DUNKIRK, NY: Summer is rolling in and Dunkirk is excited to welcome the season to its beautiful waterfront community along Lake Erie. In addition to Dunkirk’s well-known attractions such as the Dunkirk Lighthouse, Point Gratiot Park, Dunkirk City Pier, Dunkirk Boardwalk Marketplace, Wright Park, Chautauqua County Fair and others, a bunch of exciting family-friendly events are lined up for the upcoming months.
Mayor Wilfred Rosas and the City of Dunkirk offers a special thanks to the Summer 2022 Platinum Level Sponsors – DFT Communications and Chautauqua Nursing & Rehabilitation Center. National Grid is the overall stage sponsor.
The Annual Memorial Day Parade will take place May 30 at 11 a.m. on Central Avenue after a 10 a.m. memorial service held by Dunkirk Joint Veterans Council at Memorial Park. The parade is sponsored by DFT Communications and Hometown Insurance.
The Dunkirk Flea Market, organized by Brian Meyer, will be held Saturdays, May 7 through September 3 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Route 5 and Washington Avenue parking lot. To become a vendor, please contact Meyer at 716-680-0958.
The Dunkirk Farmers Market, sponsored by Refresco, starts June 8 and will continue every Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Dunkirk Senior Center located on the corner of Ruggles Street and Cliffstar Court.
The award-winning Music on the Pier Summer Concert Series sponsored by DFT Communications and Chautauqua Nursing & Rehabilitation Center makes it return for 12 weeks (Thursdays, June 9 through August 25). The event features fantastic tunes, Arthur R. Gren/Southern Tier Brewery beers, Merrit Winery wine slushies and other concession vendors on the Dunkirk Pier and in Memorial Park.
The following is a lineup of opening (5:25 p.m.) and headliner (6:45 p.m.) bands with September 1 and 8 marked as rain dates: June 9 – Recess/Wanted: The Bon Jovi Tribute Band sponsored by Molina Healthcare Inc. June 16 – The Freeze/Nickel City Pimp Choir sponsored by KeyBank. June 23 – Feverhawk/Furious George sponsored by Agricultural Transportation. June 30 – Pedro and the Smooth Cats/Carl Dixon and the Last Buffalo sponsored by Lawley Insurance. July 7 – Trifecta/Jersey – The Bruce Springsteen Tribute. July 14 – DTO/Uncle Ben’s Remedy sponsored by Graf Realty Corporation. July 21 – Zen City/Aftermath: Experience the Sixties sponsored by Owl Homes of Fredonia. July 28 – Ion Sky/Revolver. August 4 – Reset 2 Vinyl/The Breeze sponsored by Lake Shore Savings Bank. August 11 – The Untouchables/The Chicago Authority sponsored by Farrell Roofing. August 18 – Bucked Up/Two for Flinching sponsored by Refresco and August 25 – Yachtfathers/Nerds Gone Wild sponsored Nestle Purina
The Fired Up for Summer Kickoff event (June 9-11) presented by DFT Communication is Dunkirk’s first big event of Summer 2022 starting with Thursday’s Music on the Pier. The event will feature the E.M. Cotter Fireboat of Buffalo sponsored by Spike Dailey’s, Off The Hook, Exempt Fireman’s Association and Heenan’s Irish Pub. Fireboat tours will continue through Saturday evening. The Dunkirk Firemen Hose Races hosted by the Dunkirk Professional Firefighters Local 616 take place that Friday night at 6 p.m. by the Dunkirk Boardwalk followed by race winner awards and the Smokehouse band playing in Memorial Park at 7:45 p.m. On Saturday, the Dunkirk Pier will host fire trucks and food trucks from 12 noon to 5 p.m. along with a dee jay and corn hole tournament. Midnight Recovery will provide live music followed by “Playing with Fire” outdoor movie with El Rigby Theater at Memorial Park starting at 6 p.m.
Movies on the Lake presented by El Rigby Theater will be shown at Memorial Park on the following Friday evenings at dusk: July 1 (In the Heights), July 8 (Avengers), July 15 (The Mitchells vs. the Machines), July 22 (The Wolf and the Lion), July 29 (E.T.) and August 5 (Ron’s Gone Wrong).
The 26th Annual Juneteenth Celebration is scheduled for June 18 (12 noon – 8 p.m.) and June 19 (12 noon – 6 p.m.) at Memorial Park featuring music, food, African dancing, poetry slam, cornhole tournament, kid’s tent and gospel.
The three-day Fourth of July Celebration (July 2-4) with food/refreshment vendors kicks off with the 8th Annual Marauder Trotter 5k Run/Walk on Saturday 9 a.m. at Wright Park. A community driving scavenger hunt with cash prizes will begin at 1 p.m. at Wright Park. Music will be provided by Backlog (5 p.m.) then Alexander James Band (7:15 p.m.) in Memorial Park. Sunday’s bands will be Woodenship (5 p.m.) and Smokin’ 45 (7:15 p.m.). The Fourth of July music lineup includes Zen City (3 p.m.), Furious George (5:15 p.m.) and The Rising (7:30 p.m.) concluding with Zambelli Fireworks – the largest fireworks display in Chautauqua County.
The Music at the Point Sunset Concert Series sponsored by STEL will perform on the following Wednesday evenings from 6 to 8 p.m. at Point Gratiot Park: July 6 – Hooman, July 27 – The Trend, August 3 – The Living Room Jam Band and August 17 – Ion Sky Unplugged. Across town on the Dunkirk Boardwalk Market, local musicians welcome Happy Hour from 4 to 7 p.m. every Friday (July 8 through August 26) with Music on the Boardwalk. The band schedule is Slim & Red (July 8 and August 19), Cosmic Cowboys (July 15 and August 12), Footsteps (July 22 and August 26) and Bill Ward (August 5). The series is sponsored by Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union.
A new event in Dunkirk this summer will be the Christmas in July Vendor Market on Saturday, July 9 from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. in Memorial Park. Craft/gift and other vendors will be available in addition to carriage rides and a visit from Santa, Mrs. Claus and Rudolph. At dusk, El Rigby Theater will present “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” outdoor movie.
The Beach Bash, sponsored by National Grid and DFT Communications, is slated August 20 (9 a.m. – 11 p.m.) at Wright Park. The event features slo-pitch softball, volleyball and pickleball tournaments, sand castle building competition and a water balloon toss. Band performances will be the Kokomo Time Band (3:30 p.m.-6 p.m.) and Runaway Train (6:15-9 p.m.) followed by El Rigby Theater’s “Surf’s Up” outdoor movie at dusk.
The Cabela’s Bass Pro Shops National Walleye Fishing Tournament Championship will be August 24-26 at Dunkirk Pier with 7 a.m. start times and 3:00 p.m. weigh-in times. Forty anglers from past tournaments will compete to earn top prizes. A community meet and greet is scheduled on August 21 at 5 p.m. in the field between the Clarion and Tim Hortons while a Kids Future Angler Free Fishing Clinic will be on the Dunkirk Pier at 4:30 p.m. Event sponsors are DFT Communications, Stanley Star, Chautauqua County Partnership For Economic Growth, CCIDA, Holiday Harbor, EZ Dock, H&K Services, Inc., Lake Shore Savings Bank, Graf Realty, 4 Centre Drive Associates LLC, Burgess & Niple, Inc., Clarion Hotel and United Rental.
Off the Hook, a boardwalk seafood restaurant, will host Lobster Fest on Saturday, August 27 from 12 noon to 10 p.m. in Memorial Park. Krossbones (2 p.m.), For The People (5:15 p.m.) and Autumnwood (8 p.m.) will provide live music that day. Pre-sale and day of tickets will be available.
On August 29, DFT Communications, Dunkirk Public Schools and the United Way of Northern Chautauqua County will put on a complimentary Back to School Bash at Point Gratiot Park from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. for children and their families. Marty’s Bubblegum Machine will provide children’s entertainment while games, giveaways, food and refreshments will be available at no cost.
Here’s to another great summer in Dunkirk, New York! For more information about Dunkirk’s summer schedule of events, local attractions or how to become a sponsor or event vendor, please visit www.cityofdunkirk.com, Facebook at Dunkirk Festivals & Special Events, call Ryan Hall (716) 366-9886 or Scott Mekus (716) 366-9848 or via e-mail rhall@cityofdunkirk.com.