BUFFALO, N.Y. — Downtown Buffalo is officially in the holiday spirit, and one nostalgic attraction is stealing the show. The annual holiday market at Seneca One is featuring dozens of small businesses.

But the biggest draw this year is the Boulevard Bear Band, now fully restored and attracting visitors from across Western New York.

The beloved animatronic bears, once a holiday staple at the Boulevard Mall for decades, are back on display at Seneca One. And for the first time since their return, the bears are fully operational.

After being brought out of storage in 2023, the bears could be seen but not heard — or rather, not moving. That changed this year after engineers spent two years meticulously refurbishing the entire band, restoring the mechanics, movement, and charm that many West

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