By Kate Bartlett
In true fashion, HoliMont and Holiday Valley are proving Ellicottville to be a premier destination for all seasons with their spring and summer outdoor recreational activities. Any outdoor enthusiast will be more than pleased with the variety of activities on the slopes. There are plenty of opportunities to opt outside and take in the fresh mountain air with something for everyone.
Re-discover the slopes of HoliMont as their lands are open to the public for hiking and mountain biking. Come explore the ponds at the top of the ridge, have a campfire, or simply pick berries. They have over 7 miles of new mountain biking trails and multiple events throughout the summer. Catch a lift up-hill on the Sunset lift with food and beverage on weekends (schedule online). Check out one of their most recent trails, a fun and flowy 1-mile trail biking or hiking? from the top of Greer slope to the main chalet area. Another newer trail connects the top of Sunset to the top of Greer. Season bike passes are available as well as E-Bike rentals, which are great on the hills. For more information, visit their website https://holimont.com/ and follow them on social media.
Holiday Valley has a wide variety of summer activities to suit the family. Sky High Adventure Park offers a variety of outdoor adventures including an Aerial Park, Climbing Forest, Mountain Coaster, Gem mining, chairlift rides and mountain biking. Their 18-hole par 70 “Double Black Diamond” golf course offers scenic views from every hole. Day passes are available for their pool complex with lap pool, toddler pool and activity pool with water slide & diving board.
Upcoming events include the Holiday Valley Mudslide Trail Run on Saturday June 18th. The course starts at Spruce Lake at the top of the mountain with 15 obstacles and a 3.5- and 5.4-mile options. Guaranteed to be very muddy and lots of fun; a sure way to get down and dirty on the slopes.
The much-anticipated Summer Music Festival will be held on the slopes of Holiday Valley July 2-3 featuring “The Voices of Classic Rock” concert. Saturday’s concert features Practically Petty, an acclaimed Tom Petty tribute band, followed by Asia featuring John Payne with special guests John Elefante, former lead singer of Kansas, and Lou Gramm, the voice of Foreigner. The Buffalo Philharmonic takes the stage on Sunday, playing patriotic favorites followed by a spectacular fireworks show, a favorite 4th of July tradition. For concert details and to purchase tickets visit the Ellicottville Chamber website https://www.ellicottvilleny.com/
For more information regarding summer events and tickets, visit their website and follow them on social media. Also watch for the Junior Golfer Chip + Putt Qualifier scheduled for Thursday July 21, as well as the Cabana Concert Series, bringing live music to the pool bar on summer nights.