Valentine’s Day events, trends around WNY

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — We’re getting closer to Valentine’s Day, and if you are still looking for gifts or dates ideas, here’s how you can share some Buffalove.

“We’re always talking about the ‘Buffalove’ in Buffalo and Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to get people out and about in our community,” said Patrick Kaler, president & CEO of Visit Buffalo Niagara.

Here in Western New York, restaurants and businesses are getting creative for Valentine’s day gifts and meals.

Heart shaped pizzas can be purchased at Mr. Ventry’s Pizza on the Boulevard, as well as chicken wing and chicken finger bouquets for your loved one.

“Valentine’s Day is special,” said co-owner Krisanne Ventry. “We get a lot of people that bring kids in, sit and dine, they get their bouquets, and their heart-shaped pizzas, and they just love it.”

According to the National Retail Federation, American consumers are expected to spend a record $27.5 billion on candy, flowers, date nights, and more this year. The federation says the most popular shopping destination is online.

However, the Better Business Bureau tells us when last minute shopping, it’s safest to purchase in person to avoid online scams.

“If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is, whether that’s a great deal, low prices or a very quick delivery turn around especially since we’re getting down to the last minute,” said Katarina Schmieder, communications director of the Better Business Bureau of Upstate New York.

“If you’re someone whose waiting until the last minute, you really want to be cautious since scammers tend to take advantage of those people who are waiting until the 11th hour to purchase something.”

Schmieder says four out of five scams reported to the BBB are online scams and that it’s the number one scam reported in Upstate New York. She warns to be aware of scams around big-ticket items like jewelry, and be cautious of fake florists and fake websites. She recommends doing research on a site before you buy, and always using a credit card when making online purchases.

As for Valentines Day plans, if you want to celebrate leading up to the day, Visit Buffalo Niagara encourages people to keep an eye on the events that are being held in WNY, including the Buffalo Zoo’s Wild Side of Love event and the events throughout the week at the Botanical Gardens.

If you haven’t booked any reservations yet, Kaler recommends doing so as soon as possible and keeping an eye out for hotels that are partnering with restaurants for deals.

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Hope Winter is a reporter and multimedia journalist who has been part of the News 4 team since 2021. See more of her work here.

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