Completed nearly 100 projects with festival goers!

Attendees will create their own mini glass

window. The projects will be made using
compatible fused glass and will need to fire in the kilns back at 
(like Glass Cookies!) after which they can be picked up at the community center
 

Sampling in Symmetry 

Festival goers enjoyed drop-in a collage workshop inviting attendees to explore the history of Buffalo’s Old First Ward through art-making. Participants used pre-selected archival images sourced from the Buffalo History Museum and additional materials curated by Parrish, all focused on the Old First Ward, its maps, buildings, workers, businesses, and street life. The workshop was designed to connect festival-goers with the neighborhood’s past while encouraging individual creativity.

 Attendees created their own mini glass

window. The projects were made using
compatible fused glass and were fired in the kilns back at  SGAA (like Glass Cookies!) SGAA Completed nearly 100 projects with festival goers! 

AKG Art truck has joined us annually customizing projects for festival goers to the theme each year. 

Each year Buffalo Bike tour arranges 2 special tours that take place during the festival leading guest through the neighborhood and ending up at the festival. The tours highlight significant Old First Ward historical moments and places.

CEPA joined us again with their portable dark room and made blueprints with festival goers on Republic Street.

MJ brought his talents to the festival and plain eir painted throughout the day. The painting is on display at the OFW Community Center.

Buffalo Improv House, an improv comedy theater company joined us and spent the day creating live improv comedy on the spot! 

Emma and team worked with the youth program at the Old First Ward Community Center leading up to the festival to build puppets that were used in our Puppet Parade, They also created a photo booth experience for the day. Festival goers were able to use puppets and props built to take keepsake photographs.

The Foundry designed and fabricated a metal art sculpture that used both new and used metal -- highlighting the ever changing and always resilient spirit of the Old First Ward. The sculpture will incorporated both new and repurposed metal, symbolizing the neighborhood’s ability to adapt, rebuild, and thrive through changing times. Its form drew inspiration from the area’s storied steelworking past while integrating contemporary design elements that speak to its vibrant present and future.

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Copper Eyes made custom wood and copper cutouts that festival goers could paint and assemble to take home.

Each year Papercraft Miracles brings us a hands-on community workshop. For the 2025 festival they worked with the OFW youth program to learn how to make handmade paper using upcycled leftover materials from businesses in the Old First Ward area! 

The paper was then used at their workshop during the festival. Festival goers made Shamrocks, Flowers, and more as a keepsake from the day.

Irish Classical Theatre took to the streets of the Old First Ward to teach festival goers about dialect and held open rehearsals festival goers could partake in and enjoy.