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Special to The Villager    Jamestown will once again welcome some of comedy's biggest stars this summer as the Lucille Ball Comedy Festival celebrates its 35th anniversary with four days of performances, special events and unforgettable experiences. Headlined by Jerry Seinfeld, Bert Kreischer and Seth Meyers, the festival returns Thursday,...

By Darlene Brace    Join the Village of Bemus Point as they celebrate the summer season at this year's Summer Fest next Saturday, August 1 from 4-9pm and Sunday, August 2 from 11am-4pm. This festival will feature a variety of activities and entertainment. Most of the events will take place...

By Carol Fisher-Linn    Ever wonder how the jazz era flourished in the prohibition era? Speakeasies were major employers of jazz musicians.    Let’s go back in time more than 100 years and imagine it’s the 1920’s. Prohibition is in full swing. Yet somehow folks about town still seem to...

By Chad Neal    Well, we’ve been waiting to see what the changes and differences would be at The Depot which is now called Wayne’s Depot. I went in and noticed the subtle changes, but what you notice more is how they kept it familiar as the iconic Ellicottville restaurant....

By Carol Fisher-Linn    Here’s a chance for folks in the Ellicottville area to carry the Torch for Peace. The world’s largest peace torch relay runners will be arriving here the beginning of August.    Want Peace? Want Harmony? Do you find it hard to remain focused on the Common...

By Barbara Arnstein     On Sunday, August 30th, the second annual Three Corners Bluegrass Festival in Chaffee, NY, will take place from 10am-5pm at The Annex (12139 Olean Road, on Route 16). There will be great music, a children's area (children under twelve attend free!), and food trucks. The bands...

By Kate Bartlett     Saturday, July 25 marks the 6th Annual HillTAP signature summer event combining live music, scenic mountain views, local craft beverages, and outdoor activities at Holiday Valley’s Spruce Lake. The event is ideal for friends, families, and anyone who loves craft beer, live music, and nature. It’s...

By Corey Wiktor Executive Director Catt. Co. IDA   Holiday Valley and HoliMont are two of Cattaraugus County’s most important private-sector tourism anchors. Together, they help position Ellicottville and the broader County and Region as a year-round destination for world class skiing, hospitality, lodging, dining, retail, real estate, outdoor adventure,...

By Kate Bartlett     This Saturday and Sunday, July 18-19th marks the 23rd annual Scandinavian Folk Festival in Jamestown. This year it is held again at the Northwest Arena. This festival celebrates the region's rich Nordic heritage with traditional crafts, authentic foods, live performances, and family-friendly tournaments. It features lively...

By Carol Fisher Linn      Who doesn’t love a challenge? In winter, skiers can feel the adrenaline rush when meeting a challenge head on at Greer Hill at HoliMont or The Wall at Holiday Valley, whose 80%, nearly 40-degree slope is crazy challenging. If you aren’t into off-season challenges like...

By Darlene Brace     Where History Meets Craftmanship.     The 89th Annual Chautauqua County Historical Society Antique Show will take place on July 18&19, from 10am-4pm on Saturday, and from 10am-3pm on Sunday. This event will be held at the spacious Chautauqua Suites Hotel and Expo Center, located at 215...

By Carol Fisher-Linn    The 35th annual PowWow, The Marvin “Joe” Curry Veterans Powwow, formally known as the Seneca Casino Thunder Falls Veteran’s Powwow, is an annual contest powwow in honor of all Seneca Nation veterans. Curry, born into the Snipe Clan on the Cattaraugus Territory (Irving) played a critical...

By Kate Bartlett    The annual Fine Craft and Art Shows, presented by Crafts Alliance will be held July 10-12 and August 7-9 at the Chautauqua Institution from 10am-5pm. Over 70 professional craftspeople from across the United States will showcase their work, bringing unique, high-quality pieces from a wide-array of...

By Elizabeth Lowes      For Sean Lowes (Ellicottville, NY) and Rick McIntosh (Lockport, NY), the 2026 Hemmings Great Race was not simply a drive from Springfield, Illinois, to Pasadena, California. It was nine days of timing, concentration, heat, repairs, and trust, with Sean behind the wheel and Rick beside him,...

By Carol Fisher-Linn     Some skiers may know Dave Montesanti or perhaps his son, Jake who works/volunteers at HoliMont. It was Jake who suggested this story.     Dave Montesanti and family reside in Buffalo with a getaway home in Ellicottville.  A busy ophthalmologist/eye surgeon, Montesanti Sr. still finds time to...

By Darlene Brace    After years of anticipation and planning, the Northwest Arena in Jamestown is thrilled to unveil The Zone, a new ultimate and unique indoor play destination. Located at 319 W. Third Street, it will officially open its doors this Saturday July 11th at 12pm. The Zone features...

By Barbara Arnstein       Three different annual wonderful garden walks are coming up in Western New York in July. The Hamburg Garden Walk takes place this weekend, July 11 & 12; the East Aurora Garden Walk, on Saturday, July 18, and the nation’s largest garden tour, Garden Walk...

Carol Fisher Linn     250 Years of Independence from the Monarch Rule…    Here’s a refresher about why we celebrate July 4 with so much flourish, ballyhoo, and unapologetic hoop-la. 250 years ago, on July 4, 1776, the members of Second Continental Congress, met in Philadelphia and unanimously adopted the...

Carol Fisher-Linn    Our Chautauqua Belle is one of only five operating authentic passenger sternwheel steamboats left in North America today.    The steamer Chautauqua Belle is an authentic Mississippi River-style sternwheel steamboat, with the notable, historic sound of her steam whistle that can be heard across Chautauqua Lake. Only...

By Darlene Brace    The Fourth of July holiday around Chautauqua Lake is always filled with picnics, live music, beach side flares, and spectacular fireworks displays. This year’s holiday celebrations around the lake features the usual activities as well as something new for you, your family, and the community to...