The winter that almost did not happen finally blew into town just in time for Buffalo’s Winterfest & Powder Keg Festival. Amidst the touch football and street hockey rinks and ice sculptures, the Queen City Roller Girls braved the chill to occupy the volunteer tent. Temperatures dipped into the low 20s and 10s as Sheer Tara, Punk n Pi, Bully Holiday and Nova Cain of the Suicidal Saucies, Sour Grapes and Lamb Chop of the Knockouts, and Alley Kat Jaded Sinsibility served up cold beer and pop.
Spirits were high and the QCRG volunteers were kept warm by the glow of the heat lamps and camaraderie. “Fest goers were cheerful and generous with the pretzel-box tip jar, which was going to be given to a local charity,” said Sheer Tara from under her newly purchased Teddy Head wolf hat. Some of the regulars who kept coming back for more pop were members of Buffalo’s Finest who were served “ninja style” by Lamb Chop.
Meanwhile, Winterfest attendees warmed up in the luxuriously renovated Statler Building with area food vendors and live music. The QCRG skaters also manned a table in the main lobby and ran the first leg of a ticket gave-away contest that will play out on the QCRG facebook page. Contestants had to enter their own unique derby name and the best three will be chosen online by fans. Some of the favorite names entered were “Dr. Wang Chung” and “Dyngus Dana.”
The event organizers trucked in snow from area ski resorts just in case Saturday’s storm failed to produce any more white stuff. Temperatures were so cold during the event that the hollow rubber balls used for the street hockey tourneys shattered on impact. However brief, winter arrived in the nick of time ensuring another successful festival.