fingerprint snot creatures, diving into a mystery bag challenge, designing emoji bookmarks, playing a poop emoji board game, tackling measurement with icky themes, solving bug word problems with a spinner, exploring the role toilets have played in history, and going on a magnifier bug hunt. It is a messy and lighthearted way to turn curiosity into confidence while making science unforgettable.

Celebrate summer with a playful safari theme at the Town Park Mega Shelter in Cheektowaga Town Park. Designed for children ages 2 to 10, this youth special event explores the African savanna, the Amazon rainforest, and the Australian outback through engaging, hands-on fun. Kids can dive into craft projects, enjoy snacks, and bounce to their hearts’ content. Each participant will also create a colorful tie-dyed safari bucket hat to take home, and hats are provided. Parents are welcome to remain on site, and an adult must stay with any child who is 5 or younger. The fee is $10 per child for residents and $12 per child for non-residents. Registration is available for residents with a valid town ID and for non-residents.

Designed for children ages 0 to 8 with their adults, this storytime features stories, activities, and a craft. Register by calling 716-892-8089 or in person. Walk-ins are welcome if space allows.

Enjoy story readings, engaging activities, and a craft project designed for young children and their caregivers. This program is intended for ages birth through 8 with an accompanying adult. Registration can be completed by phone or in person, and drop-ins may be accommodated if space permits.

The event showcases unique handmade treasures, featuring inventive presents, handcrafted wares, and tasty bites made by talented creators from the area. Expect food trucks and a selection of jewelry among the offerings. For questions, email stevenpaulsignup14@gmail.com. Check the event page for vendor previews and ongoing updates.

Every Saturday, the Kids Department hosts a children’s storytime. This recurring session offers a simple chance for kids to hear stories together.

Explore Forest Lawn on an introductory tour on foot that highlights the beauty of the grounds and explains its historic and cultural importance to Western New York. Knowledgeable guides lead visitors through the central natural landscape and share stories about notable individuals who are buried there.

An auto showcase meets canine companionship as Underdogs Rescue brings adoptable dogs to meet visitors. Admission is free, music will be part of the atmosphere, and food will be available for purchase. Car owners can display their vehicles without a registration fee.

The only dinner cruise in Buffalo aboard the Grand Lady pairs waterfront views with live music, a cash bar, and a plated three course meal prepared by GLC Catering LLC as the ship travels the Buffalo River, Lake Erie, and the Black Rock Canal. The meal begins with a tossed salad and roll, followed by entrée choices that include braised beef short rib with red wine demi glace, chicken marsala with mushrooms, a layered eggplant bake for vegetarians, a chef’s vegan pasta primavera that can be made gluten free, and a gluten free marinated and grilled chicken entrée, all served with the chef’s choice of potato and vegetable, plus a house made dessert. A children’s meal of chicken fingers with sides is available. Coffee, tea, and water are included, while soda and alcoholic beverages are available for purchase at the bar, which accepts cash and credit cards. Pricing is $99 per adult plus taxes and booking fees, $49.50 per child ages 4 to 12 plus taxes and booking fees, and $20 per toddler with no meal included. Reservations must be made at least 72 hours ahead, and menu selections along with any food allergies or dietary needs are collected at booking. Seating is assigned based on special requests and the order in which reservations are received, and guests booking separately may request to be seated together. Small groups can inquire about the Captain’s Club Private Dining Package, which provides private use of the second deck dining room for groups of 15 to 20 people for an additional $150.