Labour Day weekend events promise to lighten up the mood as tropical storm leaves

The only floodgates opening this Labour Day weekend will be the US border crossings in anticipation of one of the busiest weekends for travellers crossing the border.

Events like the National Buffalo Wing Festival will make room for hungry travellers looking for something to spice up their weekend.  The annual U.S. Chicken Wing Eating Championship will be held in the midst of over 30 tons of wings served to over 70000 attendees.  You can check out the 2011 Festival Brochure for more information.  You might also find the Scovile Chile Heat Chart a useful reference to save (or assault) your tastebuds.

Rochester will be holding its annual Drum Corps Associates World Championships, while New York will be hosting Carnival, which is a celebration of Caribbean-American community. Carnival makes Carribbean dishes accessible to the public like jerk chicken, chicken stew, fried chicken, beef stew, oxtail, rice and peas, salad, macaroni pie, fried flying fish, curry goat, roti, callaloo, souse, salt fish, fried bake, and coconut bread.  Here, the latest soca and reggae music will accent the street activities.

J’Ouvert (French for “daybreak”) is also celebrated in New York as a predawn festival on Carnival day. Steel drums are the only forms of music that will be played during this portion of the festival. Revelers in J’Ouvert wear costumes but unlike Carnival day, J’Ouvert costumes are inexpensive and are often creations that mock political issues, celebrities, and prominent events. The predawn celebration begins at 2am.

The Wattsburg Erie County Fair will run Labour Day weekend in its 127th year.  The fair is traditional with entertainers, midway and amusement rides, truck, tractor, and horse pulls, and other family activities.

Further east will be the New York State Fair.  The full schedule of events includes Ne-Yo and Cee Lo Green, Lady Antebellum, Three Doors Down, and Selena Gomez.  The fair showcases New York’s proud farming tradition, hosting nationally renowned horse and cattle shows, 4-H competitions, and the fresh produce grown locally by New York’s farmers.  In addition to the nationally renowned performers there will be wild animals, petting zoos, and the midway with rides and games.

All of these activities provide a great way to spend a summer day – or several – with the entire family.  Be sure to visit the Duty Free land border location on your way there to enjoy some duty free, discounted goods during your trip.