WILMA Weekend 2024

Welcome to the fall festival season! You’ll find an autumnal celebration every weekend in October in just about every community across western New York! Choosing which ones you’ll attend can be tricky, since there are so many good ones out there!

One you will surely want to make time for is the WILMA event at the Cattaraugus County Fairgrounds in Little Valley, NY October 19th and 20th. EllicottvilleNOW spoke with Deborah Miller of the Cattaraugus County Department of Economic Development, Planning and Tourism and overseer of WILMA, to explain what the event is, why it exists, and what visitors can expect this year.

eNOW: What is WILMA, and what does it aim to accomplish?

MILLER: You mean, what is WILMA Woolly Bear Weekend? It is SO much more than your average craft show! All vendors participating in the event are business owners, manufacturers, artisans or crafters from Cattaraugus County. All items are handmade or manufactured right here in Cattaraugus County! This event was created to help promote shop local, buy local, made local, just in time for the holiday season. Although free to the public, businesses pay a minimal registration fee that is then used towards door prizes in the form of WILMA bucks which can be used at any of our participating vendors. All those attending the event receive a reusable shopping bag. Event hours are Saturday 10:00-4:00pm and Sunday 11:00am-3:00pm.

eNOW: Are there other features of the event other than art and craft vendors?

MILLER: Last year, we added a Job Fair and a small business resource showcase leading up to the weekend, which we will be doing again this year. The Job Fair will be held on Thursday, October 17th from 1:00-4:00pm and the CCEDPT Team’s Small Business Resource Event showcasing the resources available to businesses in Cattaraugus County will be held on Friday, October 18th from 9:00-10:30am. Both events will be held in the Corporate Building of the Little Valley Fairgrounds.

eNOW: Can you give us a sneak-peek at what some of the vendors will be offering?

MILLER: We have over 50 vendors signed up, which are all from Cattaraugus County. Items range from baked goods, to jewelry, to crocheted items, to woodworking and so much more. There is such a wide variety of items that there is sure to be something for everyone attending!

eNOW: Will there be refreshments available on-site?

MILLER: Donuts, coffee and cider are always a draw of this event. We offer South Dayton Super Duper Donuts and Pumpkinville Cider free of charge to all attendees, as well as coffee. The Pig-Out Place will also be selling items such as pulled pork, hot dogs, burgers, nachos and more. Prices range from $3.00-$12.00.

eNOW: What special events will be happening over the weekend?

MILLER: We will have a fun weather prediction that will be held at 1:00pm on Saturday by our very own wooly bear caterpillar names (of course) WILMA. First Day Door Prize drawings will take place at 3:00pm for WILMA Bucks (1st prize $75 in WILMA Bucks; 2nd prize $50 in WILMA Bucks; 3rd prize $25 in WILMA Bucks). Our Basket Raffle will be held on Sunday at 2:00pm. All the items are donated by the vendors and local businesses.

eNOW: Why do you believe that the annual WILMA weekend is so beloved by the community?

MILLER: WILMA stands for We Invite Local Manufacturers and Artisans. It has become a yearly trip for some of our attendees. They love that all of the items are made right here in Cattaraugus County. The event just has that hometown feel to it where people can come together and celebrate what makes Cattaraugus County unique. You can find more details at enchantedmountains.com.

WILMA Weekend 2024

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