Buffalo Scoop
West Senca Chamber Ad

Chestnut Ridge Conservancy’s Oktoberfest set for October 13

Sep 22, 2017 | Arts & Culture

The Chestnut Ridge Conservancy has announced that its sixth annual fundraiser will be moving to the park’s casino and taking on an Oktoberfest theme. It will be held on Friday, Oct. 13.

The event’s honorary chairpersons are David and Michelle Busch. David is senior vice president at BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York. The emcee for the evening will be Patrick Hammer, meteorologist at WGRZ-TV Channel 2 News On Your Side.

The Chestnut Ridge Conservancy will be bestowing the Raymond A. Fabiniak Guardian Award to Ron Smith, who has worked tirelessly for Chestnut Ridge Park.

There will be a large tent on the patio of the iconic Chestnut Ridge Park Casino overlooking the Buffalo and Niagara Falls skyline. A family-style German feast will be served to guests. An accordion player will start the evening “troubadour style” while guests enjoy craft beer and hors d’oeuvres such as pretzels with beer cheese dip, chilled Reuben tortilla rolls and stroganoff meatballs.

The move to the park was decided as a way to showcase the fall foliage, explained Justine LeFauve, Chestnut Ridge Conservancy president. “We’ve had our first five galas at the Orchard Park Country Club, which was terrific, but thought that all our guests would love to actually see the park when it is at its best, with autumn crimson, yellow and orange being center stage!”

Special lighting will be used to outline the trees and casino as dusk approaches. The recently restored casino murals, a major Conservancy project, will be a highlight for the guests to enjoy. After dinner, a DJ with a German party music repertoire will take the stage to entertain guests throughout the night.

There will be dual pricing for the event this year. Guests can get the entire evening’s program for $125, which includes beer, wine, open bar, appetizers, dinner and desserts.  It begins at 6 p.m. A $75 ticket is being offered for those who would like to enjoy the evening with just hot snack foods, beer, wine, open bar and desserts. This begins at 8 p.m.

A roaring fire will be set in the giant casino fireplace and desserts will be served hearthside with coffees and other beverages.

A silent auction will include photographs of the park commissioned by the Conservancy and donated by noted area artists.

Tickets for the full evening or the after party can be purchased online at ChestnutRidgeConservancy.org.

West Senca Chamber Ad