43.029444-78.8733331Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum,180 Thompson St,☏ +1 716 693-1885.Summer M-Sa 10AM-4PM, Su noon-4PM; spring and fall W-Su noon-4PM, winter closed.North Tonawanda is a former lumber port on the Erie Canal that, in 1915, became home to the Allan Herschell Company, America's largest producer of amusement park rides, particularly carousels. Though the company closed in 1970, the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum lives on in the former factory buildings, providing 15,000 visitors annually with exhibits and demonstrations on the history of the Herschell Company and amusement rides in general. An original Allan Herschell carousel from 1916 is the centerpiece of the museum's collection. Special programs offered by the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum include beginner and advanced woodworking courses, and a short walking and biking trail leads from the factory complex through historic downtown North Tonawanda to the banks of the old Erie Canal.Adults $10, seniors $8, children & students $5, under 2 free.(updated Jul 2023)
Railroad Museum of the Niagara Frontier,111 Oliver St,☏ +1 716 694-9588.Jun-Oct: Sa 11AM-4PM, or by appt.The Niagara Frontier chapter of the National Railway Historical Society operates this facility to show off their collection, but as it's all run by volunteers it's only open very limited hours.Free; donations welcome.(updated Jul 2023)
Canal Fest.Held on the third full week of July in the twin cities of Tonawanda and North Tonawanda a short distance north of Buffalo, Canal Fest is the largest annual festival held along the banks of this historic waterway. The live music performances the festival holds yearly at Gateway Harbor are legendary; additionally, the eight-day run of Canal Fest 2011 boasted a parade, a boat-building competition, a sack race and other activities for kids, boat races along the canal, and a fireworks finale.
43.023889-78.8772221Riviera Theatre,67 Webster St,☏ +1 716-692-2413.Box office: M-F 10AM-4PM. Also open 1 hr prior to live events and 30 min prior to movies.(updated Dec 2021)
43.047085-78.8847821Old Editions Book Shop,954 Oliver St.,☏ +1 716 842-1734.Tu-Sa 10AM-5:30PM or by appointment.Now semiretired, in 2018 owner Ron Cozzi moved Old Editions from its former location in downtown Buffalo to the much smaller building on Oliver Street that used to be home of Platter's candy store. But the stock in trade is the same as always: still one of the largest antiquarian bookstores in the United States, with a treasure trove of rare books, original art and prints, historical documents, collectible magazines and other memorabilia.(updated Nov 2018)
Pane's Restaurant,984 Payne Ave(park behind the building via 16th Ave),☏ +1 716 692-7076.Tu-Su 11:30AM-8:30PM.Pane's has been providing homestyle Italian-American classics to the area since the late 1950s, so they must be doing something right. The menu is extensive and goes beyond just pasta and chicken parmesan, though the Italian dishes are the specialties. Service is friendly and familial. Enjoy the fish tanks in the walls for dine-in, or get takeout. Popular for banquets as well as catering.$20-$30.(updated Jul 2023)
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