Destination: Fun!
Destination: Fun!
Autumn in Ellicottville… The season is full of outdoor excitement
OCTOBER 9-10
DOWNTOWN ELLICOTTVILLE & HOLIDAY VALLEY
800-349-9099 | ellicottvilleny.com
Take in a lively weekend of unique foods, fine arts, live entertainment and more at Ellicottville’s oldest running festival. The P.U.N.T. Pediatric Cancer Collaborative will host an interactive Kid Fun Zone featuring Buffalo Bills themed mini-golf, plinko, spin-to-win, glitter tattoos and kids crafts. Turf for Tots, which purchased the Buffalo Bills’ old turf, will be set up on the lawn of the Visitors Center with a selection of turf-inspired merchandise to raise money for the Courage of Carley Fund. In addition to the vendors and the excitement of downtown, Fall Festival extends to Holiday Valley with a Fall Scramble (4 or 8-mile off-road run), chairlift rides, American Hawkeye’s Birds of Prey show, sidewalk sales and special season pass promotions.
CHAIRLIFT RIDES
WEEKENDS THROUGH OCTOBER @ HOLIDAY VALLEY
716-699-2345 | holidayvalley.com
Enjoy a relaxing ride up the Mardi Gras or Spruce Lake chairlifts on Saturdays and Sundays during the month of October to view the spectacular fall leaves on the hillsides of Holiday Valley. (Mardi Gras is open through Oct. 17th noon-4:00pm and Spruce is open through Oct. 31st 11:00am-4:30pm, weather permitting.) $10 per person, kids 6 and under are free. Purchase tickets online. Please note: dogs, backpacks and bags are not permitted on the lift. Visitors can also guess the weight of the giant pumpkin at the bottom of Mardi Gras; weekly winners will receive a $20 Holiday Valley gift card.
WED - SAT THROUGH OCT. 16
GRIFFIS SCULPTURE PARK | EAST OTTO, NY
griffissculpturepark.com
Experience Griffis Sculpture Park at night! NIGHT LIGHTS invites guests to walk the park’s trails and experience the interaction between lights, nature and art, as a portion of the park is illuminated with colorful and theatrical lighting. New additions to this year’s NIGHT LIGHTS include a new trail, new lighting concepts, soundscapes, performance artists, video projections, vendors and events. It is a truly unique experience the whole family will enjoy! $12.50 adults, $7 for children 7-12 years old, free for children 6 and under. Purchase tickets at eventbrite.com. Be sure to dress for the weather and bring a flashlight for a few darker sections of the trail.
FRI - SUN IN OCTOBER
7:30-9:30pm @ SOMMERVILLE VALLEY RD.
716-699-4839 | nightmarehayride.com
Nightmare Hayride is known to be the scariest haunted attraction in Western New York. A 25-minute tractor drawn hayride will lead you down a creepy, haunted path with live scary creatures. Exit off into a haunted maze that twists and turns over one acre of land with more spooky, scary live creatures. Then enter into the haunted barn which features the vortex tunnel. $25 per person; snack shack on site serving up spooktacular food. Take a seat at the pavilion and tell all your haunting stories. “Come if you dare.”
OCTOBER 23
DOWNTOWN ELLICOTTVILLE
evlhalf.com
Grab your friends, plan your costumes and get ready to run! Both the 5k and the half marathon will start and finish on Monroe Street in the village. The rolling course heads north through scenic, lightly traveled, rural roads and offers fast times and a great atmosphere. Costume contest and awards in various age groups. All participants will receive a t-shirt, finisher’s medal and post-race recovery food. Celebrate your run at the after-party, which returns this year to Ellicottville Brewing Co. Secure your spot at the start line. Register online.
OCTOBER 24
1:00-6:00pm @ ELLICOTTVILLE’S NANNEN ARBORETUM
Keller Williams real estate agent Caitlin Croft is planning a fun, festive, free Halloween-themed event to show her appreciation for both her clients and the community! Spend the Bills’ bye-week at the Ellicottville Nannen Arboretum for an afternoon of pumpkin carving, hot cider and sweet treats. All supplies will be provided, all ages welcome! As a breast cancer survivor herself, Croft is using this opportunity to help raise money for The Pink Pumpkin Project, a non-profit dedicated to providing financial and emotional support to those in our local communities fighting breast cancer. Follow @RelaxedRealtorEVL on IG for additional event details as we get closer to the date.
NOVEMBER 6
2:00-5:00pm @ FATTEY BEER CO., EVL
IG: @SK8EVL
The SK8EVL committee is continuing its efforts to raise money to help build a concrete skatepark in Ellicottville. Fifty blank skatedecks have been distributed to 50 different artists across the U.S. These one-of-a-kind works of art will be live auctioned and silent auctioned, with all proceeds matched by The Skatepark Project/Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation. Food, beer, and giveaways too! (including a Salomon Huck Knife Pro snowboard donated by Snowflake/245 Board Shop). The first 100 ticket holders will take home a mini-art canvas created by students of Ellicottville Central School. For tickets stop by ellicottvilleNOW, call/text 716-244-7573 or Venmo: @Ellicottville-Skatepark.
NOVEMBER 13
HOLIDAY VALLEY RESORT
716-699-2345 | holidayvalley.com
Beer is Back! The 17th annual Beer and Wine Festival invites everyone 21 and over to sample many great flavors offered by the region's best craft brewers, wineries and cideries. Add live entertainment, food trucks and 1500 of your closest friends, and you’ve got the makings of the greatest party of the season! Organizers have modified this year's event to give everyone a bit more elbow room. Two sessions are scheduled in the Holiday Valley Lodge: 1:00-4:00pm and 6:00-9:00pm. Purchase your session online. Price bump Nov. 1st; purchase early to save.
NOVEMBER 26-28
DOWNTOWN ELLICOTTVILLE
800-349-9099 | ellicottvilleny.com
Who needs all the hustle and bustle and stress of spending Black Friday at the Mall when the whole family can enjoy Christmas in Ellicottville? The village sidewalks are lined with an abundance of eclectic shops that are packed full of unique holiday gift choices. Spend the weekend enjoying some of the best restaurants and finest accommodations in the area as the streets come to life with beautiful, festive lights, the official lighting ceremony of the Ellicottville Ski Tree, special guests (Hello, Santa!), strolling carolers, children’s activities and more. Get into the holiday spirit and plan a trip to Ellicottville with your family! Check the Ellicottville Chamber’s website for additional details as we get closer to the season.