By Judy Shuler
Chautauqua County–29 percent water, 71 percent land. In summer, with so many water-related activities, we might be forgiven for thinking it was just the reverse. This weekend Bemus Point will celebrate its setting on Chautauqua Lake with Lake Days.
New this year, Lake Days is sponsored by the Bemus Point Business Association (BPBA). It rounds out the community’s seasonal events, joining spring’s Back in Bloom, autumn’s Fall Fest, and winter’s Holiday Open House.
“Our events committee wanted to add a summer event to our roster, and came up with the idea of Lake Days because we often hear visitors discussing how much they love Bemus Point and spending days on Chautauqua Lake, they’re almost interchangeable,” says Kelley Marker, Executive Director of the BPBA.
Kourtney Shuman, owner of Modern Expressions Salon & Spa and member of the Bemus Point business community for many years, is BPBA’s Events Committee Chair for 2022.
Centerpiece of Lake Days is a boat parade beginning at 4pm Sunday, August 14. The parade, and whole festival, center around a pirate theme. Everyone with a boat is invited to join. There is no entry fee, but participants are encouraged to sign up at visitbemuspoint.com.
“As a special birthday tribute to David Lawson, one of the founders of TLC (The Lawson Center), a group of “Woodys” (Chris Crafts) will be leading the parade. Everyone will boat past The Lawson Center as we toast David.”
Viewers will be able to watch the parade from Lakeside Drive, and from many of the local businesses. It will begin around the Bemus Point Boat launch, near the Village Casino, and loop around Bemus Bay.
A costume contest at The Fish restaurant, where visitors can dock, will follow the parade. “We’d like to build on this event and help it grow each year.”
Local businesses are joining in on the Lake Days activities Saturday and Sunday. Bemus Point Inn is offering pirate face painting for children, along with beachy music “while they walk the plank!” The Lawson Center will also have an open house on Saturday with pirate-themed activity books for children.
The historic Bemus Point-Stow Ferry will have a treasure chest with treats for children, and the captain will be decked out as a pirate.
Guppy’s Tavern will serve up “Pirate Punch” in a festive fish bowl; the Bemus Point Market is offering creations by Ruth, including the “Dead Man’s Float” and “Shipwrecked Sundae.” Lake Life Café will also be featuring a tropical drink special and will have live music 11am-2pm on Saturday.
Several shops are offering specials for Lake Days. Bemus Point Pottery will have an outdoor sale for the weekend, and The Ugly Peacock will hold a Lake Days pop up shop on Alburtus Avenue where customers can toss rings into a kiddie pool to win discounts. Skillmans’ Summer Sale kicks off this weekend. The Bemus Point Historical Society will host their fundraising yard sale on Saturday from 9am-3pm. Alpacaville farm and store will feature Jimmy Buffett decor and music.
The Fish’s Luau, from 5-7pm on Saturday, will be free to the public. The Fish also has music scheduled for Lake Days, including Bill Ward & Friends playing from 1-5pm Saturday and Midlife Crisis from 7-11pm on Saturday. Noah Gokey will be performing 1-5pm on Sunday.
The Village Casino will be hosting the Zac Brown Tribute Band on Saturday–tickets are required.
“Lake Days is a way for us to celebrate everything that’s great about Bemus Point, and to support our local businesses. We hope everyone who visits for the weekend can come and enjoy what our beautiful village has to offer,” Marker says.