Blog Post

World's Largest Disco: world record in Buffalo, New York

Nov 26, 2022

Buffalo, New York, United States--The Disco held at the Buffalo Convention Center, with performances by Gloria Gaynor and The Trammps, with an audience of 13,000 participants sets the world record for being the World's Largest Disco, according to the WORLD RECORD ACADEMY.

World's Largest Disco

"The World's Largest Disco is an annual event held at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center in Buffalo, New York each year the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The event, widely popular in the area, is a tribute to the disco era and features live performances by 1970s-era musicians, along with dancers dressed in 1970s attire; it also bills itself as "the greatest people watching event on Earth.

"The current event began as an annual occurrence in 1994, but it traces its history and name to a disco held in Buffalo in 1979, featuring The Trammps and Gloria Gaynor. That disco is marked as the largest disco in the history, with 13,000 people in attendance. The current incarnation of the event draws 7,000, though this is only because of capacity issues; ticket sales were capped at 7,000 after the 1997 event also drew over 13,000 fans, well over the convention center's capacity. Tickets for the event regularly sell out within minutes of being put on sale, which usually occurs in early August.

"The in-person event was not held in 2020 due to crowd size limits imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic in New York (state). A radio broadcast on WTSS, which will break from the station's usual Christmas music format, coincided with an Internet stream on the World's Largest Disco Web site featuring replays of video from past events.

"The event is a charity fundraiser held by Conesus Fest for Charity to raise funds for Camp Good Days and Special Times, a summer camp for children with cancer." (wikipedia)

CELEBRITIES AT WORLD'S LARGEST DISCO (2022)

Marilu Henner: Starred in the original musical 'Grease' and also 'Between the Lines', 'Taxi', and 'Dancing with the Stars'

Kristy McNichol: Starred in 'Little Darlings', 'Only When I Laugh', 'Empty Nest', and as Buddy in the TV drama 'Family'

Aesha Scott: Chief Steward from 'Below Deck Down Under' and 2nd Steward from 'Below Deck Mediterranean'

Kyle Viljoen: 2nd Steward and Stew from 'Below Deck Mediterranean'

Jill Zarin: Starred in 'Real Housewives of New York City' and also 'The Ultimate Girls Trip'

Evelyn 'Champagne' King: Known for her Billboard Top 10 hits 'Shame' & 'Love Come Down'

Deney Terrio: from 'Dance Fever'

Source: official website

“The much anticipated, super fun, and always sold out World’s Largest Disco originated as a Book of Records stunt featuring Gloria Gaynor and a staggering 13,000 party-goers in 1979,” said vintage and retro collector, aficionado, and entrepreneur, Marty McGee," the Bufffalo Rising reports.

“Its re-emergence exploded onto the area’s post-Thanksgiving social calendar in 1994, quickly becoming Western New York’s largest annual charity event. The Disco’s mega appeal is enhanced by being in the original 1979 venue, and creating an outrageous people watcher’s paradise. It’s the region’s pinnacle scene-to-be-seen. That’s why we’ve added the inexpensive rentals (with fully refundable deposits) to the Funky Town line-up.”

"The World’s Largest Disco also happens to be one of the world’s greatest fundraisers, as all proceeds go to benefit Camp Good Days, a camp for children battling cancer. The disco has been raising funds for the camp since 1994 and the support has grown astronomically over the years," the Spectrum News 1 reports.

"Good times, good vibes, and a good cause, the World’s Largest Disco’s return was a triumphant and welcomed one, inviting everyone to dance their worries away amid all that’s going on in the world.

“It’s been a long time since we’ve all been together and it’s a wonderful night. Everyone’s smiling, laughing, and we’re raising a lot of money for Camp Good Days,” David Pietrowski, World’s Largest Disco founder, said.