The 2025 Niagara Falls Blues Festival will return to Old Falls Street from September 12 to 13 for its 16th year.
The free, two-day event features regional and national blues performers, food and drink vendors, and a downtown setting just steps from Niagara Falls.
The festival has become a staple of the region’s live music calendar, drawing blues fans from across the Northeast. It is known for presenting a mix of established blues artists and emerging acts, all in a scenic, walkable location in the heart of the city.
The Niagara Falls Blues Festival traces its roots back to Thomas “Toby” Rotella, a Niagara Falls native who opened the Imperial Garage nightclub on Third Street in 1980. Built from a condemned building, the club became a hotspot for blues legends like Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Buddy Guy, and Stevie Ray Vaughan. It was here that the idea for the festival first took shape.
The first Niagara Falls Blues Festival was held in 1984 at the former Niagara Falls Convention Center. It returned in 2008 with a rain-soaked but successful one-day event. In 2009, Rotella founded the Niagara Festival & Entertainment Group, a nonprofit committed to preserving blues music through free community events and education.
The festival has since grown into one of the Northeast’s top blues events. It is operated entirely by volunteers and supported through local sponsorships and donations.
Following Rotella’s passing in 2023, this year’s festival is dedicated to his memory and enduring vision.
The festival takes place on Old Falls Street, a pedestrian-friendly strip in downtown Niagara Falls located just minutes from the natural wonder itself. With food trucks, local vendors, and a welcoming crowd of music lovers, the festival offers a laid-back, family-friendly environment that reflects the spirit of the blues.
Admission to the Niagara Falls Blues Festival is free. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and arrive early for prime viewing. More information, including parking and event updates, can be found at the Niagara Falls Blues Fest website.
2025 Niagara Falls Blues Festival Schedule
Friday, September 12, 2025
5:00-6:30 PM: Bruce Wojick & The Struggle
7:00-8:30 PM: The Shaelyn Band
9:00-10:30 PM: Spencer Mackenzie
Saturday, September 13, 2025
1:00-2:30 PM: Sauce Boss with Extra Sauce Travelling Gumbo Show
3:00-4:30 PM: Dave Weld & The Imperial Flames
5:00-6:30 PM: Wayne Baker Brooks
7:00-8:30 PM: Tommy Z
9:00-10:30 PM: Kelley Hunt and The 5
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