Niagara Power Vista hosts NYPA Wildlife Festival

Highlights include wildlife shows, Tuscarora culture, family-friendly STEM activities, interactive exhibits

New York Power Authority press release 

Explore wildlife shows, conservation and science activities, and Tuscarora culture, at New York Power Authority’s Wildlife Festival from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (rain or shine) Saturday, Sept. 26.

Held in conjunction with National Hunting and Fishing Day, the Wildlife Festival features popular Niagara County Federation of Conservation Club (NCFCC) activities including a fishing pond, archery and crossbow (age requirement) demonstration. The festival celebrates more than four decades of collaboration between NYPA and the NCFCC.

Popular festival shows and returning exhibitors include:

√ Jeff Musial and Nickel City Reptiles and Exotics

√ Carmen Presti and the Primate Sanctuary

√ Hawk Creek Wildlife Center

√ Skyhunters Birds of Prey

√ AWARE rehabilitation center

√ K-9 demonstrations by the Lewiston Police Department and Niagara County Sheriff’s Office

√ Cultural dance performances by Jordan Smith and the Dancers of the Haudenosaunee

The annual event is just one of the many ways the Power Authority supports local initiatives and organizations that strengthen the ecological resilience of New York’s natural resources. That includes responsible stewardship of more than 100,000 acres of land and 524 miles of waterways across New York, and a statewide community greening funding opportunity that supports healthier, cooler and more resilient neighborhoods.

NYPA Wildlife Festival file photos

••••••••

A trip on the wild side

Other activities and events during the day include shows presented by Lockport Challenger in its mobile planetarium, face-painting, balloon art and a rock-climbing wall from noon to 3 p.m.

Food will be prepared by Boy Scout Troop No. 42 and be available for purchase.

Science and sustainability activities will be in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) tent. Exhibitors include NYPA; Penn Dixie Fossil Park and Nature Preserve; robotics clubs; and creepy, crawly insects and other hands-on activities with Niagara University.

The Tuscarora tent will also have crafts and activities that highlight the local indigenous culture, including the making of cornhusk dolls, beading and painting. The tent will also feature wild‑game tastings, including rabbit, buffalo, quail eggs and elk pemmican, as well as traditional dishes such as corn soup, strawberry juice and herbal tea.

A variety of conservation exhibitors will be on-site, including the state Department of Environmental Conservation divisions, state Parks Interpretive Center and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services.

NYPA Wildlife Festival file photos

••••••••

Event logistics

Parents can complete a lost child wristband to assist with child safety efforts during the festival. Please ask for the band at the information tent or reception desk inside the Power Vista.

Enjoy free rides on the Discover Niagara Shuttle to area attractions, including the Lewiston Harvest & Hops Festival. For more information on the Discover Niagara Shuttle and its route, visit www.discoverniagarashuttle.com.

Parking is free and will be available in the Power Vista parking lot and adjacent lots at Niagara University.

For more information on the festival, call 716-286-6652 or 866-NYPA-FUN, email npvista@nypa.gov, or visit www.nypa.gov/niagarapowervista.

The Niagara Power Project has been providing New Yorkers with reliable, clean electricity for more than six decades. The crown jewel of the state's power infrastructure is one of the largest hydropower facilities in the nation, with a capacity to generate 2,600 MW of clean electricity. 

The New York Power Authority is the largest state public power organization in the nation, operating 17 generating facilities and more than 1,550 circuit-miles of transmission lines. More than 80% of the electricity NYPA produces is clean, renewable hydropower. NYPA finances its operations through the sale of bonds and revenues earned in large part through sales of electricity. For more information, visit www.nypa.gov and follow on X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Substack and LinkedIn.