Buffalo WinterFest / Powder Keg Festival Still A Go With No Snow

This weekend is the 3rd Annual Buffalo Winter Fest and Powder Keg Festival and although it has been a very spring like winter, cooler temps and even a few flakes are in the forecast starting Friday. Who would have thought a Winter Fest in Buffalo would be lacking snow?

Not to worry, there will be more FREE fun activities than ever before (even without the snow). All around Niagara Square and along Delaware Ave. there will be outdoor activities including a ice carving, wood carving, ice skating and even a Snow-crow making competition. What is a snow-crow? It's half snow man and half scare crow, of course! Sometimes you have to make do with what you have.

There will also be a Police vs. Fire Olympics and a strongman competition, along with broomball and touch football games. Bring the whole family, there will be plenty to do for the kiddos as well with a petting zoo, hockey shot competitions, Kan Jam, a scavenger hunt, hay rides and the SPCA's Whisker Wagon.

New this year, festival goers will be able to go inside to warm up as the Statler City will play host to the indoor activities and events. The newly renovated Grand Ballroom inside the Statler will be Western New York's most elegant beer tent as local bands such as Free Henry, Critt's Juke Joint and Mick Hayes will take the stage on Saturday and 90 West and West Of The Mark on Sunday as part of the 'City of Lights Live' Music Fest. Check out the full line up and times here.

Hungry? Thirsty? Don't worry, this is a Buffalo event, there will be plenty to eat and drink. Wintertime favorites from some of WNY's best restaurants will be inside the Statler's Terrace Room, as well as a few of our favorite local food trucks along set up along Delaware. Sunday will feature a chili cook-off starting at 1pm.

If you want to get a jump on the weekend and make this a three-day event, be sure to check out the Buffalo Winter Bash Wine and Beer Tasting Friday night inside Statler City. Tickets are just $30 in advance or $35 at the door to sample craft beer and wine from some of WNY's best local wineries and breweries and includes chicken wings from area restaurants, light snacks and live music all night.

There will also be something you have never seen in downtown Buffalo before: snowboarding. Yeah, snowboarding in front of City Hall. You may be asking how? Trucks, snow guns and the crew from Holiday Valley will converge on Niagara Square Friday evening and transform it into a winter wonderland for the Red Bull Butter Cup Snowboard Series. This competition will feature pro boarders from along the east coast competing for cash prizes, but you can get in on the action too. Registration is 3-5pm on Saturday and the comp starts at 5. Still a little skeptical? Check out this video and see how Red Bull pulled it off in Brooklyn.

Bundle up the family and head down to Niagara Square this weekend and Occupy Winterfest!