Pumpkinville
Marking
28 th Year
Annual RidgeWalk & Run
Colors of Elk County ATV Ride
Area Farmers Markets
6 th Arts on the Island
900 GUNS IN STOCK
BUYING & SELLING FOR 32 YEARS
Please do not fall for the out-of-town buyers who rent a local hotel room and set up to buy “claiming” to pay top dollar. Do the research, compare the prices, know pennyweight, know spot price. Then bring your gold, silver,coins, and guns to us.
Honda Trail 70
We stock over 900 New & Used Firearms! Absolutely the highest prices paid for used guns and complete collections. We also BUY Used and Broken Guns, parts, re-loading, anything related to hunting and fishing.
“McKean County E-Sales is a “Licensed Precious Metals dealer” We BUY and SELL gold+sliver bullion from $1.00 to $500,000. No deal to big or to small. Give us a call for a safe,confidential quote or appraisal.”
- R. Perry Burdick
We are a state and federally licensed firearms dealer with SOT/Class 3 license!
Please visit our 2 newly remodled stores...12,000 sq. ft. fully stocked, shop for hours! Smethport’s oldest retail business on Main St.!
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Earrings
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While hints of fall have been in the air and in the light for days, the true arrival of fall comes on Saturday with the autumnal equinox.
That’s when Earth is aligned sideways to the sun, which will be exactly above Earth’s equator, moving from north to south and explaining why daylight gets shorter and shorter.
Chemicals become more prominent in leaves after the autumn equinox, while chlorophyll
decreases, resulting in the beautiful leaf colors of the season. And a little bit of a change happens to us as well. With the slowly cooling temperatures, we break out of the late-summer lethargy and feel like moving. We feel like walking, taking a bike ride or taking a drive somewhere — to see the leaves, to visit a park or destination, to spend time with friends at an event or activity. We feel like venturing out — to see, taste and feel the fall.
Allegany State Park has an event-filled fall season in store for park visitors.
Allegany Region
Regional Director Jay G. Bailey said the first upcoming fall event will be National Public Lands Day on Saturday, Sept. 23.
“This is Allegany State Park’s 18th year participating in the nation’s largest volunteer day,” Bailey said. “Projects will be focused on the Red House side of the Park.”
This event will be held rain or shine.
Volunteers are asked to pre-register by contacting the Environmental Education/Recreation Department at (716) 354-6232 or by emailing randall. abbott@parks.ny.gov.
Walk-ins may check in at Beehunter Picnic Shelter from 9 to 9:30 a.m. A picnic lunch will be provided
for volunteers at 3 p.m. National Public Lands Day is the nation’s largest one-day event designed to give people a chance to give back to the public lands they love by volunteering for a few hours on a variety of service projects that enhance both the park and the visitor experience.
There are numerous volunteer projects in the works with something for everyone to participate. Participants are asked to come dressed for the weather and expect to get dirty. To learn more about National Public Lands Day go
online to www.neefusa. org/public-lands-day.
On Oct. 14, the Environmental Education team will invite visitors to look to the sky (with special glasses, of course) to witness a partial solar eclipse.
Next year, when a total solar eclipse occurs on April 8, 2024, Environmental Education staff will have an eclipse watch at Camp Allegany from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
On Friday, Oct. 20, the Environmental Education, Interpretation and Recreation Department will host a Spooky Family Bike Ride from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Red House picnic shelter.
“It’s a fun evening for families, with a potluck dinner, crafts, games, a costume bike ride, bat chat, costume awards and Pinata party,” Bailey said.
For more information call (716) 354-6232.
Bailey also noted there’s a marked uptick in all types of traffic, from RV’s to motorcycles frequenting the roads and popular stops in the park during the fall.
“Fall is an excellent time to camp, with fall colors and cooler temperatures,” said Bailey. ”Our cabins and campgrounds are very popular during the fall months, especially on the long Columbus Day weekend.
While the Red House Lake boat house has closed for the season, as well as both beach snack bars, “the General Stores in Red House and Quaker will be open through the last Weekend in October, when both campgrounds close.”
Tours are planned at the Summit Fire Tower and Stone Tower on weekends through Columbus Day, Bailey said. Fire Tower tours are 11:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. Stone Tower tours are 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.,m.
Bailey noted that a portion of ASP Route 1 between the Red House and Quaker Run areas has been closed due to bridge construction. “However, we hope to have this section of scenic roadway open around the time of peak fall colors,” he said.
By MANDY COLOSIMO
SMETHPORT — The Sixth Arts on the Island event happens from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 30 at Hamlin Lake Park on Willow Street.
The fundraiser benefiting the McKean County Historical Society includes a car show, arts and crafts vendors, food and music throughout the day. Admission is free.
“This year, at the car show, we added a category for fire trucks. We hope to have mayors, police or fire chiefs, or other leaders in the first responders sponsor a trophy for this new category,” Bart Barton, event organizer, said.
Each year, vendors and vehicles start arriving on the island to set up around 9 a.m., Barton
said, and then the crowds start showing up. It’s a fun, family environment. The island can hold up to 200 cars, which is a big part of the event. Ten categories have been selected for this year to receive awards — the newest being the category for fire trucks. Winners
of each category will be announced at 4 p.m.
Car show pre-registration runs until a week prior to the event. Contact the McKean County Historical Society at (814) 887-5142 to pre-register for a discounted rate of $10. Otherwise, registration will also be available the day of the show beginning at 9 a.m. for $12.
While checking out the cars, trucks, and motorcycles, visitors will also enjoy the bands playing live music from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Bobby Spaeth, Glen Lucas, Gene Shunk and After Today are already in the lineup.
Another new addition to the Island event is an anvil shoot at noon.
Tickets are selling out quickly; only 60 tickets per round were printed. Each round will have three awards: 1st place is $200; 2nd place is $150; and 3rd place is $100, and the winner does not need to be present, Barton said. Tickets are available at the Old Jail Museum or on McKean County Historical Society website at $20 each.
Barton said that one of the most asked about parts of the event is the food — many of the favorites are returning.
“There is something for everyone and you will not be disappointed or hungry.”
Artisans and crafters from all around the region have been sending in their applications all summer, according to Barton. A variety of handcrafted items will be available.
For vendors, crafters, and those who want to show off their rides and have not yet registered, email mchsmuseum@ verizon.net or call (814) 887-5142. Cars can also be registered on the day of the event.
Anyone who would like to volunteer can contact Barton as well.
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Autumn in the Twin Tiers has long been a popular time for harvesting the fruits of local farmers’ labor, and farmers markets across the region are gearing up for another bountiful season.
At the Enchanted Mountains Farmers Market in Olean, market manager Tammy Gardner said the season has been great so far and they’ve have seen many new faces along with our regular customers.
“At this time of year, people are looking for fresh vegetables and fruit along with the ever-so-popular corn on the cob,” she said. “We have
vendors with those and others who have garlic, honey and baked goods, fresh eggs and chicken.”
Along with the usual harvest items, Gardner said the market’s nonfood vendors include Avon; a new vendor called Sweetest Sin Wax Co who sells soy wax melts, room sprays and beeswax lip balms; and Our Twisted Tree who makes and sells soaps, lotions, jewelry and stained glass pieces.
To celebrate the season, the market has a Fall Festival coming up on Sept. 29. There will be live music, a vendor pumpkin carving contest, pumpkins for children to decorate, a raffle to raise money for the homeless and a clothesline to collect winter items for those in need, Gardner said.
“We invite everyone to a fun-filled day with something for everyone, and get an ice cream from Ashford Junction Depot Ice Cream Truck,” she added.
The Market runs every Friday from 2-6 p.m. until Oct. 20 at Tractor
Supply Co. on Constitution Avenue in Olean. The Wanderer Hut food truck also sets up in the parking lot each week. The market accepts Snap, Wic, Senior Checks, Fresh Connect checks and FMNP checks.
“Thank you to the local community who support our vendors,” Gardner said. “And thank you to our vendors who work hard to provide local, quality products to our community.”
Other farmers markets in the area include:
• Alfred – Village Green on Main Street, Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Angelica – Park Circle on Main Street, Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Belmont – 5429 Route 19 North, Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Gowanda – 53 W. Main St., Thursdays from 2-6 p.m.
• Little Valley –103 Rock City St., Thursdays from 2-6 p.m.
• Olean – Lincoln Park, South Street, Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Salamanca – 768 Broad St., Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• South Dayton – 112 Railroad St., Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Wellsville – 155 N. Main St., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Cherry Springs State Park, located in Potter County, along Route 44, is a unique park that is popular with the stargazing community but also has camping, hiking and ATV trails in the area.
“We ask where visitors are coming from at the start of every guided night sky tour,” said Susan Schenck, environmental education specialist with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. “It’s common to have many families visiting from the larger areas of Pennsylvania and visitors from Maryland, Buffalo and New York City. We also get one or two families from other countries.”
For those in attendance, light use on the ground can interrupt the experience, so there are rules for those participating. To protect the technical observations or photos captured, guests must use only red light and there is a light-protective gate to keep cars and their headlights from driving in after sunset. Schenck said the Overnight Astronomy Observation field is an overnight accommodation for people who bring telescopes or astrophotography equipment.
“Just imagine the
amount of white light headlight beams can throw,” said Schenck.
“This area isn’t on our campground reservation system. Campsites are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Interested astronomers should note that there are no campfires allowed, and no picnic tables are provided.”
Schenck said the Night Sky Public Viewing Area is generally the best fit for most visitors and is set up for short-term stargazing. Check the rules on the website. For example, dogs or other pets are not allowed, but service animals are.
Schenck said camping and hiking are popular in the area, too. Cherry Springs State Park offers a rustic, non-electric campground open from April through the last weekend in October. North of Cherry Springs State Park
is a small rustic campground at Patterson State Park, available on a first-come, first-serve basis when the Cherry Springs Campground is open. Nearby Lyman Run State Park offers modern campsites with electric hookups and showers. ATV riders can camp at the Lower Campground. Both parks are popular, visitors can reserve sites 11 months in advance.
Hiking at Patterson State Park abuts one of Pennsylvania’s top long-distance hiking trails, the 84-mile long Susquehannock Trail System. Connecting trails can also take hikers to Cherry Springs State Park. More information on the trail can be found at: stc-hike. org.
Hikers seeking a shorter walk can take day hikes on the Susquehannock Trail, head to Lyman Run State Park, or take the
mile long, gently-graded Working Forest Interpretive Trail right at Cherry Springs State Park.
“ATV riding is popular in the PA Wilds,” said Schenck. “ATV riders can’t ride ATVs to Cherry Springs directly, but they can go through the forests nearby. They can ride right into Lyman Run State Park, provided they have proper permits.”
Information for ATV riders can be found on the Pennsylvania DCNR Bureau of Forestry website who manages all the permits, routes, and regulations for ATV riding. Visitors can visit dcnr.pa.gov and look for recreation, then ATV for additional information. They may also contact the Susquehannock State Forest office at 814-274-3600, FD15@pa.gov for more information.
OLEAN — Come on in, the ice is fine at the William O. Smith Recreation Center.
The ice rink opened Aug. 28 – less than a week after the city closed the rec center pool for the season.
The first users, said city Youth Bureau and Recreation Department Coordinator Kris Shewairy, were players from various hockey teams. Team users this year include Olean Area Youth Hockey, two St. Bonaventure University club teams, club teams from Alfred University and Alfred State College, the city’s men’s league, and a team from the ARG refinery in Bradford, Pa.
“It’s going to be busy this year,” Shewairy said, with more teams lined up than last season.
Other skaters began hitting the ice the following day, with daily ice skating opening the day after Labor Day.
Entry fees for pub-
lic open skating are $3 for children and senior citizens, $5 for adults, and $12 for a family of four. Skate rentals are $3 each.
Hours include:
• Monday – Noon-2 p.m.
• Tuesday – Noon-2, 3:30-5 p.m.
• Wednesday – Noon-2 p.m.
• Thursday – Noon-2, 3:30-5 p.m.
• Friday – Noon-2, 5-6:30 p.m.
• Saturday – 1-2:30, 5:307 p.m.
• Sunday – 1-2:30, 5:30-7 p.m.
• Skate and Shoot sessions begin Aug. 29. Youth sessions are $6, and adult sessions are $8.
• Youth skate and shoot: 3:30-5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
• Adult skate and shoot: 10:30 a.m.-noon Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday; 10-11:30 a.m. Sunday.
A pair of discount packages are available. Book passes are available for public skating, skate and shoot sessions, skate rentals and skate sharpening, and include 12 passes for the price of 10. Public ice skating season passes – which include both entry and skate rentals for the first time ever – are $120 for children and seniors, $160 for adults, and $220 for a family of four.
The center is available for birthday parties, scheduled during public ice skating sessions. The cost is $75 for up to 15 children, and $100 for 16 to 25 children. The fees include admission, skate rental and party room
rental. The center is also open for school rentals. Those interested in rentals should call 373-RINK (7465).
Other activities will also begin later in the season.
“Ice bocce will begin in early October, on Thursdays from noon-2 p.m.,” Shewairy added, with learn to skate classes also to begin in October.
The city is full up on staff for the season, Shewairy said, and most dasher board rental spaces have been filled.
“We’re still looking to fill three more dasher board spots,” he said, with prospective advertisers encouraged to email reccenter@cityofolean.org.
Daily updates on the programs are available online at www.cityofolean.org/departments/ youth-recreation, www. facebook.com/oleanyouthrec and on Twitter @ Oleanyouthrec.
annual Colors
170 N. Main Street
Salamanca, NY 14779
(716) 945-3133
info@salrailmuseum.org
Visit a restored 1912 Buffalo, Rochester, and Pittsburg Railway passenger station and learn more about Western New York’s railroad history. Explore the inside of 4 railroad cars to image life on the railroad. Free admission (donations welcome!). Gift shop filled with toys, books, T-shirts and more!
Hours: Tues, Thurs, Sat, noon to 4, or by appointment
KERSEY — The annual Colors of Elk County ATV Ride to benefit Trail of Dreams takes place, rain or shine, Oct. 15. Registration runs from 9 to 11 a.m. at the trailhead located at 632 Boone Mountain Road, and all riders must be back by 5 p.m. Preliminary paperwork is available on the club’s website https://www.elkcountyatv.com/.
This year’s ride is about 30 miles and is sure to excite every rider. Organizers said, “I can tell you this, you can see for miles. With the fall colors it should be a sight to see and a great day with friends.”
Come prepared to have fun. The event is based on fall colors and the Halloween holiday; as such, costumes are encouraged. Along the trail, there will be games and dice rolls as well as basket raffles
and a 50/50 drawing. The event ends with snacks back at the trailhead.
Cheryl Ruffner, director, said, “It’s everything you could want in a ride: deep woods, lots of people, lots of fun, and mud.”
The alcohol-free ride takes place rain or shine and welcomes riders from all over. Quads and side-by-sides are welcome on the trail; however, dirtbikes, motorcycles
Continued on next page
and three-wheelers are not. Drivers must be at least 16 years or older, pay $35 to participate. Additional passengers are charged $5 each. All ATV laws are followed on the ride, organizers added. Insurance, registration and helmets are required.
The Trail of Dreams is an Elk County Riders ATV initiative to connect the communities in the region with ATV travel using municipal roads and private land trails.
Last year, the organization received $444,100, from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for development of the Byrnedale ATV Connector Trail in Jay Township. The grant was part of $1 million for all-terrain
vehicle and snowmobile facilities and trails in Pennsylvania.
The Elk County Riders are in the fifth year of a 10year plan, Trail of Dreams. Ruffner explained that they have a grand goal of connecting several hundred miles of trail through Treasure Lake, Cayman Landing, Ridgway, and eventually all the way to Marienville. One day, Ruffner said, “it could be as big as the Hatfield and McCoy attraction in West Virginia that draws riders from across the country.”
To donate to the Trail of Dreams go to https:// www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_ id=877XLRU5XADKW
GREAT VALLEY — Fall isn’t really fall for thousands of Western New Yorkers until they’ve made a trip to Pumpkinville, where owners Dan and Diane Pawlowski have opened for the 28th year at the current location on Sugartown Road.
Field crews have picked pumpkins and they are stacked and ready for kids and parents to pick when they visit. The staff numbers about 100 employees at the height of the season.
The pumpkins from the nearby fields come in all sizes. There are also different colors of ornamental pumpkins that are growing in popularity for fall yard displays.
A dry early season threatened the pumpkin crop, but it largely recovered with rainfall in July and August, Dan said. Warm weather through the growing season spurred robust growth as well.
The Pawlowskis have
a couple of new attractions added for their 28th year: Tractor Mac, a singing tractor, and eight paintball stations to shoot at targets, which will compliment the apple cannons.
In 2022, the new attraction was a truck-mounted compressed air candy cannon that fires candy downrange for children to chase.
“We’ve been working hard here since mid-August to get everything ready, but we started working on this year’s Pumpkinville back in November,” Dan said. That included ordering Tractor Mac.
The addition of paintball guns and targets is expected to help ease pressure on the popular apple cannons, which led to lines of visitors waiting. Both are run on compressed air.
The recently-added ropes course has become very as popular as the older jumping pillows attraction. Also popular are the cow train ride and Pumpkinville Express
train rides, as well as the carousel.
There are different packages for activities and weekend prices are $1 more than weekdays. There is a $2 per person savings by ordering and paying online at www. pumpkinville.com.
There’s lots more than just pumpkins at Pumpkinville. This year’s corn maze salutes WGRZ-TV in Buffalo.
Pumpkinville remains the only commercial cider mill in Cattaraugus County — visitors can watch the cider press in action.
The perfect match for the cider is the pumpkin
donuts Pumpkinville’s bakery, overseen by Diane, is famous for. There are a variety of other confections.
For parents, there’s the wine and beer pavilion, which opened a few years ago. You’ll be able to order wine, Ellicottville Brewing Company’s Pumpkinville Beer and other craft beers. There is comfortable seating and several giant-screen TVs in the pavilion.
Hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily — rain or shine — through Oct. 31. There is no admission fee and Pumpkinville has a no pets policy.
It’s the best time of year to get a look at one of the largest mammals to call Pennsylvania home — the elk.
An adult male — called a bull — stands 50 to 60 inches at the shoulder and weighs 600 to 1,000 pounds. Perhaps the best place to see this enormous creatures is in Benezette, where the Elk Country Visitor Center is located, at 950 Winslow Hill Road. In September and October, it is open every day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The Elk Country Visitor Center features educational displays and information on Pennsylvania’s elk herd, as well as tips for best viewing the wild creatures. While the elk aren’t concerned with cars and tourists, it certainly doesn’t mean they are tame.
These are wild creatures with tremendous strength. They are unpredictable and potentially dangerous.
Seeing elk firsthand is undoubtedly the highlight of any visit to Pennsylvania’s Elk Country. Here are a few pointers designed to make your Elk Country visit more enjoyable and rewarding. First, keep in mind that pets and elk don’t mix — so leave pets at home, for their safety and yours.
In the fall — During mating season, bull elk can often be seen at the forest edge preparing to battle other males for the right to mate.
In Winter— In colder months, elk typically seek warmth and shelter among the trees. The evergreen forests provide good cover, and deciduous trees provide cold-weather nourishment for these animals.
Spring and Summer
— As the weather warms and food becomes more plentiful, elk move to the meadows to feed on the bounty of planted grasses.
Dawn and Dusk — These are the best times to
observe elk — especially during the rut, or mating season, in September and October.
Remember that elk are wild creatures, and their behavior may be unpredictable. Never approach an elk, and always view these animals from a safe distance.
1. GIVE ELK SPACE. Keep a distance – of at least 100 yards – between you and the elk. Never approach them. Elk are wild animals that are unpredictable and sometimes aggressive, especially during the fall breeding season. Cows are also known to defend their young when they feel threatened.
2. NEVER FEED ELK. Not only is it illegal to feed elk in Pennsylvania, but it teaches them to associate people, cars and/or homes with food. This could cause them to approach people looking for
more. Feeding also promotes the spread of infectious diseases by having them unnaturally congregate into small areas.
3. DON’T NAME ELK. Characterizing elk, or any wildlife, by naming them degrades their wild essence. The very reason people are drawn to the elk is their unaltered independence from humans. Personifying elk as humans takes away from their truly wild nature.
4. DO YOUR PART. The welfare of the elk herd is a shared responsibility. If you see someone being disruptive or careless, whether intentional or not, kindly ask them to stop or report it to the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Northcentral Region by calling 570-398-4744. We all have a duty to ensure the safety of people and the longterm welfare of the elk.
By KATHRYN ROSS
WELLSVILLE — Robert Frost wrote, “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, and sorry I could not travel both and be one traveler, long I stood and looked down one as far as I could to where it bent in the undergrowth, then took the other.”
At the annual RidgeWalk & Run, there are far more choices.
The 31st edition of the event will take place Oct. 15 on Alma Hill near the Town of Wellsville, where eight running and walking trails traverse miles of private farmland and woodlands which are open to the public only once a year for RidgeWalk & Run. There are three running trails and five walking trails. They range in length from two miles long to 25 miles long.
Jim Helms, CEO of UR/Jones Memorial Hospital, which organizes the event, said the most popular of all the trails is the 6-mile walk.
“It is an easy course and mostly flat,” he said, with the route taking participants to breathtaking vistas reaching into Pennsylvania, past pale golden fields and through the vibrant reds and yellows of the autumn woods where there are old oil wells and glacial rock formations to see. This event, for a fee, allows all ages to get into the woods and enjoy the fall foliage, wildlife and historic scenery the routes encompass. Registration continues and signups may be done online or on Facebook by going to “RidgeWalk.”
RidgeWalk & Run was founded by marathon runner Rich Shear and it still starts and finishes on the family horse farm at the end of the Meservey Hill Road. Shear wanted to share the calmness of the woodlands and wildlife with his friends and others. For years he and a group of dedicated volunteers created trails leading from the horse farm to the hilltops and beyond — after obtaining permission from his neighboring farmers and landowners to traverse their property.
Growing too large for just a group of friends to control, the event was tak-
en over by the Wellsville Chamber of Commerce. Shear was a member of the organization.
In the 21st century, Jones Memorial took over the event, dedicating any proceeds derived from the event to the Hospital’s wellness initiatives throughout Allegany County.
Helms said the hospital is now looking to expand those programs as he explained that the is getting back to what it was before the pandemic.
In early September there were around 250 people registered, “but we know from the past that people are just beginning to register, so we’re thinking it will increase to around 700,” he said. Before the pandemic, participation in RidgeWalk & Run was nearing and some years exceeding 1,000 participants.
What Helms said the group finds exciting is that about 30% of the registrations so far are people who have never participated in the event.
“I think we’re growing, and it is only going to get better,” he said.
But volunteers make the event happen and while participation is growing, more volunteers are needed to keep the event safe and fun for everyone. Volunteers can also sign up on the RidgeWalk webpage or on Facebook. There is a wide variety of volunteer opportunities from offering beverages to weary participants or counting them as they pass through one of the many checkpoints on the trails, or helping out in the JMH Finish Line Arena where participants can find food and relief.
Once they complete their walk or run, participants can enjoy wagon rides, displays, music and food at the Arena tent overlooking the Shear farm.
The running events are timed and official counting towards the runner’s record. RidgeWalk & Run also offers oneof-a-kind trophies oftentimes produced by area artisans.
On the website or on Facebook can be found the official merchandise for the event, which includes hoodies, t-shirts, caps, glassware and more.
Autumn is here. Leaves are changing, days and nights are cooler, and activities throughout the region are plentiful as folks head out to have fun before the snow starts to fly.
On Friday, from 7:30 to 8:15 p.m., Bradford Area School District’s 11th annual Reading Under the Lights, sponsored by the ELF Fund of Bradford, will be held at Parkway Field, free to all families in the Bradford community with children ages newborn to 18.
Also on Friday, at 7 p.m., the group Young Original will perform “Fresh Music for Old Souls” as part of the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford’s Alumni Weekend. The concert will be in Bromeley Family Theater.
On Saturday will be the 13th Annual Pumpkinfest in downtown Bradford from noon to 5 p.m. There will be hay wagon rides, haunted house maze, incline wall, a free movie showing, Percy the Pony, Kendall Creek Alpacas, live music, food vendors, bounce house, vendors, scarecrow contest, Mother Goose, ax throwing, and a Kid Zone.
Also on Saturday, at 2 p.m. is the opening reception for Pitt-Bradford: The Early Years, an art exhibition at KOA Gallery at Blaisdell Hall. The reception is free, and will celebrate Pitt-Bradford’s 60th anniversary. This
exhibition will highlight the early years of the university through archived photographs from past faculty, staff, alumni and friends.
On Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Twin Lakes Recreation Area in Wilcox, celebrate the 100th birthday of the Allegheny National Forest at the Centennial Celebration. Admission is free. Festivities will include food trucks, beer and wine vendors, live music, guest speakers, kids’ activities, giveaways, interpretive hikes, history displays, our partners in conservation and recreation and more. Educational interpretive talks will focus on the Forest’s Recovery to Resilience over its 100 Years of Growth from the “Allegheny Brush Patch” to the Forest we know and care for today.
On Sept. 29, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Annual Shred Fest will be held at H&R Block/Fox Financial, at 807 E. Main St. A shredding truck will be on location to shred documents at a drive thru. Bring boxed or bagged sensitive documents. Stay in your car as we sign you in, unload your car, and shred your documents as you drive away. This is a community event hosted by Fox Financial/H&R Block. Each car is limited to five boxes of documents.
On Sept. 30, the Marilyn Horne Museum and Exhibit Center will open an exhibit — The Golden Cockerel: Costumes from the Sarasota Opera Col-
lection. Explore the story of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s final opera, based on Alexander Pushkin’s 1834 poem, The Tale of the Golden Cockerel through spectacular costumes on loan from Sarasota Opera. The exhibit will include artwork and artifacts related to this magical Russian story about a bumbling king, a magic cockerel, and a war with a mythical kingdom.
On Sept. 30, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. will be the 16th anniversary event at Sportsman’s Outlet, featuring a chili cookoff and entertainment.
On Sept 30, from noon to 8 p.m., will be the 2nd Annual Little Mountain Winery Fall Fest, 205 Kansas Branch Road, Duke Center, with food, music, wine and fun, vendors, and wagon rides.
Oct. 7 will be the Marilla Trail Race by the Tuna Valley Trail Association, starting at Marilla Reservoir on West Washington Street in Bradford.
On Oct. 7 will be the NY-NY Dueling Pianos dinner theater fundraiser by the Bradford Creative and Performing Arts Center, starting at 6:30 p.m., at St. Bernard Auditorium.
Oct. 10, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., Erin Keane, author, will give a reading in the Mukaiyama University Room in the Frame-Westerberg Commons. The reading is free.
Oct. 12, at 7 p.m. in Blaisdell Hall at University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, influential guitarist Kaki King will perform her sig-
nature multimedia show in the Studio Theater of Blaisdell Hall.
On Oct. 14, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Bradford Area Public Library, will be the Second Annual Fall for Your Library Craft Vendor Fair.
Pumpkinville in Great Valley, N.Y., is open from Sept. 16 through Oct. 31. There’s a variety of fun for kids.
Night Lights at Griffis Sculpture Park in Ashford Hollow will be held from 7 to 10 p.m. Sept. 21 to 23, Sept. 28 to 30, Oct. 5 to 8 and Oct. 12 to 14.
A free tour of the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels will be held from 1 to 2 p.m. Sept. 22 and Oct. 6.
Free fishing day in New York is all day on Sept. 23. There is no license required for the fresh or marine waters of New York state.
The Amish Country Running Festival will be held from 8 to 10 a.m. Sept. 23 in Randolph. Participants should train for the hills. The course is on paved roads the entire way.
On Sept. 23 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., National Public Lands Day will be celebrated at Allegany State Park in Salamanca at the Beehunter Picnic Pavilion on the Red House side of the park. Numerous volunteer projects will be in the works.
From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Sept. 23, a craft and vendor fair will be held at the Gowanda Fire Hall.
From noon to 5 p.m. Sept. 23, Cottage Orchard will hold an open house at its South Dayton facility. Visitors can explore the grounds, pick apples, purchase apples and listen to live music.
From 5 to 7 p.m. Sept. 23, a Wine Tasting Train Ride will depart from Gowanda Depot and travel through the area for riders to see fall leaves, meadows and valleys.
Gowanda’s Classic Car Show will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 24 at The Wicked Glen.
Sept. 29 to Oct. 1, the 46th annual Salamanca
Seneca Falling Leaves Festival will be held in Jefferson Street Park. There will be carnival rides all three days, along with other family friendly activities, along with food, craft and art vendors.
Beginning Sept. 29 to Oct. 1, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., Nightmare Hayrides on Sommerville Street in Ellicottville will be held. It will repeat on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights until Oct. 29.
On Sept. 30, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Oct. 1, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., will be the 14th Annual Rock City Park Gem-Mineral-Fossil Show.
Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 is scheduled to be the Gowanda Harvest Heritage Fall Festival.
Ellicottville’s Fall Festival will be held Oct. 7 and 8, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Fall Foliage Train Ride will be held from Gowanda Depot every weekend from Oct. 7 and 8
through Oct. 22. The train departs at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., except for Oct. 8, when it departs only at 2 p.m.
Oct. 14 and 15, Gowanda’s Trout Fishing Derby will be held from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Fishing will take place within the Village of Gowanda boundaries of the Cattaraugus Creek.
The 11th annual WILMA Wooly Bear Weekend will be held Oct. 21 and 22 at the Cattaraugus County Fairgrounds in Little Valley. It’s a craft show, with all participating vendors from Cattaraugus County.
In Elk County, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sept. 23, the Flavors of Fall festival will be held on Main Street of Ridgway. There will be vendors, hay rides, live music, produce, wineries, apple cider, activities for kids and more.
From 2 to 3 p.m. that day, an Elk Walk and Talk will be held at the Elk Country Visitors Center in Benezette. A staff member will lead a hike on trails around the center, covering topics such as what elk eat, where they spend their time and how each season brings something different.
On Sept. 24, at 2 p.m. at the Elk Country Visitors Center, learn how to identify invasive species that inhabit Pennsylvania today, how they got here and how to stop the spread.
On Sept. 30, from noon to 3 p.m., a Bible Maze will be held at the Pine Ridge Farm Corn Maze in Kersey. The traditional maze will be from 3 to 8 p.m.
From 2 to 3 p.m. Sept. 30 at the Elk Country Visitors Center, learn about the spotted lanternfly with the Elk County Conservation District. Learn how to combat the spread of the invasive insect.
On Oct. 1 from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Elk Country Visitors Center, learn how to identify and handle salamanders.
On Oct. 7, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. will be the Elktoberfest at the Benezette School House. The vendor show will feature crafts and food.
On Oct. 7 from noon to 3 p.m. will be a Pirate Corn Maze at Pine Ridge Farm in Kersey. The traditional maze will be held from 3 to 9 p.m.
On Oct. 13 and 14, from 7 to 10 p.m. will be the Friday the 13th Trail Walk at Sandy Beach Park in Ridgway. The park will be transformed into Jason Voorhees’ hunting ground, with a less scary option for younger folks. A concession stand will serve up treats, campfires will be lit and face painting and games will be offered under the pavilions. Some harvest and Halloween items will be raffled off, too, for the benefit of Ridgway Skate Park.
On Oct. 15, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. will be the Colors of Elk County ATV Trail Ride at the Elk County Riders On/Off Road Recreation Club in Kersey.
From 1 to 6 p.m. Oct. 15 will be Trick or Trail in Ridgway, which is a 7K or 14K trail race or a two-mile spooky walk on Laurel Mill Ski Trail.
Oct. 20 and 21 will be the Haunted Forest at
Benzinger Park from 7 to 10 p.m., hosted by the St. Marys Area Chamber of Commerce.
Oct. 20 will feature movies in the park from 9 to 11 p.m. at Benzinger Park, hosted by the City of St. Marys Parks and Recreation. The movie will be Halloweentown.
Oct. 21 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. will be a Friendly Costume Corn Maze at Pine Ridge Farm in Kersey, while from 7 to 9 p.m., will be a Creepy Corn Maze. A bonfire, hayrides and snacks will be available from 7 to 9 p.m.
On Sept. 23, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. will be the Sinnemahone Gravel Bike Race beginning at the Cameron County Chamber of Commerce & Artisan Center. Fifty-plus miles includes one state park, two state forests and rails to trails. Food and events take place after in downtown Emporium.
On Sept. 23, from noon to 5 p.m. will be the All Fired Up Kickin’ Ash BBQ Competition at the Cameron County Chamber of Commerce & Artisan Center
On Oct. 14, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., First Fork Festival at Sinnemahoning State Park Wildlife Center in Austin. The event highlights local authors, artists, crafts makers and artisans.
Sept. 22 to 24, will be the Austin Dam Gathering and Pow Wow. Set-up day will be Friday. On-site camping will be available.
On Sept. 24, from 9 to 10:15 a.m. will be a Pontoon Tour of the Stevenson Reservoir. Join park staff at Sinnemahoning State Park in Austin for a relaxing and informative tour around the lake as the boat cruises the shoreline of the George B. Stevenson Reservoir in search of wildlife. There is no fee, but donations are requested.
Sept. 29 and 30, on the Potter County Courthouse Square in Coudersport, the 2023 Falling Leaves Festival will be held from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
On Sept. 30, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Galeton’s Annual Fall Festival will be held at John J. Collins Park, Centertown in Galeton. There will be vendors and demonstrations.
On Oct. 1, from 9 to 10:15 a.m., there will be a pontoon tour of the Stevenson Dam at the Sinnemahoning State Park in Austin.
Oct. 7 and 8 will be the Fall Antique Show & Sawmill Run at Pennsylvania Lumber Museum. Vendors will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. The museum grounds will feature historic trade demonstrations. The steam-powered sawmill will be demonstrated from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Oct. 7.
Oct. 14 at 9 a.m. at Kaytee’s Family Restaurant and Marketplace in Coudersport will be a “Cruise In” at breakfast time. It is hosted by Coudersport Car Shows.
Oct. 15 from 9 to 10:15
a.m. will be a pontoon tour of the Stevenson Dam at Sinnemahoning State Park.
Oct. 20 and 21, starting at 7:30 p.m., will be the Dam Terrifying Trail at Austin Dam Memorial Park. The paths in and around the camping area are transformed into a “stage” for a cast of
characters to present scary scenes.
Oct. 21 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Pennsylvania Lumber Museum in Ulysses will be Spooky Lantern Tours for the whole family. Costumes are encouraged. Decorate pumpkins, make pinecone birdfeeders and have refreshments.
As autumn turns the hills into a palette of brilliant colors, people are counting the days when they can enjoy the fall festivals in Salamanca and Ellicottville.
The 46th annual Salamanca Seneca Falling Leaves Festival will kick off Sept. 29 and run through Oct 1.
Hosted by the city of Salamanca and the Seneca Nation, the free event offers live entertainment, tasty food, arts and crafts, carnival rides, a parade and more at Jefferson Street and Sycamore parks.
“With the cost of everything up these days, many families can’t afford to attend the fairs and festivals,” said Mayor Sandy Magiera. “We have free rides and entertainment, so everybody can enjoy the festival.”
Magiera said she’s expecting a good turnout. She said vendor spaces are almost full, and there will be some new craft vendors coming this year.
Ross Ledsome, vendor and organizer of the festival, said a variety of different food vendors are signed up for this year’s festival, so there will be a good representation of foods offered at restaurants in this area.
As people browse the craft and food selections, they will be entertained by the Rez Road Sounds of DJ J.D. Gardner and the Happy Days Duo band, along
Festival-goers will flock to Ellicottville Oct. 7 and 8 to experience a lively weekend of tasty foods, fine art, an arts and crafts show, curb market, carnival rides for kids, live entertainment and more.
with this year’s new bands Ozone Ranger, Iron Eyes Maybee and Red Grey’s One Man Band.
Sunday’s Grand Parade will be led by the Honor Guard of American Legion Post #1587 in Irving. Organizer Donna Raahauge said the parade will begin from the Dudley Hotel area at 3 p.m. and head down Main Street.
Anyone interested in participating in the parade or volunteering should contact Raahauge at (716) 378-5468 or email drparades@gmail.com as soon as possible.
ELLICOTTVILLE WILL host its 48th annual Fall Festival on Oct. 7 and 8 when festival-goers from all over the United States and Canada will flock to the village, as well as Holiday Valley and HoliMont ski resorts, for a lively weekend of family fun.
Each year since 1975, Ellicottville’s oldest and largest festival has gotten bigger and better with vendors featuring tasty foods, fine art, an arts and crafts show, curb market, carnival rides for kids, live entertainment and more.
New this year is a “Buffalo Bills Zone” located on the lawn of the 1887 building on Washington Street.
Brian McFadden, executive director of the chamber, said they have continued to increase the emphasis on the quality of both the participating arts and crafts vendors, along with food vendors, while decreasing the overall numbers.
“Over the last three years, we’ve cut the number of booths down by 25 percent to make the event feel more open and family-friendly,” he said.
McFadden said Fall Festival is a huge economic boost for the village, generating more than $10 million in revenue providing a major trickle-down effect for all levels of employees and local not-forprofits who receive well over $70,000 from various donations and festival events they manage.
AT HOLIDAY VALLEY, guests visiting during Fall Festival weekend will be the first to experience the new Mardi Gras 6 Express. Once at the top, there will be food, drinks and music for everyone to enjoy along with some of the best views in the area. For a different view of the beautiful fall foliage, ride the lift to Spruce Lake. Sky High Adventure Park will still be open that weekend, along with the mountain coaster. A list of scheduled activities, festival parking map and shuttle service information will be posted online at ellicottvilleny. com. For more information, call 1 (800) 349-9099 or email info@www. ellicottvilleny.com.
The Tuna Valley Trail Association’s Marilla Trail Race, running its 10th anniversary Oct. 7 at Bradford’s Marilla Reservoir, offers anyone a chance to enjoy an October Saturday in northwestern Pennsylvania.
Don’t worry if you’re not in the physical condition required to race 14 off-road miles, or even 7, on the association’s trail network. According to its website, marillatrailrace. com, the event is “an opportunity for beginners, hard-core trail runners and everyone in-between to take advantage of Bradford’s world-class wilderness.”
Participants can get out and give back at the same time. Benefiting TVTA, the race has so far contributed approximately $45,000 to the association’s efforts to develop and maintain trails in the Tuna Valley. TVTA marks
its own milestone this year, recognizing 25 years of trail development since its formation in 1998.
In addition to the 7and 14-mile trail races, the event offers a nearly 4-mile hike on the Cornelius Connection. The Connection is a newer trail named for Gene Cornelius, who was an integral part of TVTA for many years before his passing, according to TVTA board member and Marilla Trail Race Director Josh Preston.
“It’s a really beautiful course up the hill and back down in some really cool sections on the side of the mountain that offer some cool views of the hills and leaves,” he explained. “It has a fair bit of elevation, but it’s a good event for someone to jump into, it’s not anything you have to have a whole lot of training to do.
Preston said hikers
can go at their own pace and still receive a medal and a lunch afterward.
“So you’re still part of the event, but for people not interested in suffering for 14 miles it’s a way to be involved,” he reasoned. “We get a mix of participants in the hike just because it supports local trails, it’s a reason to get outside and it’s one of the nicest sections of trail. I’m glad we get to highlight it and expose people to it through the hike.”
Furthermore, anyone attending the race to support one of the participants can also enjoy a meal at the reservoir.
“If runners or hikers have family there they can have lunch, too. They can make a donation to TVTA if they want to, but there’s always enough food for anyone who’s there to eat lunch.”
The race committee, Preston said, has always tried to organize the day
from the participants’ perspective. To that end, the race follows the Columbus Day holiday to accommodate travel. Hikers and runners travel from Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Jamestown, Erie and farther. Asked what keeps people coming back year after year, Preston said, “First and foremost it’s the trails — the Marilla area in particular but the whole area is so beautiful, especially in the fall, it’s such a big draw. It’s the setting and the quality of the trails.”
Some early-registration discounts remain until the week before the race. Registration is currently $50 for the 14-miler, $40 for the 7-mile race and $30 for the hike.
Visit www.marillatrailrace.com for registration, course information and printable maps, photos and videos from previous years and driving directions.
