Mayville-Chautauqua Chamber Announces 34th Annual Presidents’ Day Weekend Winter Festival, February 14-16

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Popular Returning Activities Complement Centerpiece Ice Castle Display, to Be Lit Feb. 14 Followed by Queen of Hearts Ice Ball

The Mayville-Chautauqua Community Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce its 34th annual Presidents’ Day Weekend Winter Festival, which will take place Feb. 14–16, 2020, at Lakeside Park in Mayville, along the shores of scenic Chautauqua Lake. This annual winter event, a highly anticipated Chautauqua County tradition since 1987, will feature winter events and activities for the entire family, contests for children and adults, as well as local food and craft vendors. More details will be available as the planning progresses. The centerpiece, weather permitting, will again be the massive ice castle constructed of blocks from a frozen Chautauqua Lake. The castle will be lit at 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14, followed by the Queen of Hearts Ice Ball under the festival’s big tent from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

The 2020 Presidents’ Day Weekend Winter Festival will feature a number of new popular events and activities and continue many introduced in 2019, including the addition of a beer and wine tent, a pond hockey tournament and a children’s activity tent with activities planned by Camp Mission Meadows. Other events and activities again featured will be the traditional Saturday-evening fireworks, bonfire and flare parade (weather permitting) by Chautauqua Lake Snowmobile Club, the Polar Plunge benefit organized by Family Health Medical Services (visit fhmsmed.com/events for more information and a registration form), a cold-water rescue demo by the Dewittville Fire Department, snowmobile rides (weather permitting) by the Chautauqua Lake Snowmobile Club, the annual Pet Parade at 4 p.m. Saturday, the Great Alphabet Scavenger Hunt sponsored by Beauty Boutique and G.L. Olson, the Snowball Distance Throwing Contest sponsored by Westfield Dodge City, children’s Snowman/Snow Animal Building Contest sponsored by Chautauqua Harbor House, Lego Creation Contest sponsored by North Shore Specialties, Kids Corner edible crafts and Rainbow the Clown, among many more to be added.

Additionally, annual Chili Cook-off on Saturday, Feb. 15, invites anyone who’s been told they make a “mean” chili. For more details and to enter, call 716-753-3113 or email jsasso@chautauquachamber.org.

More details and a complete schedule of times and dates will be posted to the event page at chautauquachamber.org/winter-festival.

Volunteers are needed for a variety of positions during this huge event. Those willing to help should call or email Jacquelyn Sasso, Mayville-Chautauqua Community Chamber Coordinator, at 716-366-6200 or jsasso@chautauquachamber.org. Those interested in making a financial contribution to the festival to help cover the many expenses associated with an event this size, should call the Chamber office at 716-366-6200 to learn about sponsorship opportunities available.

Special thanks to festival sponsors to date: Town of Chautauqua, Douglas Crane Service, Lictus Oil & Propane, Jeff Lang Enterprises, and Empire Energy (Platinum Sponsors); Chautauqua Marina, Guppy’s Tavern, Chautauqua Institution, and Kravitz Tree Service (Gold Sponsors); and Maple Inn and Maple Group Real Estate, Inner Lakes Federal Credit Union, Freay Funeral Home, and Lake Chautauqua Memorial VFW Post 8647 (Silver Sponsors).