Town of Evans pitches late-summer lakefront visits along Lake Erie

The Town of Evans is promoting waterfront recreation, dining and community events as summer winds down along its 12-mile Lake Erie shoreline near Buffalo. A new visitor site and a fall music festival are part of the push to keep residents and visitors coming back through autumn.

Why it matters: - Evans is trying to extend its tourism season beyond August by steering more traffic to local businesses, parks and waterfront sites. - The effort could help visitors and residents find more ways to spend time in the community before winter arrives. - The town sits just outside Buffalo, giving the area a lakeside draw with regional access.

What happened: - The Town of Evans highlighted late-summer and early-fall activities available in Evans and Angola. - The community spans 12 miles of Lake Erie shoreline. - Bennett Beach, Sturgeon Point Marina, local parks and trails are among the places being promoted for boating, fishing, kayaking, biking, hiking and lakefront recreation. - Town officials also pointed to community events and local dining as part of the end-of-summer appeal.

The details: - Economic Development Advisory Committee Chair Val Stonitsch said the season does not end in August and said there is still a lot happening throughout Evans and Angola. - The town recently launched Explore Evans-Angola, a visitor resource for local attractions, outdoor recreation, dining, waterfront access and other activities. - The site is meant to give visitors and residents one place to plan outings and discover destinations. - The town has already hosted summer events that included live music at Sturgeon Point Marina and Lake Erie Beach. - The town’s online community events calendar lists current activities across Evans and Angola. - Upcoming events include the Angola-on-the-Lake Fall Music Festival on Oct. 2 and 3. - Explore Evans-Angola also groups together local attractions, outdoor adventures, waterfront experiences, food and drink, and places to stay. - Ray Ashton, town supervisor for the Town of Evans, said there is still time to enjoy what Evans and Angola have to offer. - Ashton said visitors can spend time on the lake, attend local events, visit local businesses or use parks and public spaces before winter sets in. - The town describes Evans as founded in 1821 and located along Lake Erie with destinations such as Wendt Beach Park and Sturgeon Point Marina.

Between the lines: - The town is packaging its shoreline, events calendar and business directory into a simple visitor pitch. - That approach suggests Evans is trying to make short visits easier to plan and repeat visits more likely. - The emphasis on fall events shows the town wants to keep momentum after peak summer weekends fade.

What’s next: - Residents and visitors can check the Town of Evans Community Events Calendar for upcoming activities at community events calendar. - More information on attractions, recreation and dining is available at Explore Evans-Angola. - The fall festival on Oct. 2 and 3 will be the next major public draw highlighted by the town.

The bottom line: - Evans is betting that its lakefront, local businesses and event calendar can keep summer alive a little longer.