Western New York readies for Fourth of July celebrations on Wednesday

Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - As many across the nation get set to enjoy Fourth of July celebrations on Thursday, many Western New York communities are readying to celebrate Independence Day the night before on Wednesday.

Here's a rundown of some local festivities:

Independence Eve Celebration at the ballpark:

The Buffalo Bisons are hosting its 28th annual Independence Eve Celebration on Wednesday night at Sahlen Field in Downtown Buffalo. The night will start with a matchup against the Rochester Red Wings at 6 p.m. ET, followed by a performance from the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and fireworks.

"We set off our largest fireworks show of the year after the BPO concert. It's one of the events that a lot of Western New York circles on their calendars. It's certainly one that we do as soon as we get the schedule for the upcoming year, and start planning for another amazing night and another great way to get the Fourth holiday started a night early at the ballpark," said Brad Bisbing, assistant general manager for the Bisons.

Weather forecasts for Downtown Buffalo during the evening hours on Wednesday is calling for conditions to be mostly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms and a low around 72.

Bisbing is looking over the weather forecasts on a regular basis when the Bisons are home, and feels some of the models are showing different projections for the weather. But as the old adage goes: "Baseball is a game of adjustments.

"We're monitoring everything. We'll make the appropriate adjustments," Bisbing said with WBEN. "We've got a great field, Jeff Smolka and his crew are getting the field ready and it can take a lot. We're looking forward to still being able to play the game and have the postgame concert, and have all the festivities that we have planned. We're looking forward to sharing them all with our fans tonight."

Bisbing admits they've been pretty lucky over the years for the Independence Eve Celebration with not having to postpone the event due to weather, and he's hoping that trend continues. However, the Bisons will see what the night has to offer and go on from there.

"As always, we're fan-first, and we always look out for our great fans, the great fans of Western New York and Southern Ontario. Whatever happens, we'll make sure that they have a great experience tonight, and if we have to make any adjustments to the future schedule, we will," Bisbing said.

Tickets are still available for Wednesday night's festivities at the Sahlen Field box office, as well as Bisons.com. In addition, the gates open Wednesday afternoon at 4:30 p.m. ET with first pitch set for 6 o'clock.

"We have some some great tributes before the game, including World War II [veteran], Buffalo native Joe Synakowski throwing out the first pitch," Bisbing detailed. "We'll be selling the miniature handheld American flags for a $5 donation, that will go to the production of a documentary film on another great Western New York hero, Charles N. DeGlopper from Grand Island, who gave his life to save his platoon a couple of days after the Normandy landing and invasion. We'll tell a little bit about that story, welcome his family as well. And then throughout the game, as well as my favorite moment every year when the BPO plays, the Armed Forces salute, and we ask active and retired members of the military and their families to stand up, be recognized, and receive the the thanks and appreciation from the Bisons' crowd for what they do so that we can have nights and days like this, and celebrate at the ballpark our nation's Independence."

Town of Aurora:

Once again, the Town of Aurora is hosting its annual Fourth of July celebration on Wednesday, with festivities ongoing throughout the day.

"We have a parade that's going to start at 6:30 p.m., it'll start over and Riley Street and wind its way around to end up at Hamlin Park," said Aurora Town Supervisor Chuck Snyder in an interview with WBEN. "We have two grand marshals, as we usually do - Dr. Frank Cerny and Dr. Leonard Bradley will be the grand marshals - this afternoon. Once you get to Hamlin Park, there's going to be lots of vendors with pizza, hot dogs, popcorn, ice cream and all that good stuff that makes a picnic just a fun place to be. Then we have some bands starting up about 8 o'clock, Yank the Cover will be playing. And a little bit after that, the fireworks we start at 10 o'clock. Just come on out, have a great day and relax, and hopefully Mother Nature will cooperate with us and it'll be a great time."

Snyder admits the weather forecast has been a concern for him since early Wednesday morning, and the town has been in contact with the Chief of Police, the Recreation Department, the Fire Company and various others departments regarding which way they want to go with festivities. However, Snyder says everything is going to be planned as scheduled, and the hope will be to make it through the evening.

The good news, though, is there is a backup plan for fireworks if the weather does not allow for them Wednesday night.

"We have the rain date of tomorrow, the Fourth of July, for the fireworks, but, of course, you don't have nearly the vendors there that you normally would. It's a much scaled down version what will happen today, but that is the backup plan if it rains," Snyder said.

Snyder says if you have nothing to do Wednesday night, feel free to come down to enjoy the festivities. He does warn, though, there is always a good crowd that comes out for their annual Fourth of July celebration.

"We usually get about 4,000-to-5,000 people that come out to enjoy these fireworks, so you won't be parking too close if you wait until about 7:30 or 8 o'clock to get there," Snyder said. "But that's the biggest thing. I mean, people are great, they're well organized and well behaved. It's just a great crowd."

Town of Tonawanda:

It will be a grand evening of fun and celebration in the Town of Tonawanda at Kenney Park along Colvin Boulevard. Tonawanda Town Councilman Carl Szarek says the park has recently been outfitted with a new playground for the kids, as well as a new parking lot to make access a lot easier.

"We got the [American Legion] Bands of the Tonawandas coming in, we have music. Fireworks are going to start at 9:30 p.m.," Szarek said with WBEN. "We used to start at 10 o'clock, but starting at 9:30 makes it a lot easier for some of the families with young children. So we're really excited about this again, and with the enhancements we've made at the park, it's going to be a beautiful evening."

Szarek admits the town used to put too much worry into the weather for their Fourth of July celebrations, but the plan is to go 100% into the festivities, barring any sort of wild weather event.

"The music's going to be on no matter what, the Legion Bands of the Tonawandas are gonna be playing. We'll have some music in-between, a little entertainment hopefully, and we've got food trucks. So we're going no matter what," Szarek said. "Obviously if it gets a little crazy with the rain or lightning, we'll pull the plug. But right now, it's gorgeous outside, a little breeze, so hopefully maybe that'll blow the rain the other ways. So we're all set, and the park looks beautiful."

If the town does have to pull the plug on fireworks on Wednesday, unfortunately, there is no rain date because of licensing matters with the fireworks company out of Rochester. Regardless, the music will go on, and the hope will be to get the fireworks off on time.

For anyone making their way to Kenney Park on Wednesday, Szarek advises residents to be ready for the warmer conditions throughout the day.

"We do have food trucks, so I would suggest bringing plenty of fluids. Hopefully not the alcohol side of that, but plenty of water and pop or drinks for the kids. But it'll be a fun time. Even just to hang around the park and see our new playgrounds that we have, I think even if it did rain or even before the fireworks would start, there's gonna be enough for folks to do that I think they'll be pleased."

Niagara Falls State Park:

Festivities for the Two Nations Celebration at Niagara Falls State Park got underway on Monday with the celebration of Canada Day, which is always July 1. On Thursday, officials on the U.S. side of the border are looking forward to July 4, the nation's celebration of Independence Day.

"We will be having a nine-minute fireworks show starting at 10 p.m. And for the first time, and I've been here 17 years, we've not done this, we're going to have it set to music. We're trying something new just for this special night, July 4," said Angela Berti from New York State Parks. "We will be having really cool music from both American and Canadian artists set to the nine-minute fireworks show."

The good news in Niagara Falls is there is a nightly fireworks display, along with an illumination of the Falls, between now and Oct. 14 starting at 10 p.m. ET. Those fireworks are usually just five minutes long for residents and visitors, but the celebration on Thursday will be a bit extended.

The fireworks in Niagara Falls are shot off from the Canadian side, so they are the ones that make the call on fireworks if the weather does not allow for them to go off.

"They'll let us know as soon as they possibly can tell based on weather predictions when fireworks might be canceled. And we do our best to get the word out with social media at our Niagara Falls State Park Facebook page," Berti explained with WBEN. "But I think for Fourth of July, it looks pretty good, and it looks like all systems go for July 4 fireworks."

Berti adds if you're looking for something to do on Thursday or any day this Fourth of July weekend, feel free to make a day of it with plenty to do on the U.S. side of the Falls.

"Come on out, come on out early, spend the day or sunset time here is really, really pretty. Have a bite to eat either at Top of the Fall here in the park or somewhere else in the City of Niagara Falls, lots of great options. And then stroll on over and check the fireworks out at 10 p.m., bring a blanket," she said. "The best viewing places are Terrapin Point and Prospect Point, and there's always a really nice show."