Fun for Everyone this Month in CHQ. & CATT. Co.’s
By Jessica Miller
The Easter Bunny always has a jam-packed schedule during the weekends of Easter. However, he has made it a point to hop over to Chautauqua and Cattaraugus County to squeeze in some fun with local families. Here are some scheduled stops where he can be found (along with the eggs he famously hides):
April 9:
Fredonia: Festivals Fredonia is kicking off its first Fredonia Easter Festival at Fredonia Grange No. 1 (58 W Main St) with breakfast, a craft vendor show, children’s crafts, photos with the Easter Bunny, and an Easter Egg Hunt. Eggs, pancakes, sausage, and a beverage will be served ($7 for adults, $5 children 5—12, free for children under 5) from 8-11am, vendors will sell from 8am-noon, and the hunt begins at noon in Barker Commons East
Little Valley: Visit the Little Valley Fire Hall (101 3rd Street) from 10-4pm for an Easter Craft Show. Multiple vendors selling exciting products make this a perfect stop to grab something special for the Easter Holiday.
Gowanda & South Dayton: The Peter Cotton Tail Express is returning thanks to The New York and Lake Erie Railroad. Riders will enjoy a round-trip two-hour ride with Peter Cottontail and count candy pieces in a contest. Upon arrival in South Dayton, riders can hunt for eggs and visit vendors during the half hour layover. The Peter Cotton Tail Express is scheduled to depart from the Gowanda NYLE station (50 Commercial St.) on April 9 and 16 at 11am and 2pm. The April 10 ride departs at 2pm. Riders should arrive 30-45 minutes prior to departure, and tickets can be picked up at the window inside of the depot. Adult tickets are $21, senior (aged 62+) tickets are $19, and children (aged 3-12) tickets are $17. A four-top table in the dining car can be obtained for $80. Buy tickets during NYLE office hours Monday through Friday 9am-4pm.
Portville: New Directions Youth and Family Services’ Westons Mills Agency Operated Boarding Home (1359 Olean-Portville Road) hosts the 17th annual Westons Mills Easter Egg Hunt. Children 12 and under can hunt for eggs starting at 10am. All egg hunters get prizes and a visit with the Easter Bunny. This event is free, but nonperishable food donations to support the Portville Food Pantry are gratefully accepted.
April 10:
Russell, PA: Russell Roller Rink (7385 Market St) will feature a special guest at the Warrin’ Wrecking Dolls Sunday Skate and Egg Scramble. The Easter Bunny joins his roller derby friends from 1-4pm for skating, pictures, and of course, a skate-less Easter egg hunt to finish the afternoon. Tickets are $7 per person; skaters should also bring a camera and an Easter basket.
April 15th:
Lakewood, NY: The Chautauqua Mall is hosting a Hide and Peep Egg Hunt. This is a scavenger style egg hunt with a bingo twist. The fun begins at 2pm; don’t forget, the Easter Bunny will be available for photos from 12-4pm.
April 16:
Ashville: Chautauqua Safety Village will celebrate the day carnival style in the E2CCB Hewes Center parking lot (2695 Route 394) 10am-1pm. Games, a bounce house, train rides, Easter candy giveaways in the village, crafts, a car track, and the hare of the holiday await ticket holders. Food, drinks, basket raffles, and 50/50 tickets are also available to buy. Tickets are $5; purchase can be made at the gate or online at https://www.chautauquasafetyvillage.com/easter/
Jamestown: The Jamestown Parks, Recreation & Conservation Department’s 74th annual Easter Egg Hunt returns to Allen Park (31 Hughes St) on Saturday, April 16, at 11am in the event of inclement weather, the hunt will likely be held indoors at the ice rink. This event is free and families are welcome. It is possible that the Easter Bunny’s good friend Whiffy, of Jamestown Tarp Skunks fame, will also be in attendance.
Bemus Point: The Bemus Point Golf Club & Tap House (72 Main Street) will once again host it’s community Easter Egg Hunt at 10:30am, then you can make a reservation to have lunch with the bunny himself at 11am.
Ellicottville: The annual community easter egg hunt returns to the Ellicottville Volunteer Fire Department, located at 30 Filmore Drive in Ellicottville, NY at 1pm.