Mardi Gras - E’Ville Style
Mardi Gras - E’Ville Style
A Festive Weekend with Fun Costumes, Zany Floats, and Community Fundraisers
Photos / Rich Rumfola
Welcome to Mardi Gras Weekend in Ellicottville! Considered by many as the last big hurrah of ski season, I prefer to think of it as the beginning of our “other” ski season - the kickoff to spring skiing! We’ll bask in warmer temps. We’ll trade our heavy winter coats in for comfy hoodies. And we’ll undoubtedly share a cocktail/mocktail or two on the patio after an epic afternoon of shredding with our buddies. Cheers to sunshine and bluebird days ahead. Another season is just beginning, and this weekend’s Mardi Gras celebration is the gateway to it all!
At the center of this weekend’s festivities is the annual Mardi Gras Parade, Saturday evening at 6:30pm, marching right through the center of the village. Local businesses, ski groups, and various organizations have been putting in the hours creating their entries for the parade, each float and marching group showcasing its own unique flair. From sparkling costumes to festive beads to revelers lining both sides of the street, the parade is a feast for the eyes. You won’t want to miss it!
Mardi Gras is more than just a party, however. It's an opportunity for our community to come together and support meaningful causes! During the parade, keep your eye out for the Holiday Valley Ski Patrol. They’ll be pushing grocery carts, collecting non-perishable items and monetary donations from the crowd to assist our local food pantry. (Read about their efforts on page 04.)
The Ellicottville Little Eagles Football League, run completely by volunteers, will also have a presence at Mardi Gras. These young athletes, with assistance from their coaches and parents, are planning a helmet drive to raise funds which will support ongoing expenses of the league. And quite the league it is, with approximately 100 local kids ages 6-11 involved. Watch for kiddos sauntering around town before, during, and after the parade, helmets in hand, kindly asking for donations.
Perhaps the most touching fundraiser of the weekend will come in the form of a boot - a fireman’s boot to be exact - with a heartfelt photo of Zach Golley, who recently died as a result of a tragic car accident here in Ellicottville. A graduate of Ellicottville Central, member of the Ellicottville Vol. Fire Dept., and certified EMT, Zach was employed full-time with the Village of Ellicottville DPW, and was loved by many. Known for his kindness and willingness to lend a helping hand to anyone in need, Zach’s final selfless act came in the form of organ donation. Zach’s GoFundMe page states…
“Zach saved 4 people in 4 different states. His left kidney was transplanted into a man in his 30s. His right kidney donated and transplanted as well. Both surgeries were completed with no complications. His liver was successfully transplanted into a man in his 70s. That recipient is recovering well. The precious gift of Zach’s heart was successfully transplanted into a man in his 30s in Massachusetts. This recipient was very sick and his surgeon shared that if it wasn’t for Zach’s gift, he would not have survived."
Look for volunteers equipped with firemen’s boots on Saturday, from 3:00-6:00pm during the Mardi Gras celebrations, gratefully accepting donations on behalf of Zach’s family. Find them at the Four Corners (1887 Building/Village Gazebo), the intersection by the Gin Mill, and down by EBC. Several local bars/restaurants will also have a boot located inside their establishment for donations, including Dina’s, Villaggio, Katy’s Cafe, Katy’s Fly-In (Great Valley), Alpine Bistro, and Tim Hortons (Route 219). Check the “Village of Ellicottville” FB page for an updated list as we head into the weekend. Zach leaves behind his fiance, Emily, and their newborn daughter, Bailey Rose. (Find Zach’s full obituary on page 14.)
photo / @holidayvalley
The spirit of giving isn’t confined to just downtown events. There are plenty of opportunities to have fun and give back while you’re enjoying the slopes. Pairing perfectly with Ellicottville’s Mardi Gras celebration is Holiday Valley’s Winter Carnival - two days of high-energy, on-snow excitement! From the Costume Parade to the Dummy Downhill race, these iconic events have become a must-attend each year for many families. But perhaps the most impactful activity on the Winter Carnival schedule is the HV Snowbar. A full size bar created out of snow and staffed by the resort’s very own snowmakers, skiers and non-skiers alike are invited to order up a tall one while visiting the resort, with all money raised donated to various local organizations. (Find the full schedule on the back cover of this week’s issue.)
Through the parade, the colorful costumes, the music, activities, and all the delicious food and drink, Mardi Gras brings people together. But it’s the local organizations and their fundraising efforts that truly make this celebration meaningful. This year, as you gather to enjoy Mardi Gras and Winter Carnival, take a moment to appreciate not only the excitement, but also the impact that these fundraisers have on our local community.
