BUFFALO, N.Y. -- "The 4th at Riverside" has been put on by the 21st Ward Independence Association for 61 years. It started as a small family event, and was built into a five-day festival.
All of that changed in 2013.
"There was a fight between a group of girls that came from another part of the city, and it started with a few girls from the Riverside area. It turned into an all-out brawl which caused a lot of negative publicity," said 21st Ward Association President Jimbo McDonald.
McDonald says their rides company, Carol Stream Amusements, was sued by one of the girls in that fight. The company has since declined to come back. McDonald reached out to other companies, but said they were also wary of coming following the incident.
"We really just went to the drawing board,” McDonald said. “We really wanted to have some kind of presence in the Riverside area for Independence Day, and that's when last year we decided to just have a parade."
The 21st Ward Association Secretary, Brian Hoock, says they were pleased with last year's attendance and they've decided to build on it by adding several events at the AMVETS Post and the George Washington Club, including a beauty pageant, Mayor of the Towpath contest, car show, live music and a pancake breakfast.
"We're looking just to bring the community back, and slow but sure, bring in a lot of events over," Hoock said.
McDonald says he believes the 4th at Riverside will continue to grow once more, and that he does have preliminary interest from a rides company for next year.
"If we can get a contract for next year, we've talked to him about getting a three-year contract so we can be back in the park with a 5-day festival for 2016-2018," McDonald said.