Ellicottville Traditions

Fall Festival and the Beer & Wine Fest Keep the Vibe Alive Downtown and at Holiday Valley

Well, you knew this day was coming.  It's time for you to embrace the idea that summer is over.  I mean come on … didn't you get sick of all those beautiful sunny 80 degree days with no rain?  Just the other morning marked the first time I saw my breath since last spring, so I thought it may be good to touch on some of the annual traditions that help make the fall season here in Ellicottville, NY one of the most exciting times of the year.

Ellicottville's Fall Festival

Up first is the annual Fall Festival, an event that probably needs no explanation for many of you.  For three days, our generally quiet village is transformed into a melting pot of people from Southern Ontario, various parts of upstate New York, northwest Pennsylvania and Ohio.  Just how many people you may wonder?  Try tens of thousands of them!  I caught up with Heather Snyder of the Ellicottville Chamber of Commerce, who noted “we couldn't be more excited for this longstanding annual event in the village!”  She also mentioned that the popular “Ellicottville Idol” competition would be returning this year, which is definitely something to check out. (This event is exactly like what you see on TV, with acts both tickling and torturing your eardrums, but there is always that person there, who shocks you with just what an amazing singer they are.)  With that said, let's touch on a few of the other highlights you can expect if you happen to visit our village Oct. 5-7.

With all these people converging on our ski mecca, needless to say parking can be a bit daunting during this festival.  The hot tip: be prepared to park at one of the pay lots outside of town, many of which benefit local charities and causes.  The walk into the village is generally sunny and warm, filled with the colorful sights and sounds of autumn.  As you approach town, you definitely can't help but notice the excitement everywhere.  Washington and Monroe Streets, as well as a portion of Jefferson Street are closed to host vendors from near and far.  Want a shirt with a roaring lion on it?  We got you.  Add rhinestones?  Yeah there's that, too.  Oh, sorry - you wanted that in leather?   Probably likely to find it.  There are countless craft vendors, peddling items ranging from carvings, sculptures, blown glass, and various toll painting items.  These vendors stay open 10am-5pm each day, and rest assured with each leisurely lap around the village, you'll see something new each time.  

Fall Festival is also a great time to gear up for the upcoming ski season, and one of the main attractions in the downtown area is the annual tent sale, featuring hardgoods and softgoods from Mud, Sweat N' Gears, The City Garage, The Boardroom, and Greg Dekdebruns Ski Shop at prices you can't shake a ski pole at. Owner Mike Timkey of The Boardroom says he and his family look forward to the festival each year, as they can “foster the stoke” of the upcoming shred season.  He went on to say it's great to see familiar faces after a long summer who are just as enthusiastic about the impending lake effect machine.

It's no secret that Fall Fest is also pretty notorious for its abundant amount of libation in celebration of the approaching winter season.  Various beer tents can be found around town, including the National Ski Patrol tent which lends its funds to their safety initiatives, and the enormous tent behind Balloons Restaurant & Nightclub which benefits local sports programs.  If you've ever attended a Fall Festival before, you know that the Balloons tent is rocking with various musical acts from morning til night as part of their very own “Rocktoberfest” celebration.  

If the hustle and bustle of town is a touch overwhelming for you, HoliMont hosts its annual membership meeting where it will be unveiling its new high speed quad chairlift, or head up to Holiday Valley. Not only will you be able to check in on their massive new lodge project, you'll be able to yet again hunt for deals at the Holiday Valley Mountain Shops tent sale, or the NFSC Gold Team Ski Swap, located inside Creekside Lodge.  One of the “must do” traditions however, is the chairlift ride offered at the resort.  The resort runs the Mardi Gras lift to the top of the hill, where yet another beer tent awaits, with live music throughout the day to compliment the breathtaking views of the fall foliage.  Bring your camera … you won't want to miss out!

Beer & Wine Festival

If you didn't get your fill of beer and wine at Fall Festival, another annual tradition here in Ellicottville is the ever popular Beer & Wine Festival at Holiday Valley Resort.  This event has gained major popularity since beginning nine years ago. Holiday Valley Resort, the Ellicottville Brewing Company and Southern Tier Brewery will once again host the event at the Yodeler Lodge on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2012 from 3:30-7:30pm featuring live music by Big Leg Emma.

Do you like beer?  I know I do, which makes this event a perfect fit, as you'll be able to get down on over 30 of the best New York State and American craft breweries and wines from New York, Southern Ontario and Ellicottville vintners. The festival is broken into two parts: the first being Friday's Beer Tasting Dinner which will include samplings of rare and specialty top U.S. craft brews and Belgian beers.

If you're attending, you'll be able to meet and greet the brew masters as well as enjoy a specially designed menu. The dinner will take place on Friday, Nov. 9 in the Tannenbaum Lodge with the dinner getting underway at 7:00pm. Head brewers Dustin Hazer from Southern Tier Brewing Company and Dan Minner from Ellicottville Brewing Company will be your tour guides through the courses and the beers. Ticket prices and reservation information have yet to be made available, but they will undoubtedly go fast … you can keep tabs at www.holidayvalley.com.

Speaking of Dan Minner, I caught up with this Head Brewmaster from Ellicottville Brewing Company to get some details about the upcoming event. Despite being months away, Dan and his crew are already planning out their approach to the festival, where they typically offer some of their most popular creations from the brewery.  Minner went on to list off some of the hits he knew they'd be pouring, including the delicious Chocolate Cherry Stout, the returning Winter Witte, of course Octoberfest, as well as a St. Jacobs Oak Age Stout, which owes its amazing flavor to the French Oak it is brewed in.  

Branching out a bit from the local offering, brewers come from far and wide, with representatives from Sierra Nevada, Magic Hat, Great Lakes, Erie Brewing, Saranac, Southern Tier, John Harvard's, Ithaca, Roerhbac, Woodchuck, Custom Beer Crafters, Butter Nutts, Original Sin Cider, Harpoon, Voodoo, Smutty Nose, Long Trail, Hebrew and Otter Creek.

If after sampling all of those offerings you still didn't find something that pleased your palate (fat chance) there are also multiple vitners on-hand to pour you that perfect glass of vino to compliment your next meal or conversation.  Adding to the local flair will be the Winery of Ellicottville where I recently popped by and found Linda busily getting ready for the fall season.  She proudly exclaimed that they would of course be participating in the Beer & Wine Festival again this year, featuring their newest offering, labeled 'EVL White', which recently won Double Gold at the Indy International Wine Competition.  She went on to explain that they would also be pouring 'EVL Red', and if all goes well they would have 'EVL Blue' (America!) on-hand as well, which is actually a blueberry wine … something different indeed!  

Alongside the Winery of Ellicottville, you'll also be able to check out offerings from several of New York's award winners like Miles and Fulkerson plus Heron Hill, Fox Run, and Merrit.

One thing I hope is that if you're attending the event, you get to and from it safely.  Don't be stupid - the local law enforcement agencies won't hesitate to give you what you deserve if you get caught driving to or from this festival pickled.  So, with that said, take advantage of the complimentary shuttle service from the Inn at Holiday Valley, Tamarack, Snow Pine, Wildflower, or Alpine Meadows Condo complexes to the event. After the event there will be shuttles returning guests to their Holiday Valley accommodations as well as into the village of Ellicottville running until 2:30am, with pick-up and drop-off in the village in front of Balloons.  

With all this information, now the only thing left to do is get out that card and purchase your tickets today. Pre-sale tickets are available for the 9th Annual Beer & Wine Festival for $45, with the cost at the door rising to $55.  You can purchase them at Holiday Valley Resort, on their website (holidayvalley.com) or at WNY Wegman's locations.