Chautauqua Lake Living

Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau E-NEWS July 2014

what's happening

Great Blue Heron Music Festival, Sherman - July 4-6, 2014
Wreck & Roll, Dunkirk - July 5, 2014
Children in the Stream: A Fly Fishing Conference, Portland - July 7-10, 2014
Victorian Tea at the Hotel Lenhart, Bemus Point - July 10, 2014

Crafts Alliance Show, Chautauqua Institution - July 11-13, 2014
Antique Boat Show, Bemus Point - July 12, 2014
Century House and Garden Tour, Chautauqua Institution, July 15, 2014
Scandinavian Folk Festival, Gerry - July 18-20, 2014

Mid-Summer Gallery Tour, Chautauqua Lake Erie Art Trail - July 18-20, 2014
Fredonia History Days - July 18-19, 2014
Summerfest, Southern Tier Brewing Company, Lakewood - July 19, 2014
Westfield Antique Show - July 19-20, 2014
Chautauqua Lake Water Ski Show, Bemus Point - July 20, 2014
Chautauqua County Fair, Dunkirk - July 21 - 27, 2014
Buffalo Bill Cody Family Reunion, Jamestown - July 24 - 27, 2014
YWCA Westfield Arts & Crafts Festival -July 25-26, 2014
Night Lights at the Heron, Sherman - July 25-26, 2014
Gerry Rodeo, July 30 - August 2, 2014
Lucille Ball Festival of Comedy, Jamestown - August 6-10, 2014
America's Grape Country Wine Festival, Dunkirk, August 9-10, 2014

See a full calendar of events throughout Chautauqua County.

ongoing events

Chautauqua Institution 2014 season - June 21 - August 24, 2014
Lily Dale Assembly 2014 season - June 27 - September 1, 2014 Bemus Bay Pops Concert Series - June 28 - August 31, 2014
Jamestown Jammers Baseball
Kayaking tours on Chautauqua Lake and Lake Erie
Music on the Pier, Dunkirk, Thursdays through August 28
Big City Summer Concert Series, Jamestown Savings Bank Arena, Fridays, 6:30 pm
Tour Jamestown: Walking through History, Saturdays, 12:45 - 2:45 pm

farmers markets

Lakewood - 140 Chautauqua Avenue, Tuesdays, 2 - 6 pm.
Jamestown - Cherry Street between 2nd and 3rd Streets, Thursdays, 12 - 6 pm.
Fredonia - Church Street at Village Hall, Saturdays, 8 am - 1 pm.
Westfield - Moore Park, NYS Routes 20 and 394, Saturdays, 9 am - 2 pm.
Cross Roads Market - Cty Rd 21 between Westfield and Sherman, Saturdays, 9 am - 5 pm.
Sherman - Main Street, Saturdays, 10 am - 2 pm.

vacation planning

Request an "I Love New York" 2014 Chautauqua County Visitors Guide.

Independence Day Celebrations

Celebrate July 4th from Dunkirk to Jamestown with parties on the beach, in the park, and on the street.

Start the day at 7 am at the Lakewood Family YMCA registering for the 2014 Firecracker Run. The 10k Race starts at 9 am followed by a Kids Race at 9:30 am. Later, head to Chautauqua Avenue for street sales, live music and food vendors starting at 2 pm with fireworks at 10 pm.

Lakeside Park in Mayville will be endpoint for the annual 10 am parade with activities, food and live music until the flares create a ring of fire around Chautauqua Lake and the fireworks light up the sky at 10 pm.

Dunkirk's Memorial Park is the central location for the city's Fourth of July Celebration with food vendors, and fireworks over the Harbor at dusk. The weekend celebration continues at City Pier, Saturday, July 5th with Wreck & Roll featuring multiple rock & roll bands and a variety of chicken wings. Take part in the annual "Build Your Own Boat Race", ride the mechanical bull, watch the hose races, or get an autograph from a local sports star.

In Findley Lake, the daylong celebration offers chicken BBQ, a duck race, boat parade, live music starting at 7 pm, flares at 9:30 pm and fireworks at 10 pm.

The giant floating stage in Bemus Point hosts performances all weekend long. On Friday, the Dina Preston Band takes stage 8:00 pm followed by fireworks over the lake. Hotel California, an Eagles tribute band, plays Saturday at 8:00 pm, and Saxophonist Vince Ingala presents smooth jazz on Sunday at 2:30 pm. All performances can be seen and heard from the water and lakeshore. Reserved tickets are available immediately in front of the stage.

23rd Annual Great Blue Heron Music Festival

July 4-6, 2014

One of the largest music festivals in western New York, the Great Blue Heron Festival runs July 4-6 on 300 acres in the Amish countryside near Sherman. Hear an eclectic mix of national and regional acts performing Roots, Rock, Zydeco, Blues and Old-time Bluegrass while enjoying food vendors, an all-night dance tent, kids and teen programs, camping, swimming, and a café in the woods.

An Antique Boat Show

July 12, 2014

View over 50 classic wood and fiber boats on display in Bemus Point at the 17th Annual Chautauqua Lake Antique & Classic Boat Show, Saturday, July 12th from 9 am - 5 pm. Hosted by the Chautauqua Lake Twin Tier Chapter of the Antique and Classic Boat Society, the show also features a ships store, vendor area, class judging and displays on land. All boats can be seen at the Village Casino docks.

What Would You Like to Learn Today?

For 140 years, summer in Chautauqua County has been associated with lifelong and vacation learning during the Chautauqua Institution's nine week program season. In addition to morning lectures and hundreds of Special Studies classes offered by Chautauqua Institution, several venues around Chautauqua County offer vacation learning experiences all year long. Nurture your outdoor spirit with a fly fishing conference, vineyard and wildflower walks, or paddling adventures. Spend an evening in the garden tasting fresh vegetables. Take a class in the comedic arts including Stand Up and Improv. Learn to play the Congo or draw Lucy during the 2014 Lucille Ball Festival of Comedy. For more ideas, visit www.tourchautauqua.com/learn.aspx.

Lucy Fest 2014

August 6-10, 2014

The 2014 Lucille Ball Festival of Comedy is bigger and better than ever with performances by Jay Leno, Tom Cotter, Caroline Rhea, Lucie Arnaz, and a whole host of up and coming comedians. The annual festival returns August 6-10 and features over 50 events in five days throughout Ball's hometown. Featured performances include a Stand-Up Showcase with Caroline Rhea (Aug. 7; Free for veterans), comedian Tom Cotter (America's Got Talent finalist (Aug. 8)), a Free kids comedy show with Nels Ross (Aug. 9), a special cocktail reception with Lucie Arnaz (Aug. 9), and a night of comedy with the legendary Jay Leno (Aug. 9; Sold Out). Limited tickets to many events are still available and may be purchased by visiting www.lucycomedyfest.com or calling (716)484-0800. The Lucille Ball Comedy Festival is hosted by the Lucy Desi Museum & Center for Comedy.