Fireworks are pictured from Bemus Point during a previous Fourth of July celebration. Several events are planned across the county.
Submitted photos
Area Fourth of July events are back with a bang this year.
With events largely curtailed the last two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the calendar is full this year with festivities and fireworks shows. The following is a list of events that center around Fourth of July gatherings across Chautauqua County.
CHERRY CREEK
The Cherry Creek Business and Community Association Inc. will hold its annual Independence Day celebration Saturday at the ballpark on Main Street. Events will include rides, food, vendors, and a beer and wine tent. A chicken barbecue sponsored by the Cherry Creek Volunteer Fire Department will take place in the pavilion beginning at 2 p.m., the same time a pie contest will begin under the tent.
Between 2 to 4 p.m., a classic car, truck and motorcycle cruise-in will be held. The Kokomo Time Band also will perform.
Fireworks are pictured from Bemus Point during a previous Fourth of July celebration. Several events are planned across the county.
Submitted photos
At 4 p.m., lineup for the parade down Main Street begins on Southside Avenue. The parade commences at 5 p.m.
Music by Midroom Drifters begins at 7 p.m. in the pavilion and will conclude at 10 p.m. with the beginning of the fireworks shows. Winners of the basket and item raffles will be announced at 8 p.m.
DUNKIRK
A three-day Fourth of July celebration in Dunkirk will include a slate of events, starting with the eighth annual Marauder Trotter 5k run/walk at 9 a.m. Saturday at Wright Park. At the park there also will be a community driving scavenger hunt beginning at 1 p.m.
There will be live music Saturday, Sunday and Monday at Memorial Park along with refreshments and vendors.
Events are capped off with a fireworks show at dusk.
BEMUS POINT
The Bemus Point Business Association will again host a fireworks show at 10 p.m. Sunday from the barges in Bemus Bay. A portion of Lakeside Drive, near the intersection of Lakeside and Main, will be closed around 9 p.m.
“This portion of the road will be closed for the duration of the fireworks show,” the Bemus Point Business Association said. “We encourage visitors to bring their chairs to this area to enjoy the display.”
The fireworks show also will be visible from the village park and can enjoyed from boats and docks around the Bemus Bay.
“We would like to thank our generous community members, business sponsors and event partners for their donations,” the association said. “We couldn’t put on such an amazing show without their support.”
SILVER CREEK
Silver Creek’s Independence Day celebration will take place at the lake front area with live music by the Kokomo Time Band from 6 to 9 p.m. and a fireworks display at dusk Sunday, the day before the holiday.
The village said it will host music in the park from 6 to 9 p.m. on the following Tuesdays: July 12, July 26, Aug. 9, Aug. 23. Food vendors will be at each event.
To coincide with the music, there also will be car cruise-ins July 12 and Aug. 9.
MAYVILLE
For the first time since 2019, Mayville will host a full day of Fourth of July events, including a parade with more than 100 groups registered to march.
The parade will begin at 10 a.m. and run until around noon. It will start at the courthouse on North Erie Street and continue on Route 394 to Chautauqua Lake. Routes 430 and 394 will be closed beginning at 9 a.m.
“It’s great, both economically and also just to get back to that quality of life,” Mayville Mayor Ken Shearer said. “Having the parade back is a great feeling.”
This year’s parade theme is “America: Stronger together.”
“With COVID and everything, it was just one of those things that we want — America, stronger together,” said Beth Sacilowski, a member of the Chautauqua County July 4th Committee.
In 2020, there were no activities during the day at Lakeside Park. Last year, there were a handful of vendors, but it was still limited.
This year, everything in the park will return. Activities will include face painting, a petting zoo by Mike Morton of Clear Creek Carriages, live music, food, games and raffles. Sacilowski said they have some new vendors as well.
LAKEWOOD
The village’s Fourth of July Summerfest returns to full form Monday beginning with the annual Firecracker Run at 9 a.m. Registration will take place from 7-8:15 a.m. at the park.
From noon to 10 p.m., vendors will offer a variety of food, gifts and crafts on Chautauqua Avenue. Music by Smokehouse will be available at Richard O. Hartley Park from 6 to 10 p.m.
A fireworks show will begin at 10 p.m.
FINDLEY LAKE
A chicken barbecue will begin at noon Monday at the Findley Lake Fire Department. The annual duck race will be held at 12:30 p.m. at the water flume on the north end of the lake followed by a boat parade at 2 p.m.
A fireworks display will kick off at 10 p.m.
