By Carol Fisher Linn
Salamanca Falling Leaves Festival celebrates 50 years of bringing the city and the Seneca Nation together to share cultures.
The beginnings: a handful of concession stands, a concert by the Golden Age Kitchen Band, (jugs, kettles, spoons, washboard and the usual kazoo) an antique car show, square dancing on Main Street and the city’s first parade. The event was held at the old tannery lot. Who knows where that was 50 years ago? Remember Loblaws Supermarket? It was on the corner of Wildwood Avenue, now home to the Salamanca public library. Fifty years later the Falling Leaves Festival is a popular, three-day autumn tradition featuring multiple food, craft and retail vendors.
In speaking with Brian Murphy, owner of Murphy’s Restaurant at 156 Central Avenue, Chamber board Member and food concession organizer for the Festival, there will be roughly a dozen or more food vendors this year offering a combination of flavors and ethnicities. Plan to go to the festival hungry because you will find all your favorite fair foods: lemonade (or stronger adult drinks) curly fries, polish sausage, hot dogs, fried steak sandwiches, beef and pork BBQ, smoked ham, wood-fired pizza, candied apples, cotton candy, taffy, mini donuts, kettle corn, “dirty” sodas, Greek food, tacos, Indian tacos, corn soup and fry bread sandwiches. You’ll just have to go every day of the fair to get your fill!
Aside from the yummy foods, and basket raffle, attendees will have their pick of cultural gift items, hand crafts and appropriate pre-manufactured items for purchase. Reminder! Christmas is a bit over 80 days away so it’s not too early to start your gift-giving shopping now. Back in the days when this writer worked at the Seneca Nation, I purchased Seneca-made dream catchers for my family members. They make wonderful gifts and carry the Native American culture. Be prepared to be in awe of their expertly and intricately done Seneca native crafted beadwork, fine arts, (native art demo by Lyle Logan) basketry, artwork, wood and metalworking.
Make way for the scarecrows! A scarecrow contest takes place on Saturday, Oct. 3, from 3-5pm with several categories: Scariest ($125), Most Original ($125), and Best of Show ($250). Free to enter but must register. To add to the fun kiddoes can get their faces painted on Friday and Saturday. Then, on Saturday and Sunday everyone gets a chance to go home with a balloon animal. Don’t miss the puppet show, dunk tank, the Kidz Blitz show and a live wrestling presentation. Games will go on the entire weekend, and don’t forget the music. Fifty years ago, a Kitchen Band, today, your choice of entertainment. At that inaugural event, Ted Leaskey tried to break the doughnut cutting world record. That Saturday long ago, an antique car show was held. (Imagine if some of those same cars would show up if another antique car show takes place! Would they be considered fossils?) A parade took place that year and U.S. Air Force jets conducted a flyover. This year’s Grand Parade is on Sunday. Did I say everything is free? The unusual partnership with The Seneca Nation is both historic and mutually fulfilling.
The festival is held at Jefferson Street Park, 11 Broad Street. Admission to the festival, carnival rides and games are free. The rides are provided through the generosity of the Seneca Nation of Indians. The rides are available all three days, along with a mechanical bull, bounce houses, hometown games, and an archery competition for kids. An interesting way to begin the festival on Sunday morning is to attend a community worship service Sunday at 10:30am. Everyone is invited.
In speaking with John Sheehan, CEO of the Seneca Salamanca Chamber of Commerce, he expressed these feelings: “The three-day Salamanca Seneca Falling Leaves Festival is such a special celebration of community, bringing together neighbors, friends, families, and people from surrounding communities to share laughter, make memories, and enjoy time together. A heartfelt thank you to the Seneca Nation for making the festival even more special by providing free rides for all the kids. There’s something truly wonderful about watching their faces light up with excitement and seeing those big smiles as they enjoy the rides. These are the moments and memories that make community festivals so meaningful.” Be There!