By Kate Bartlett
This upcoming weekend, September 15-17, marks the annual Ellicottville Rock ‘N Roll weekend. This family friendly festival features over 15 regional bands performing throughout the village, all free of charge. Sunday brings the annual car and truck show with over 250 vehicles from 12-5pm. Queen City – A Tribute to Queen takes the Ellicottville Winery Main Stage at 1pm (story, page 7), and Terry Buckwald’s tribute to Elvis entertains Sunday at 2 at the Village Gazebo. Also on Sunday afternoon, Ava Grace Fashions hosts their second annual Miss Rock N’ Roll Pin-up Contest. As always, this classic weekend is free for all to enjoy.
The Rock N’ Roll weekend is a bit of a goodbye to summer and kickoff to the fall season of festivals. The leaves begin to change, football is on TV, and the village streets come alive with music and festivities. The many restaurants and bars host various live entertainment, showcasing local artists and musicians amidst the boutiques, shops, and tree lined ski slopes.
“Our Rock N’ Roll Weekend is so much fun for people of all ages,” says Brian McFadden, Executive Director of the Ellicottville Chamber of Commerce. “It’s a great weekend to enjoy the outdoors, great food, classic music, and of course the village of Ellicottville! Mid-September is the perfect time of year to visit the area. The leaves begin their transformation to vibrant reds, yellows and oranges, making for a picturesque landscape that is impossible not to enjoy.”
Queen City – A Tribute to Queen, takes the Ellicottville Winery main stage Saturday at 1pm. Hailing from Buffalo, Queen City is WNY’s premier Queen Tribute Act, featuring Joe Goretti on drums, Mark Marinaccio on piano, Jason Neubauer on guitar, Scott Panfil on lead vocals, and Paul Yates on bass. The band is unmatched in their musical talent and performance of the hit music by Queen. “The music of Queen makes for a great show,” says Mark Marinaccio, band member and founder. “The energy is contagious, and the crowd feeds off of that. We enjoy playing together and respect each other as individuals, and it shows. We love the music, and our passion and talent really shines in our performance.”
On Sunday, enjoy the many talents of local favorite Terry Buchwald. Terry plays a variety of hits, including Rock N’ Roll, Country and is best known for his Elvis Tributes. He takes the stage at the Village Gazebo from 2-5pm, and is always fun for all ages. Terry has been inducted into the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame and has been named one of the top tribute artists in the United Sates by the Los Angeles Times.
This Sunday, September 17, over 250 cars and trucks of all makes, models and years line the streets for admiration and appreciation or all. Car enthusiasts, and those who just enjoy the scene, can bask in this one-of-a-kind show that is becoming less common as years go on. Ellicottville is one of the few places still hosing a classic car show of this variety, judged by a panel of experienced classic car and truck enthusiasts.
Ava Grace Fashions of Ellicottville will host their second annual Miss Rock N’ Roll Pin-up Contest. “Last year was very successful and a lot of fun,” says Jessica Gilbert of Ava Grace. “It’s a great addition to the Rock N’ Roll weekend with such a fun atmosphere. Alicia Pearl does a great job organizing the event and has been in touch with Pin-Up icons in the area. She has connected with a great charity, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Proceeds from the contest, along with the silent auction and 50/50 raffle, will stay local to help needs specific in our community.” The Buffalo chapter of NAMI has recently expanded to Cattaraugus and Chautauqua Counties, raising awareness and support for those affected by Mental Illness and their families. Silent auction and 50/50 raffle starts at 11, judging begins at 12 with crowning at 1PM.
Check out the full schedule for Rock N’ Roll Weekend at ellicottvilleny.com and follow the Ellicottville Chamber of Commerce on social media @visitellicottville for updates on all of Ellicottville’s festivals and events.