By Kate Bartlett, Intro by Carol Fisher-
Welcome to Ellicottville’s Christmas Wonderland! As you enjoy this week’s grand opening of a Rockwellian Christmas in Ellicottville, we invite you to look forward to coming back throughout the season for amazing activities, incredible chef-prepared meals, and gathering with old friends (welcome “home” Canadian friends!) and seasonal activities. Bring your camera, comfortable, cozy clothes, and an adventurous spirit. Set aside your routine work schedules, discover our delightful shops and restaurants, and revisit your old favorites. The good people at our Chamber of Commerce, the village staff who manage to make our sweet village even more beautifully inviting, our incredible and talented area artists and creative retail owners and staff, and (Whew! Lots of people waiting on you!) our service and restaurant owners in and around the area pull out all the stops to transport you away from your everyday cares and pressures and create a brilliantly lighted fantasy world for your pleasure.
BONUS! A record holding, lighted 31’ tall ski tree made of 400+ donated skis! When you gaze in wonder at this tree, please appreciate the fact that it was assembled twice! First on the 1887 Building lawn, when it was revealed in November of 2017, thanks to the suggestion and implementation of John Nelson and Tyler Burns, and then re-established across the street on the Post Office lawn where it now resides permanently, year-round.
As the Village of Ellicottville is preparing for the annual tradition to celebrate the start of the holiday season there are many festive events included. Christmas in Ellicottville will run Friday-Sunday, November 25-27, with a variety of activities for all ages throughout the 3-day event. Sponsored by the Ellicottville Chamber of Commerce, events are free and will run all weekend with a variety of holiday-themed activities for kids and the kid at heart.
Friday is the kick-off day. Starting with Fire Truck Rides with Santa at 1-3pm and a chance to meet the alpacas of EVL, horse and wagon rides are open from 1-4pm, Wingate Hotel is offering children’s arts and crafts from 1:30-3pm, Cupcaked is hosting a cooking decorating opportunity at Balloons Restaurant and Nightclub from1-3pm, families can visit the 1887 Building’s lawn to meet Santa’s mini donkeys from 3-5pm and then the evening culminates with the Ski Tree Lighting Ceremony at 6:15pm, located in front of the Ellicottville Post Office. To complete the festive experience, holiday music will be playing throughout the village streets (caroling optional).
Saturday is a big day starting with Breakfast with Santa at Villaggio from 10-11:30am. (Non-perishable donations or cash for the Ellicottville Food Pantry will be accepted at this location) 11:30-12:30pm Villaggio also hosts a viewing of a kid’s Holiday movie. The firetruck rides with Santa are back at the Village Gazebo with the EVL Alpacas from 1-3:30pm, head back to Katy’s Cafe for horse and wagon rides from 1-4 or journey back to Balloons to decorate cookies with Cupcaked from 1-3, visit the Ellicottville ERA Office for photos with Buddy the Elf from 1-3, head on over to the Wingate Hotel from 3:15 to 4:15 to meet Santa and finish up back over at the 1887 Building law and say hello to the mini donkeys.
Sunday is the last day of this awesome event and again starts with Breakfast with Santa, this time at Finnerty’s Taproom from 10-11:30am. (Again, non-perishable food and cash will be accepted for the Ellicottville Food Panty at this time). Cookie decorating with Cupcaked at Balloons is from 11-1pm. The Wingate is hosting arts and crafts from 11:30-1pm and the chance to meet Santa from 12-1pm. This is the last visit you can make to the 1887 Building lawn to say farewell to the mini donkeys from 12-2pm. Katy’s café is hosting the wagon and horse rides from 1-3pm and the alpacas of EVL will be at the Village Gazebo until 6:12pm.
The Chamber plans to carry the “Christmas in Ellicottville” celebration all through the month of December. “We had so many members wanting to be a part of this event and are so excited to continue this festive celebration,” said Jessica Wallace. “We will be seeking out additional holiday activities each week, keeping our calendar up to date with all the festivities. We will keep you in the loop as many of our shops are planning to offer specials.”
New this year, the Chamber is sponsoring an “Elf on the Shelf” window decorating contest, open to all downtown businesses. “We’re very excited to announce that the widely popular, mischievous, scout elves will be landing in Ellicottville this year!” The trending ‘scout elf’ will be hiding in various places throughout the town, and the chamber invites families to explore the village and find where the Scout Elves have landed. Merchants are encouraged to creatively decorate their storefronts for the contest with public votes being collected from November 25- December 6th. Voting will be easy and convenient via posted QR codes. Those who find a Scout Elf can also enter a drawing by entering a QR code. Elves are expected to land on Thursday.
Christmas in Ellicottville has become a tradition that keeps getting better with time. Come experience the charm of the village, shop and support local, all while making Christmas memories with your loved ones. For a complete schedule of activities, more information about events, or to register for the window decorating contest, visit www.ellicottvilleny.com, follow on Facebook, or call the Ellicottville Chamber of Commerce toll-free at 1-800-349-9099.