Goodbye Christmas Tree
Goodbye Christmas Tree
Ellicottville Distillery to Host Annual Bonfire Jan. 18th
The snow is flying and the new year is underway. You know what they say, out with the old. That means if you haven’t gotten rid of your Christmas tree, now is the time. I know the perfect event to do just that and have a good time while you do it! Ellicottville Distillery (5462 Robbins Road, Ellicottville, NY) is hosting their annual Christmas Tree Bonfire this Saturday, January 18th from 4:00-8:00pm.
What makes lighting a pile of old trees on fire special, you ask? Well, it’s not just about the blaze, it’s about the celebration leading up to it. Co-owner Renee Scharf filled us in on everything you can expect at this year’s bonfire. “We’re ready to party this weekend!” she shared. "We’ve got live entertainment planned, a food truck… it’s going to be a lot of fun. And this year, the food truck will be using our own bourbon in their recipes, making the food just a little extra special.”
But before we get too far in, what do you need to do to take care of your pesky tree? Just bring it with you! Or you can call the distillery at 716-597-6121 ahead of time to see about arranging a pick-up or a drop if you just want to get rid of the tree but miss out on all the fun. But the easiest way is just to pack it up with you and toss it on the pile when you arrive.
Now, back to the event. It wouldn’t be a party without food. The food truck this year will be Big Daddy’s out of Springville. They specialize in BBQ favorites and cater events year-round. For the bonfire, their menu will include Hickory Smoked Pulled Pork, Beans and Rice, and their special Bourbon Chicken, which will be using the distillery’s own bourbon. If you enjoy them, you can follow their Facebook and reach out to them for your own event catering needs.
Don’t forget to order yourself one (or more) of Ellicottville Distillery’s cocktails. Their new drink menu offers a number of unique and delicious options, like their Railway, made with their blueberry vodka, vanilla, orange bitters, lime, pear and soda. Or their Thin Mint, featuring the popular bourbon maple creme, mint syrup, chocolate bitters and soda. There’s a drink for every palate to enjoy!
The live entertainment? “Tina Williams will be playing from 5:00-8:00pm,” Renee said. “This past year she has played for us numerous times; we really enjoy her!” Tina is a singer and songwriter out of Buffalo, NY. She’s worked with acclaimed musicians and producers all over the area. Her style varies, as she pulls inspiration from rock, folk, and country. She’s got a very powerful voice that delivers a wide range of sound with ease. She is currently the lead screecher for Murder!, a Buffalo punk band. She’ll be performing her solo acoustic set at the distillery for the bonfire event. Follow her on Instagram and Facebook to see where she is performing next.
“We are looking forward to people coming out and having a good time.” Renee said, “and we’ve got a great event the day after, on Sunday as well.”
That event is the Companionship Doggie Daycare fundraiser, January 19th from 2:00-4:00pm. The Great Valley doggie day care, grooming, and boarding facility is growing this year with plans to build a larger facility near the distillery. Proceeds from the fundraiser will benefit its expansion. Last week’s issue has all of the details and you can find the full article online on our website, ellicottvillenow.com.
“This is our last big event of the winter season,” Renee explained, “We have a few private parties that we’re hosting, but our next big event won’t be until the spring and it will be the annual KenDucky Derby.”
If you would like to host an event at Ellicottville Distillery, give them a call at 716-597-6121, visit ellicottvilledistillery.com, or find them on Facebook. And make sure you’re packing up the problem tree and heading out to the distillery on the 18th, so you can say goodbye to Christmas in the best way.
