By Darlene Brace
With sunny spring-like weather finally upon us, the Village of Bemus Point is excited to gear up for the 2025 season with their “Bemus is Blooming” weekend, taking place this weekend, May 3-4. This village-wide event marks the reopening of local businesses, including retail stores, restaurants, bars, and more. It celebrates the arrival of spring with delicious flavors and an open house theme throughout the village.
There’s no better time to explore the charming shops that are brimming with exciting new offerings! Most of the shops in Bemus Point are ready with their new spring lines, and many are offering specials and discounts. As you walk around the village, you can pop into the variety of shops to explore and see all they have to offer. Some of the featured businesses include Skillmans, which is showcasing their new Spring 2025 collections and offering up to 75% off on some items from last year. Petals & Twigs Gifts and Children’s Shoppe is also having in-store discounts, while Bemus Point Pottery will welcome you with some spring sales, and customers will receive a free gift with their purchase. At Lakeside Arts & Furniture, you’ll find refurbished furniture, some local art, and Tuscan Take & Make kits. This is just a glimpse of the many shops involved in the “Bemus is Blooming” theme.
In addition to shopping, there are a variety of activities for you and your family to enjoy. The Bemus Point Fire Department will have an open house on Saturday. They will serve hot dogs with their signature sauce for lunch from 11am-3pm. They will be selling raffle tickets to raise funds for new gear, and you can buy a 5$ ticket for a chance to win a $250 grocery gift cards, which includes Wegmans, Tops, and Aldi.
The Lawson Center will also be open both days from 11am-3pm, featuring their new line of branded merchandise. The Bemus Point Historical Society will be open on Saturday from 11am-3pm for those interested in Bemus Point history.
Additionally, The Landing, adjacent to The Fish, is hosting an open house for people to explore the private club grounds, which features lakeside tables, fire pits, and cornhole for its members. For kids, Alpacaville is hosting “Paca Stories,” allowing children to get involved by planting their own flowers in “paca” soil.
During the Bemus is Blooming weekend, you and your family may work up an appetite. Most of the restaurants will be open, and some may offer specials or unique activities. At the Bemus Point Golf Club and Tap House, you can enjoy a busy weekend featuring Cinco de Mayo specials, as well as the Derby, Divas, and Darlings Kentucky Derby Hat Party with mint juleps from 5-9pm. Additionally, there will be a Sunday Brunch from 10am-1pm. The Green Door is also celebrating Derby Day on Saturday at 4pm, followed by a Sunday Funday filled with fun and activities.
Other popular eateries in Bemus Point, such as Lake Life Café, The Bemus Point Inn, Splash, The Village Casino, Ellicottville Brewing Company,14 Main, Coppola’s Pizzeria, and others, will be serving delicious food and may have themed food and specials. With many tasty venues to choose from, there will be something for everyone to enjoy.
What would a visit to Bemus be without satisfying that sweet tooth with a visit to the Bemus Market? There, you will have a hard time choosing which one or two of the 40 flavors of Perry’s Ice Cream to indulge in. Or maybe you want to check out The Happy Cow, which is Bemus Point’s new frozen yogurt shop that has its grand opening that weekend. Either of these venues will refresh and treat you with their cool and delicious desserts to enjoy on a beautiful spring day.
As you can see, Bemus is Blooming!! The warming weather brings sunshine and cheerful vibes, making it the perfect time to enjoy everything Bemus Point has to offer. As a seasonal tourism destination on the banks of beautiful Chautauqua Lake, the community comes together to welcome spring and support all of its local businesses. For more information, you can go to visitbemuspoint.com or the individual business’s Facebook pages for updates.