Share Your Memories: Photos of Events at the Amphitheater in the Park

The amphitheater in Ralph Wilson Park (former LaSalle Park), with its iconic Birdair pavilion, has been a vital part of Buffalo’s cultural landscape since it opened in 1984. For four decades, this venue has hosted countless community events, concerts, and performances that have brought people together. We invite you to share your photos from the events you’ve attended here and help us celebrate this cherished space that continues to inspire and unite our community.

When the amphitheater was completed in 1984, it immediately became a hub for local culture and entertainment. Its first major event, featuring performances from the Langston Hughes Institute, set the stage for many more. The Birdair pavilion, with its unique translucent roof, has supported everything from dancers and poets to musical legends, and the space has always been dedicated to fostering community engagement. Curious about the structure? Learn more in our Heritage Engagement Project blog about the architectural heritage.

Throughout the years, the amphitheater has hosted iconic performances and memorable events, including:

• A Tribute to Scotland Concert in 1986, celebrating cultural diversity and heritage.
• The Commodores and Natalie Cole in 1990, bringing soul and pop music to the Buffalo waterfront.
• Underground Railroad Commemoration in 1995, marking Buffalo’s key role in this important chapter of American history.
• Rick James Funk Fest, a celebration of the late Rick James, Buffalo’s own “Super Freak,” and the vibrant funk music scene he helped shape was first held in 2004. This festival continues to honor his legacy and the city’s musical history.
• Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade, an annual event that fills the amphitheater with lively music, dance, and cultural pride, uniting Buffalo’s diverse Latinx community and visitors from across the region.

These events are just a few highlights in a long history of memorable moments at the amphitheater. Whether it’s a family outing, a concert with friends, or a special cultural celebration, your photos are an important part of the amphitheater’s story. 

We encourage you to send us your photos from any events you’ve attended at the former LaSalle Park’s amphitheater, whether it’s Funk Fest, the Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade, or any other community gathering. Your memories help keep the spirit of this incredible venue alive for future generations.

Please share your pictures with us at info@RWParkBuffalo.org, and join us in celebrating the ongoing legacy of Ralph Wilson Park’s amphitheater!

We can’t wait to see your photos and hear your stories!

March News From RWPC!

Spring is in the air! The break in the weather has given the construction crews the green light to pick up the pace, and it is exciting to see the progress made on the athletic fields, hills, and plantings of many, many more trees. Check back on our flickr site to see the incredible transformation with your own eyes.  

This month, we’re focusing on one of Ralph Wilson Park’s most iconic and beloved features: the Birdair amphitheater. Since its opening in the early 1980’s, the amphitheater at LaSalle Park has hosted unforgettable musical acts, dances, cultural festivals and more, including Buffalo’s own Funk Fest (pictured below).  I saw my first concert, Ani DiFranco here in 1999!

As we prepare to reopen the park to the public, we want to make sure the amphitheater is ready for primetime. That’s why the Ralph Wilson Park Conservancy will soon begin raising funds to restore this treasure, ensuring it remains a gathering place for joy, creativity, and connection for generations to come.

We’d love to hear your stories and see your photos of the amphitheater over the years! Send your photos to info@RWParkBuffalo.org, and be part of preserving the legacy of this beloved space!

Stay tuned for ways to get involved in restoring our beloved amphitheater. We’re so grateful for your support and enthusiasm as we work to bring this incredible park to life.

See you outside!

Katie Campos, Executive Director

Other Updates

• Last chance to see Buffalo’s winter birds! Read about these cold-weather creatures at the Heritage Engagement Project website or use our interactive microcourse to identify five types of Buffalo winter birds, before some head back north!
• WinterFest was Snow Much Fun! Relive the day with our photos, video & recap.
• Check out our February Construction Watch!

Five Birds to Find this Winter

In last month’s Heritage Engagement Project (HEP), we focused on the heritage of winter birds at the Buffalo shoreline, a heritage the redesigned park will soon be better able to promote. This month we want to help those interested in seeing some of those birds firsthand. We are also committed to exploring new ways to engage people in heritage this coming year. We combined these two desires and created a micro-course.

This piece of interactive content will teach you about Western New York’s winter birds in just a few minutes. Check out “Five Birds to Find this Winter” and let us know what you think!

To read more about the project this article is a part of, check out our HEP page for past and future reading on heritage-building at Ralph Wilson Park in Western New York.