It may be under a different name, but Gowanda will again be buzzing starting Friday. The Happening will be in the village parking lot at 49 W. Main St.

This year’s festival will include food vendors, live bands and a number of live events will take place from Friday to Sunday. The music festival and motorcycle rally event is the unofficial kickoff to summer in Western New York, annually attracting visitors from numerous states and Canada.

Started as the Harley Happening in 1999 to boost the renovations at the Hollywood Theater, the event includes a motorcycle parade at 7 p.m. Friday and features the Grim Company Stunt Show, which will take place at 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday. Bands also will be performing each of the three days.

Community leaders and businesses, specifically Harley Davidson and Gabel Bros., know the importance of this event to the village. We applaud their efforts.