Staff Reports
Blues singer Barbara St. Claire will perform a free concert to cap off a full day of family fun at the second annual Autumn on Main Street Festival in the City of Tonawanda.
Sunday’s event begins at 10 a.m. and will showcase the city’s downtown merchants.
“It was such a great success last year that we decided to do it again,” said Kory Schuler, president of the Swiftwater Business Association, the organization that represents the city’s Main Street merchants.
“People are glad we’re doing this again. Hopefully this is the second annual of many annuals to come.”
Several new shops have opened since last fall, including Cobble Creek Antiques, Attic to Basement and TNT Pizza. Generation Next Consignment & Thrift Shop is scheduled to open Sunday at 83 Broad St.
More than 35 vendors will line Main Street, selling handmade crafts, antiques and artwork, plus there will be civic organizations providing information on the services they offer.
Moreover, the event will feature activities for kids and a chowder sale hosted by the Knights of Columbus.
Coinciding with all of that will be a series of blues concerts beginning at noon. St. Claire’s performance is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Autumn Festival began as an opportunity to show people what the city’s downtown merchants have to offer during a non-peak time of the year, between the busy summer season but before Christmas shopping starts.
“We wanted to do something that highlighted that nice fall time in the city,” said Schuler, who owns Sweet Briar Antiques on Main Street.
“There’s a lot for people to check out this year. Everything we do seems to be getting bigger and better every year.”
