A full slate of both girls and boys basketball is scheduled for February 8 and we hope to see you there. Batavia High School will take on the Notre Dame Irish for a full day of both JV and Varsity girls and boys basketball. All proceeds from this event will benefit the Michael Napoleone Memorial Foundation.
Game times are to be determined and will be played at both Batavia High School and Genesee Community College.
Admission will be Adults $5 & Students $2, Children 5 & under -free!
There will be a 50/50 raffle at each game.
The Foundation will be running concessions and are looking for donations of soda, water, pizza, candy and chips! Monetary donations are also gratefully accepted. All donations assist our fundraising efforts!
The Foundation will also be looking for volunteers during the games to assist with raffles and concessions. Students will be awarded community service hours if volunteering.
Please call Laurie for any donations, volunteering, or questions at 585-409-3275.
The Michael Napoleone Memorial Foundation was established in 2007 in memory of Michael Napoleone who died at the age of 8 of Burkitts Lymphoma, a form of pediatric cancer. Since its start, the Foundation has given over $750,000 to families facing the challenges of a pediatric cancer diagnosis. They have donated over $75,000 to Youth programs from their grant funding, and supported research in the amount of $95,000. They also donated $50,000 to Golisano Children's Hospital and recently just completed their $25,000 gift to United Memorial Medical Center in Batavia.
The Foundation depends solely on volunteers and less than 3% of monies raised are applied to administrative costs.
Come out and watch your hometown teams and support a great cause!
The Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council (GOART!) is thrilled to announce the launch of its highly anticipated 2025 Winter Art Series. Offering a diverse array of classes and workshops designed for multi-aged individuals.
The upcoming series is designed to engage art enthusiasts across the region. Participants can expect a diverse lineup that caters to a wide range of interests. From young children to adults, everyone is invited to explore their creative potential or enhance their artistic skills through our engaging programs.
Be on the lookout for the GOART! Winter Event Calendar highlighting the schedule of classes and other events, which will be widely distributed or can also be picked up at GOART!
Individuals and families who are eager to learn what classes will be offered are encouraged to visit our website for information on registration and other details. The 2025 winter art series offerings allow participants to choose from a plethora of classes that align with their interests and schedules. Included in this series are Dotting Mandela and wearable-art classes.
In addition to adult classes, we are pleased to offer specialized sessions within our Explore Art program for youth up through twelfth grade. Our diverse curriculum ensures that there is something for everyone, including cooking classes for kids.
The upcoming series will also feature a six-week Hand Building Pottery class for youth in seventh through ninth grade, providing a comprehensive journey through various pottery techniques.
Additionally, our wearable fiber-art series will teach youths of all sexes how to crochet items such as hats, leg warmers, and fingerless gloves, emphasizing both creativity and practical skills. For those interested in jewelry making, we will offer classes tailored for young adults and adults, further expanding the scope of our wearable art series.
Furthermore, our annual youth art camp, scheduled for February 17-21, promises an enriching and immersive experience for young artists. Families are encouraged to secure their spots promptly, as space is limited. Scholarships are also available for those in need of financial assistance.
GOART! is also delighted to offer ongoing opportunities for artistic exploration, such as our drumming sessions with the Drum Circle, held monthly on the fourth Wednesday.
The public is invited to explore our website for detailed information on all our classes and events, with more exciting offerings to come throughout the year.
As spaces are limited, we recommend early registration to ensure participation in your preferred classes. GOART! extends deep gratitude to our teachers who will be sharing their expertise and passion with our community and we eagerly anticipate welcoming you to our creative space, where you can nurture your artistic talents and engage with other individuals who share similar interests.
For further details and to register for classes, please visit our website - www.https://goart.org. We look forward to welcoming you to one of our workshops and for you to experience with others the creativity that unfolds in our classes.
LeRoy wins large school Lions Tournament at GCC. Photo by Steve Ognibene
Le Roy scored 53 points and held Batavia to 46 points to win the large school division championship of the Peter Arras Memorial Basketball Tournament at GCC on Monday night.
The Oatkan Knights surged with five minutes left in the game, when they were trailing 44-37, going on a 16-2 scoring run.
The tournament is sponsored by the Batavia Lions Club.
Jean Agosto and Jake Higgins each scored 17 points for the Oatkan Knights. For each, 10 of those points came in the last five minutes. Adam Woodworth scored 11 points.
For Batavia, Carter Mullins scored 16 points and Casey Mazur scored eight.
Jake Higgins was selected tournament MVP, and Jean Agosto and Adam Woodworth made the all-tourney team.
The Blue Devils dominated on Friday in the big school division of the Peter Arras Memorial Basketball Tournament at GCC, beating Attica 89-55.
Gavin White led the way with 16 points. Casey Mazur and Adrian Martinez each scored 14. Carter Mullin, Aiden Kopper, Aaden Calletto each scored eight, and Grady Hemer and Justin Smith each scored seven.
For Attica, Blake Kines scored 15, and Justin Stockweather scored 14.
Notre Dame beat Eugenio Maria de Hostas 66-61 in the small school division of the Peter Arras Memorial Basketball Tournament at Genesee Community College on Friday.
Makyell Walker scored 29 points for the Fighting Irish. Aiden Bellevia scored 12, and TJ Cephus and Evan Fitzpatrick scored eight each.
Alexander beat Elba 68-32 in the first round of the Peter Arras Memorial Basketball Tournament in the small school division at Genesee Community College on Friday.
The final score: 68-32.
Kingston Woods scored 16 points for the Trojans, and Dylan Pohl scored 14.
Nicholas Scott and Ryan Marsceill each scored 10 for the Lancers.
Join the Richmond Memorial Library for a Blizzard of Reading winter reading program from January 6 through March 1! The basics? Read books, stay cozy, and have a chance to win prizes!
Teens 13-17 and adults 18 and up are invited to take part in A Blizzard of Reading. Participants can earn up to 6 grand prize entries!
Read four books (or three books and one magazine) (4 entries)
Attend a library program (one entry)
Play the “Who Said It?” game around the library by matching the quote to the book/ author. (one entry)
Grand prizes: One teen and one adult will each win a $50 gift card to Author’s Note bookstore in Medina. All participants will receive a small prize beginning February 21. Participants must have a valid library card from a NIOGA library to be eligible to win grand prizes.
Registration begins online or at the library on Monday, January 6, at 9 a.m. Visit batavialibrary.org for more info.
A Blizzard of Reading is sponsored by the Friends of Richmond Memorial Library.
The Holland Land Office Museum will be closed from Wednesday, January 1 through Saturday, January 18. The staff and volunteers of the museum will be working getting the museum ready for a brand new year in 2025 full of new exhibits, displays, programs and special events.
The museum will be resuming its regular operating hours of Tuesday through Saturday 10 am to 4 pm on Tuesday, January 21. For further information or questions please contact the museum at 585-343-4727 or hollandlandoffice@gmail.com.
When Pete Zeliff’s team presented a plan to host the World Aerobatic Championships in rural Batavia, he was clinging to hope that something might sway the Commission Internationale de Voltage Aerienne (more commonly known as CIVA) delegates.
After all, the competition has been in places such as Las Vegas, and the last time it was in the United States, it was in 2013 in Sherman-Denison, Texas, a metropolitan area with a population of more than 137,000.
“I was really surprised, I thought it was a long shot,” Zeliff said to The Batavian Thursday. “When it’s been here in the U.S., it’s been in places like Las Vegas. So, to go from Las Vegas to Batavia, New York, is a long stretch.”
And surprised he was, along with planning team members Shad Coulson, John Smutny, Doreen Hillard-Zeliff, Jennifer Vukovic, Monique Hartmann, and Rob Holland, a past world participant. Now, there will be one right here from Aug. 22 through 31 in 2026. The last event was in 2024 in Poland, and they are held every two years.
The team flew to Greece to make its pitch for the international event to be held at Genesee County Airport. One major reason why this site was chosen, Zeliff believes, “had to do with how well the Air Show went the last two years,” and an important logistical detail that there’s no tower or commercial air traffic.
Add to those assets the number of hotels and restaurants in the surrounding area, and Batavia made the cut, Zeliff said.
“There’s normally anywhere from 3,000 to 5,000 people over the 10 days that they compete that will attend the competition. And there will be 40 to 60 competitors from around the world,” he said. “There’s three to five Americans that will compete, and the rest of them will be from Europe and Australia and New Zealand. The competition goes for 10 days, and the competitors will get here four days early and practice before the competition starts.”
Part of the set-up includes nearby practice sites at Bethany Airpark (8NK4), Geneseo (D52), LeRoy (5G0) and Perry-Warsaw (01G). Part of practice means having an aerobatic box set up to line up the arena for competition. That block of airspace is approximately 3,300 feet long by 3,300 feet wide by 3,300 feet high, according to an “In The Loop” article on the CIVA website.
For safety, a minimum height above the ground is established, and severe penalty points are assigned if the pilot flies below the minimum height. The minimum height above the ground is 1,500 feet for the Primary and Sportsman categories, 1,200 feet for Intermediate, 800 feet for Advanced, and 328 feet for the Unlimited category, it states.
At the start of each category flight, the first pilot will fly past the judges at the minimum height to give them a visual reference for that height. When the pilot flies into the box, he looks down at a marked playing field. The aerobatic box markings are an L-shape in each of the 4 corners, a T-shape in the middle of each side, and an X-shape in the center of the playing field.
“When competitors compete, they have to stay within those guys; it protects the air space and the people on the ground,” he said. “They’ll fly three different routines in each category or class.
Given that this will be a first for Zeliff to actually watch a World Championship event himself, what prompted his interest in it for Batavia? He first mentioned Rob Holland, quite the skilled pilot from New Hampshire who has won the national competition 13 times in a row, he said.
“But he’s never won the overall world. And he’s one of the ones that came to us and asked what we thought about putting in an application to hold it in Batavia,” Zeliff said. “I thought it would be great to have a really world-class competition in Batavia.”
He described this competition as “the Olympics of aerobatics,” and medals are awarded to the winners in the end.
CIVA will be sending its own panel of judges for the event, and Zeliff said there are already various committees set up locally to handle the organization of the event. The proposed schedule begins with an unofficial practice day on Aug. 18, the Opening Ceremony on Aug. 22 and official contest flights to run through Aug. 31. It will end just five days before Wings Over Batavia 2026 is to begin on Sept. 5, which is the beginning of Labor Day weekend that year, he said. There has been talk about possible packages for attending both events, but no details have been finalized, and ticket sales will be announced closer to the end of 2025, he said.
In addition to the county airport being a non-towered airfield surrounded by mostly farmland, there are four hangars available for use with a total of 20,800 square feet to hangar aircraft, providing office space and a hospitality area.
The team’s presentation listed Batavia as being “blessed with an abundance of hotels within 1.5 miles of the contest site,” and being able to provide meals, transportation, shelter and dedicated team villages, Wi-Fi, judges’ stations at major points of the compass, portable restrooms, hydration and snacks for the event.
During late August, the weather has historically been “quite favorable for a successful contest,” with average temperatures at 70.3F, a wind speed of 7 mph and average precipitation of .13 inches.
The planning team has also proposed to Live Stream the contest, modeled after the U.S. Nationals experience for the last three years. The addition of the Live Stream has many benefits, the team said in a news release, including commercialization of the sport, benefits to the local economy, viewing access for friends and family of the competitors, additional sponsorship opportunities, and the video remains accessible online after the end of the event.
There was no application fee, however, the budget for this event is estimated at $400,000, Zeliff said. Competitors pay a fee to participate, and other revenue will be raised through sponsorships and ticket sales. Unlike the air show, there won’t be tents and concession stands on the airport grounds, so participants and visitors are likely to visit nearby restaurants and stores to buy food and other necessities.
“The big thing is, if you’ve got 3,000 people, you have to put them up in hotel rooms,” he said. “They’re gonna eat breakfast, lunch and dinner every day, and have rental cars and all that.”
Douglas Grant Goodwin, 33, of Maple Road, Alabama, is charged with criminal contempt 1st. Goodwin, currently in custody at the Genesee County Jail, made a phone call to a specific person at 11:44 a.m. on Dec. 15 in violation of an order of protection. Goodwin is also charged with promoting prison contraband 2nd. Goodwin is accused of possessing two mobile phones while being incarcerated.
Philip Roy Chin, 37, of Conrad Drive, Greece, is charged with criminal mischief 3rd. Chin is accused of intentionally damaging a door by kicking it multiple times at 4:45 p.m. on Dec. 15 at a location on West Main Street, Batavia.
Roy Joseph Knauss, 34, of East Main Road, Le Roy, is charged with harassment 2nd. Knauss is accused of spitting on and kicking another person during a fight at 2:55 p.m. on Dec. 15 at a location on East Main Road, Le Roy. He was issued an appearance ticket.
Linda Maria Doucette, 59, of Lake Road South, Brockport, is charged with DWI. Doucette was stopped at 7:33 p.m. on Dec. 17 following a traffic complaint on Peachey Road, Beren. Doucette was released on a ticket.
Daniel Lawrence Kensy, 41, of Schlemmer Road, Lancaster, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, and failure to keep right. Kensy was stopped at 12:05 a.m. on Dec. 18 on Pearl Street Road, Batavia, by Sgt. Mathew Clor. Kensy issued tickets and released.
For decades -- there is no record we know of for when the games started -- local basketball aficiandos have met every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday in the gym at the YMCA to play hoops.
It is almost certainly the longest-running, ongoing pick-up basketball game in Batavia.
Joe Perzia, the longest-tenured regular player, has been hitting the court at the Y since the early 1990s.
Mike Roth, in his 70s, is the oldest active member, but on any given morning, there can be players in their young 20s trying to block out or drive on guys twice or even three times their age, and the matchups aren't always as uneven as they might sound.
The games are always spirited and intense but always friendly.
Players start showing up on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 6 a.m., with games usually starting by 6:30 a.m. In that time, they might fit in as many as three games before players start heading off to work.
On Monday, the current group of regulars played their last games at the old Y. On Jan. 2 (which is actually a Tuesday, in a slight break with tradition), they will play their first games at the new Healthy Living Center.
To commemorate the last games in the old gym, in the manner of a celebration after a big championship win, the players cut down the nets in the old gym.
Tia E. Schmieder, 33, of Batavia, is charged with burglary 1st, attempted assault 1st, criminal possession of weapon 3rd, criminal mischief 4th, and menacing 2nd. Schmieder allegedly forced her way into a person's residence on State Street and slashed that person with a knife. She was arraigned and released.
Tyquan D. Bethel, 34, of Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt 1st, unlawful imprisonment 2nd, criminal mischief 4th, and harassment 2nd. Bethel was arrested on Nov. 20 following a report of a disturbance on Pearl Street, Batavia. He allegedly violated an order of protection by holding a person down and refusing to let the person leave. He is also accused of preventing the person to call 9-1-1 by taking away the person's phone. He was arraigned in City Court and jailed.
Quincy G. Styles, 26, of Batavia, is charged with robbery 3rd. Styles allegedly stole money from another person at the scene of a motor vehicle accident on Nov. 21 by threatening to punch the driver if he didn't give him money. Styles was arraigned in City Court and released.
Joshua Michel
Joshua D. Michel, 34, of Batavia, is charged with tampering with physical evidence, tampering with public records 2nd, falsely reporting an incident 3rd, and endangering the welfare of a disabled person. Michel was charged after an investigation into three separate incidents at the Developmental Disabilities Services Office on New York Place in Batavia, where he was employed.
John P. Wittkopp, 41, of Batavia, is charged with assault 2nd. Wittkopp is accused of fighting with another person on Nov. 7 on Spencer Court and causing serious injury. He was arraigned in City Court and held.
Thomas J. Mitchell, 35, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny and grand larceny. Mitchell is accused of stealing tools from a vehicle on Oct. 9. He was arrested on Nov. 8, arraigned in City Court and released.
Nicholas C. Kingdollar, 29, of Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt 2nd. Kingdollar is accused of sending a letter to a person he was ordered not to contact while incarcerated at the Genesee County Jail. He was arrested on Nov. 24.
Sean M. Conway, no age or residence provided, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. Conway was arrested on Nov. 22 on a warrant related to an incident reported on April 26 when he was allegedly found in possession of narcotics. He was arraigned and released.
Doreen M. Boop, 61, of Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. Boop was arrested on Nov. 22 on a warrant related to an incident reported on April 26 when she was allegedly found in possession of narcotics. She was arraigned and released.
Meaghan A. Conti, 37, of Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. Conti was arrested on Nov. 18. Conti was allegedly found in possession of narcotics during a welfare check on East Main Street, Batavia. She was issued an appearance check.
Warren T. Cotton, 47, of Batavia, is charged with two counts of criminal contempt 2nd. Cotton is accused of violating a stay-away order of protection. Cotton was arrested on Nov. 5 and on Nov. 18. He was arraigned in City Court and jailed.
Brandon M. Seppe, 40, of Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt 2nd and trespass 2nd. Seppe is accused of entering a residence on Ellicott Street in violation of protection. He was issued an appearance ticket.
William T. Hughes, 68, of Batavia, is charged with forcible touching. He was arrested on Nov. 11 in connection to an incident on East Main Street reported on Nov. 9. He was issued an appearance ticket.
Jose A. Rivera, 38, of Bergen, is charged with harassment 2nd. Rivera was charged following a report of a fight on Sept. 26 at The Harvester on Harvester Avenue on Sept. 26. He was released on an appearance ticket.
Alicia M. Lyons, 45, of Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt 2nd. Lyons allegedly contact a person on Nov. 10 in violation of a stay-away order of protection. She was issued an appearance ticket.
Scott J. Hinze, 38, of Batavia, is charged with criminal mischief 3rd, criminal contempt 2nd, criminal tampering 3rd, and petit larceny. Hinze was arrested on a warrant following an incident in July where he allegedly damaged and tampered with property belonging to another person in violation of an order of protection. He was arraigned and released.
Curtis McCall, 37, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. McCall is accused of stealing property from Family Dollar in Batavia. He was issued an appearance ticket.
Myrin D. Lumpkin, 46, of Batavia, was arrested on Nov. 27 on a warrant. Lumpkin allegedly failed to appear in court on a disorderly conduct charge stemming from a fight on West Main Street, Batavia, in August. He was arraigned in City Court and released.
Zachary R Eichenberger, 40, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Eichenberger is accused of shoplifting from Aldi. He was issued an appearance ticket.
Lyndsay T. Young, 41, of Alexander, was arrested on a warrant on Nov. 26 charging her with criminal possession of a controlled substance. Her arrest stemmed from an investigation into an incident on July 26, where she was allegedly found in possession of crack cocaine. She was arraigned and released.
Francis A. Coombs, 57, of Batavia, was arrested on Dec. 3 on a warrant. Coombs allegedly failed to appear in court on a criminal mischief 4th charge from August. He was arraigned in City Court and jailed.
Joseph C Jeffords, 33, of Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th and criminal use of drug paraphernalia 2nd. Jeffords was charged following a traffic stop on Nov. 26 on Kingsbury Avenue, Batavia, by a Batavia patrol officer.He was allegedly found in possession of drug paraphernalia and crack cocaine. He was issued an appearance ticket.
Sarah A. Malone, 42, of Batavia, was arrested on a warrant on Nov. 26 on charges of aggravated unlicensed operation 2nd and driving without an interlock device. The warrant stems from an incident on Aug. 30 in Batavia. Malone allegedly drove a vehicle on a suspended license and without an ignition interlock. She was arraigned and released.
Amanda S. Dombrowski, 41, of Batavia, was arrested on Nov. 26 on a warrant. She was charged with bail jumping after allegedly not appearing on prior charges. She was arrested on May 2, 2020, and charged with menacing 3rd and endangering the welfare of a child. She was arraigned in City Court and jailed.
Thomas E. Lowe, 65, of Batavia, is charged with criminal mischief 4th. Lowe is accused of damaging the interior of a store on East Main Street, Batavia, on Nov. 25. He was issued an appearance ticket.
Nicholas M. Ricigliano, 40, of Batavia, was arrested on Nov. 30 on a warrant. Ricigliano is accused of failure to appear in court on a petit larceny charge from Aug. 21. He was arraigned and released.
Marissa B. Torres, 34, of Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt 2nd. Torres allegedly violated an order of protection on Nov. 12. She was arraigned and released.
Dontre R. Woods, 34, of Batavia, was arrested on Nov. 12 on a warrant. Woods allegedly failed to appear in court in August. Woods was arraigned and released.
Russell S. Neureuther, 26, of Byron, is charged with aggravated DWI. Neureuther was stopped on Nov. 2 by a Batavia patrol officer on Elm Street. He was issued traffic tickets and released.
Hillary D. Russell, 31, of Batavia, is charged with harassment 2nd. Russell is accused of throwing an item at another person on Nov. 7 during a fight on Hutchins Street, Batavia. Russell was arraigned in City Court and released.
Ian J. Stothers, 22, of Batavia, is charged with criminal mischief 2nd, reckless endangerment of property, and necessary noise. Stothers and two other people are accused of damaging a parking lot belonging to the city of Batavia on Nov. 9. Strothers was arraigned and released.
Angel R. Del Valle Castillo, 18, of Batavia, is charged with possession of a forged instrument 2nd and possession of a forged instrument 3rd. Castillo was charged following a traffic stop on Nov. 3. He is accused of driving a vehicle with a fictitious license plate and providing officers with a forged insurance card. He was arraigned and released.
Megan J. Courtney, 28, of Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of stolen property 5th and petit larceny. Courtney is accused of allegedly stealing merchandise from Dollar General on Dec. 1. Police officers were initially unable to determine her identification, but she returned to the store the next day attempting to return the stolen items. Courtney was issued an appearance ticket.
Kody A Wenzel, 32, of Batavia, was arrested on a warrant on Dec. 8 and charged with criminal possession of controlled substance 7th. Wenzel was allegedly found in possession of methamphetamine on Aug. 4, 2023. Wenzel was arraigned and released.
Robin F. Schmitt, 40, of Oakfield, is charged with petit larceny. Schmitt is accused of stealing merchandise from Dollar General on Dec. 3. He was issued an appearance ticket.
Lisa M. Fox, 53, of Albion, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th, tampering with physical evidence, criminal use of drug paraphernalia 2nd, obstructing governmental administration 2nd, and traffic violations. Fox was stopped on Dec. 5 on Richmond avenue and allegedly found in possession of crack cocaine. She was issued an appearance ticket.
Dana L. Manes, 60, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny and conspiracy 6th. Manes is accused of stealing merchandise from Tops on Dec. 10. Manes was issued an appearance ticket.
Two city of Batavia PD police officers sustained minor injuries in an assault late Saturday morning at a location on Trumbull Parkway during what the police describe as a "mental health incident."
The name of the suspect was not released. Police say the suspect is being evaluated at Strong Memorial Hospital. Charges are likely upon the suspect's release from the hospital, police said.
Further details about the incident be released later, police said, saying the investigation is ongoing.
The two officers were treated at UMMC and released.
The police department was assisted at the scene by City Fire, Mercy EMS, the city of Batavia Code Enforcement Office and the city of Batavia Public Works Department.
"We appreciate the community's cooperation and understanding in this matter," police said.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call 585-345-6350.
Byron Brown, president and CEO of Western Regional Off-Track Betting, announced the 2025 Rockin' the Downs concert season flanked by Ed Morgan, vice-chair of the OTB board, and Chairman Dennis Bassett. Photo by Howard Owens.
Press release:
Batavia Downs President and CEO Byron Brown has announced the eighth Rockin’ the Downs concert series lineup. The shows, eight in all, will be held on Friday nights outside in the middle of the Batavia Downs horse racing track. Concerts will start in June and run into August of 2025.
Kicking off the series on Friday, June 20, will be Queensrÿche. With over 30 million albums sold worldwide, Queensrÿche continues to tour the globe to sold-out audiences. The band has earned multiple Grammy Award nominations and consistently delivers high-octane live shows, combining the hungry fire of a new band with the tempered experience of master showmen. Hear songs like the #1 chart-topping hit Silent Lucidity, Queen of the Reich and Eyes of a Stranger.
Making their Summer Concert Series debut on Friday, June 27, is the Allman Betts Band. Devon Allman and Duane Betts, the sons of Allman Brothers co-founders keyboardist Gregg Allman and guitarist Dickey Betts, have formed a supergroup anchored by sharp songwriting, fiery fretwork, and a historical legacy. Having toured all over the United States, they’ve created a new soundtrack for the American South, blurring the lines between genres. Come hear great original songs, along with some made famous by their fathers.
After a one-week break for Independence Day, the concert series continues when Almost Queen, a tribute to Queen, takes the stage on Friday, July 11th. Experience Queen's magic comes alive with stunning four-part harmonies and electrifying precision. Donning authentic costumes, they'll transport you back to Queen's glory days with every legendary hit. Don't miss this spectacular return to our concert series.
On Friday, July 18, Batavia Downs welcomes back America’s top Pink Floyd Show, The Machine. Over 30 years, they have extended the legacy of Pink Floyd while creating another legacy all their own. Over the years, The Machine has touched the hearts and souls of many with its stellar musicianship, dramatic lighting, lasers and video performances.
On Friday, July 25, Batavia Downs welcomes Little River Band. Formed in Melbourne, Australia in 1975, this blend of musicians achieved success with good songwriting, powerful vocals, and guitar harmonies. They immediately claimed their place as one of the great vocal bands of the ‘70s and ‘80s. Hear their hits like Take It Easy On Me, It’s a Long Way There, Help Is on Its Way, Happy Anniversary, Lonesome Loser, and more. The opening will be the American Rock Band Ambrosia, playing hits like How Much I Feel and Biggest Part of Me.
On August 1st, Batavia Downs proudly welcomes Rochester Native and 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Lou Gramm. The Grammy-nominated original voice of Foreigner has brought his amazing voice to the rock scene for more than 40 years. With Gramm at the helm, Foreigner's first eight singles cracked the Billboard Top 20, making them the first band since The Beatles to achieve this. Come hear the hits he made famous, like Hot Blooded, Feels Like the First Time, Cold as Ice, Double Vision, Head Games, Juke Box Hero and more.
Legendary Motown artists, The Commodores, roll into Batavia Downs on Friday, August 8th. With over 70 Million Albums sold, including 7 #1 hits, these Pop and Motown Icons will surely delight. One of the most successful vocal groups of all time, The Commodores continue to thrill audiences with their Greatest Hits Tour. Be sure to hear hits like Easy, Three Times a Lady, Sail On and Brick House among many others.
The legendary rock band Kansas will be closing out the concert series on Friday, Aug. 15. With a legendary career spanning five decades, KANSAS has firmly established itself as one of America’s iconic classic rock bands. This "garage band" from Topeka released their debut album in 1974 and have gone on to sell more than 30 million albums worldwide. Kansas has played to sold-out arenas and stadiums throughout North America, Europe and Japan. Their iconic hits include Carry on Wayward Son, Point of Know Return, Dust in the Wind, and many more.
“I’m excited about the 2025 Summer Concert Series at Batavia Downs, especially with legendary bands like Kansas and the Commodores coming here for the very first time,” said Brown. “The Concert Series at Batavia Downs has quickly become a Western New York summertime destination. I want to thank the Board of Directors for approving the concert series and I look forward to seeing all our fans starting in June.”
“As Chairman of the Board, I’m thrilled with the eight concerts that will be coming to Batavia Downs this summer,” said Dennis Bassett, Chairman of the WROTB Board of Directors. “As a Rochester resident, I’m especially happy that Rochester native Lou Gramm will be returning to perform at Batavia Downs in August.”
“I want to thank the great staff here at Batavia Downs for creating such a great line up in 2025,” said Ed Morgan, Vice-Chairman of the WROTB Board of Directors. “I look forward to seeing record crowds this year.”
Tickets for all eight concerts will be available only at www.BataviaConcerts.com beginning on Friday, Dec. 20 at 1 p,m. All tickets can be redeemed at Player’s Club at any time in the three days following the concert for $10 Free Play to be used on one of Batavia Downs Gaming’s 920+ gaming machines.
Season Tickets are also back and will also go on sale for General Admission and VIP Sections. A Season pass for General Admission will be $145 (a savings of $20) Season Passes for VIP tickets are $220 (a savings of $20). Season passes may ONLY be purchased online.
