Hit the Road for W.I.L.M.A 2020

Hit the Road for W.I.L.M.A 2020

The Fall Craft Show Season invites you to travel Cattaraugus County for locally made products.

As the leaves begin to fall and pumpkins remain uncarved, early October arrives in Cattaraugus County to mark the unofficial start of the fall craft show season. First stop is Cattaraugus County’s annual craft show, W.I.L.M.A., short for We Invite Local Manufacturers and Artisans.

“Every year, it’s gotten bigger and bigger,” said Cattaraugus County Tourism assistant Samantha Hayes of the eighth annual event. “Typically, it draws hundreds of people, and it’s a wonderful opportunity for businesses and artists to be showcased in one spot. Earlier this year, we said, ‘Let’s have our team sit down and see what we can do to keep this event from becoming canceled!’”

Each year, W.I.L.M.A. is held at the Cattaraugus County Fairgrounds in Little Valley, but due to the pandemic, “we thought, ‘Why not have W.I.L.M.A. hit the road for 2020?’” said Hayes. Indeed, this year’s event is a “Fall Crawl,” which takes place each weekend in October. All participating vendors will be set up outside their homes or businesses throughout the county on Saturdays from 9:00am-4:00pm and Sundays from 11:00am-3:00pm. Maps are available at www.EMFun.us/WILMA. 

Rose Nuszkowski owns Rose Garden at 421 Route 219 in Great Valley, and will be open each weekend for W.I.L.M.A. She and her daughter, Faye, specialize in stained glass, including ornaments and window hangings. “This will be my seventh year participating in W.I.L.M.A.,” said Nuszkowski. “We always did well at the fairgrounds, but a lot of shows and events were canceled this year. This event wasn’t, so we said, ‘Why not?’”

Nuszkowski is looking forward to this year’s event. Visitors will be entered into a drawing to win a blanket box/coffee table. “I’ve been working on a lot of new items that we’ll have available for W.I.L.M.A. A lot of people like to choose new ornaments each year because they make great gifts,” she explained. 

While this year’s W.I.L.M.A. won’t have on-site food vendors, that doesn’t mean there won’t be plenty of opportunities to satisfy your sweet tooth! Diana Olson’s Helping Us Help Others at 4608 Route 219 in Great Valley sells all kinds of homemade chocolates and chocolate-covered goodies that make wonderful gifts (or snacks!) and support a good cause.

“In 2003, my family started making and selling chocolate so I could go on a service trip to Costa Rica and study abroad when I was in college,” said Olson. “The following year, we made candy to raise money for my cousin to participate in go-kart racing. The year after that, everyone still wanted the chocolate, so we started making it and donating money to families with medical needs; we supported a different family each year.”

This year, a portion of Olson’s candy sales will be donated to a local family who is having a benefit in October to purchase a wheelchair-accessible home for their son. “It’s just a really fun way to help the community,” said Olson. Tasty treats include mint chocolate, chocolate-covered Oreo cookies, pretzels, Twizzlers and more, plus all kinds of mold-poured milk, dark, and white chocolates. Olson also sells a variety of painted and stained wooden boxes and shelves. This year, she is teaming up with another area artisan, Jamie Baldwin, whose wooden signs, wall hangings, reusable tote bags and seasonal and home decor will be available for the first three weekends in October.

Continue south to Salamanca, where Jodi Scanlan’s Rustic Originals at 5111 Route 353 will also be open each weekend in October. For many, Rustic Originals’ booth is an annual destination at W.I.L.M.A., and Scanlan is excited to now welcome shoppers to her store. “There’s only so much we can bring to an event,” said Scanlan, “so I’m excited that people can come to the store and see everything!”

Rustic Originals specializes in rustic and country home decor, including handmade signs, candles, soap, bath bombs, greeting cards, baby blankets, bibs, and more. “I have a lot of items that I don’t carry at shows, like custom furniture, bread boxes, and spice racks,” Scanlan added. “I’ll miss the show and seeing all of the other vendors, but this year gives us a different opportunity!” Visitors who stop at Rustic Originals will be entered into a gift basket drawing, and no purchase is necessary. To learn more about Scanlan’s shop, follow Rustic Originals on Facebook.

Hayes explained that all participating vendors will be marked with W.I.L.M.A. yard signs.“It’s going to be a wonderful opportunity to gather a small group of friends together, shop, and have lunch,” Hayes said. Some people consider W.I.L.M.A. the unofficial start of holiday shopping! In 2020, more than any other year, it’s important to shop local!”

All W.I.L.M.A. visitors should remember to wear their masks when visiting participating vendors and adhere to occupancy limitations set forth by the vendor to maintain safe social distancing. Learn more and view the W.I.L.M.A. maps at www.EMFun.us/WILMA.