Pre-Season Excitement
Pre-Season Excitement
Ellicottville builds up the stoke of ski season with a number of iconic events
Above photo / @holidayvalley
With ski season and the holidays right around the corner, there is plenty to look forward to as the days become shorter, colder, and snowier. Whether you’re looking for a fun little getaway or planning your gift-giving shopping excursions, Ellicottville has plenty of options for a memorable end to fall and anticipated start to winter.
THE CITY GARAGE’S MOVIE PREMIERE
This annual event sponsored by The City Garage Ski Shop and hosted by The Ellicottville Depot (6094 Route 219) is back on November 2nd. Ski movies will forever be a part of ski culture. Nothing else can match the community and excitement created by watching films with friends. So, why would you settle for just one film? This year they are featuring two of Salomon’s movies from the Quality Ski Time Film Tour. Pairing well with movie night are raffles, prizes, and delicious pizza to enjoy. This is a FREE event - come early, stay late!
HOLIDAY VALLEY’S ANNUAL BEER AND WINE FESTIVAL
If warm weather means frozen drinks and fruit-infused cocktails, then fall is definitely about the craft beers, spicy ciders, and savory wines! Why not try something new at Holiday Valley’s Beer and Wine Festival Weekend? Now in its 20th year, the festival (November 8-9th) will feature the best craft breweries, wineries and cideries where you can enjoy your favorites or try something new and unique. Back for the 2nd year, the festival will kick off with the “Crawl Outta Fall” pub crawl on Friday, November 8th.
The crawl begins with a welcome reception at the Tamarack Club from 4:00-7:00pm. Here, participants can register for just $10, which includes a passport card, a first drink at Edna’s at the Tamarack Club, and access to shuttle service. The shuttle service will run from 3:30pm-2:00am and will depart from the Tamarack Club every half hour. Participating bars include Madigan’s, Silver Fox, EBC Taqueria, Balloons, and Edna’s at the Tamarack Club. To win the ultimate Holiday Valley experience - a dine, stay, and play package - collect four stamps on your passport and submit it to the Tamarack front desk or at the Beer and Wine Festival on Saturday to be entered for the drawing. To add to the festive atmosphere, they'll have music playing in the Tamarack lobby. It's the perfect backdrop for a night of fun and celebration. So mark your calendars for November 8th and prepare to "Crawl Outta Fall" in the most delightful way.
Then the main event arrives on Saturday, November 9th. Guests will engage with brewers and vintners through interactive sessions and tastings. Learn about the art of crafting your favorite drinks and get insider info straight from the experts. There will be two separate sessions of the Beer and Wine Fest at the Holiday Valley Main Lodge (6557 Holiday Valley Road, Ellicottville). Session one will run from 1:00-4:00pm and session two will run from 5:00-8:00pm. Some of the businesses confirmed for this year’s event are Ellicottville Brewing Company, Lilly Belle Meads, East Aurora Brewing Co, Steelbound Brewery & Distillery, Wayland Brewing, Southern Tier Distilling Co, Ellicottville Distillery, The Winery of Ellicottville, Black Button Distilling, Blackbird Cider Works, Bold Rock Cider and many more.
Throughout the festival, visitors can enjoy live entertainment by XOXO Pop Band. They have been performing throughout WNY and Canada since 2017. XOXO specializes in Top 40 Pop, Rock, Dance, and Party music that you’d only expect to hear from a DJ with a diverse catalog that ranges from The Beatles to Beyonce. They keep the party going all night long, so make sure you don’t miss out on your chance to dance the night away.
Tickets are available online for both sessions. (Save $10 by ordering by October 31st.) For those interested in making a weekend out of it, special lodging packages are available to event attendees. To learn more about this year’s Beer & Wine Festival, for a complete list of vendors, or to book your accommodations, visit holidayvalley.com/event/beer-and-wine-2024.
CHRISTMAS IN ELLICOTTVILLE
The holiday season is always magical, even more so in our little winter haven of Ellicottville. Our town has been described as a Norman Rockwell conjuration. The New York Times even stated that “it is like being transported to a scene from an old black and white Christmas movie.”
As the holiday season starts to take center stage, a visit to Ellicottville to see what the fuss is about is definitely in order. The shops all decorate their windows with their holiday best, main street radiates a warming glow, and if you visit November 29th through December 1st, you can enjoy the many festivities of our Christmas in Ellicottville celebration. You’ll see the town light up at night and may even meet the jolly ol’ elf himself. For more details on the event as it gets closer, keep an eye on ellicottvilleny.com.
As you can see, Ellicottville is the place to be as the air turns chilly and the flakes start falling. Don’t miss out on any of these great activities while you’re gearing up for ski/snowboard season!
