Music to fill the sky at “Starry Night in the Garden”

Written for The Villager

   Year after year thousands of people fill the lush Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens for an evening of food, music and wine, and this year is no different.
   On Wednesday, June 30, 2010, the evening will feature music by Melanie Fiona, The Calling’s Alex Band, Serena Ryder and, headlining the evening, Collective Soul.

   Starry Night it the Garden is put on by Star 102.5, a Buffalo radio station, and takes place at the Botanical Gardens for whom the money is raised for.  The event has been successful at raising money since 2000, totaling into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, said Brian Demay, program director and show host.

   This year guests have two ticket options:  general admission or VIP tickets.

   General admission includes samplings of gourmet food from some of the finest restaurants in the area, as well as wine from Niagara Wine Trail and a complementary Star 102.5 wine glass.

   “A lot of the concerts these days ticket prices are $40 or more and all you get is music, but we give you not only music, but also food and wine all included in your ticket price,” Demay said.

   The second, and newest option to the event, are the VIP tickets.  Those who purchase these tickets will be given their own private tent with seating for them and a few other guests, a private wine area, a catered meal from Lucarelli’s, front stage access, a meet and greet with the artists, all for $100.

   Collective Soul is said to play about an hour and the other artists are to perform for 30-45 minutes.

   The event usually attracts between 2,500 and 3,000 people, but Star expects even more, Demay said.

   Tickets are still available, but they are going fast.

   “We sold out last year about a week before the show and we are already 100 ahead of last year,” Demay said.

   For the most part, Demay said people stand while enjoying the festivities, but some do bring blankets or lawn chairs to sit on, which is encouraged.

   Those who may be worried about parking for the show can relax because there is plenty of parking available at the Gardens and in the surrounding areas as well.

   Starry Night in the Garden is an all-ages show that Demay says people wait for and enjoy each year.

   “The event has grown and people really looked forward to it … it’s a really good event, a lot of fun,” he said.

   Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for VIP’s, 6:00 p.m. for general admissions and Melanie Fiona is scheduled to begin at 6:15 p.m.  The show is expected to last until 9 p.m.