Family Fishing
Each year on the final weekend in June, Freedom Park comes alive during our annual Family Fishing Event — a joyful community tradition bringing families together for fun, food, and fellowship. In 2023, we proudly gave away more than 600 fishing rods and over 35 bikes to kids and families. Guests enjoyed an incredible lunch featuring the Best Fish Fry in Town by Sam Smith and Kato with the Anglers, along with free hot dogs and hamburgers, plus sweet treats from Mickie at Famous Doughnuts.
This unforgettable weekend wouldn’t be possible without the many volunteers and community partners who show up with heart and dedication, including Lenny Lane and the FATHERS, Friends of Broderick Park, Eastside Bike Club, Buffalo United Front, Buffalo Police, Buffalo Fire, and so many others. We are deeply grateful for everyone who helps make this event special — and we look forward to many more summers of memories at Freedom Park.
Healing by the Water
Healing by the Water is a community-centered series of events held at Freedom Park, designed to create space for reflection, restoration, and connection. Set along the calming presence of the water, these gatherings invite neighbors, families, and visitors to slow down, breathe deeply, and experience the healing power of nature and community.
Healing by the Water reflects Friends of Freedom Park’s commitment to nurturing both our green spaces and our community. By blending nature, wellness, and togetherness, these gatherings help strengthen bonds, promote mental and emotional health, and remind us of the importance of caring for one another.
We invite you to be part of Healing by the Water. Come as you are — bring a friend, a blanket, or just an open heart. Enjoy peaceful surroundings, meaningful connection, great food and music, and help us continue building Freedom Park as a place of peace, joy, and renewal.
MAAFA Ceremony
The MAAFA ceremony at Freedom Park is a powerful annual gathering dedicated to remembrance, reflection, and healing. Rooted in honoring the lives lost during the transatlantic slave trade and acknowledging the lasting impact on African descendants, this sacred event creates space for collective mourning, resilience, and restoration.
Held by the water, the MAAFA ceremony invites community members to come together in unity, paying tribute to ancestors while affirming the strength and continuity of Black life and culture. The MAAFA Event reflects Friends of Freedom Park’s commitment to creating spaces where history is acknowledged, voices are honored, and healing is collective. By gathering in nature and community, we affirm the importance of remembrance as a pathway toward unity and empowerment.
Through libations, spoken word, music, and community reflection, the MAAFA Event offers a meaningful opportunity to pause, honor history, and reconnect with one another. It is both a solemn remembrance and a celebration of survival — recognizing pain while uplifting hope and healing. Come as you are, bring loved ones, and stand with us as we honor the past, support one another in the present, and continue building a future rooted in dignity, peace, and community.
