2014 Falling Leaves Festival Guide

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Falling Falling Leaves Leaves FestivalFestivalOctober 3-5, 2014October 3-5, 2014

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Jefferson Street Park in Salamanca

2014 Falling Leaves Festival


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7 to 10 p.m.

Evening

Street Dance featuring OliverioMain Street near Ray Evans Seneca Theatre

Food Vendors & Beer TentJefferson Street Park

SATURDAY, OCT. 4SATURDAY, OCT. 48 to 10 a.m.

11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Throughout the day

Noon to 6 p.m.

11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

1 to 4 p.m.

9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Pancake BreakfastUnited Congregational Methodist Church

Falling Leaves Festival Car CruiseMain Street between Atlantic and River —Registration at 10 a.m.

Food & Craft Vendors, Beer Tent“Minute to Win It” & “Price is Right” GamesJefferson Street Park

Carnival RidesSycamore Avenue Parking Lot

Quilt ShowRay Evans Seneca Theatre

YMCA Bounce House, Obstacle Course, Balloon Animals, Face Painting & Petting ZooSalamanca Youth Center & Jefferson Street Park

Falling Leaves Festival Dance featuring Mojo HandSalamanca American Legion

SUNDAY, OCT. 5SUNDAY, OCT. 59 to 11 a.m.

Throughout the day

Noon to 6 p.m.

11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

1 to 4 p.m.

2 p.m.

BreakfastSalamanca Area Senior Center

Food & Craft Vendors, Beer Tent“Minute to Win It” & “Price is Right” GamesJefferson Street Park

Carnival RidesSycamore Avenue Parking Lot

Quilt ShowRay Evans Seneca Theatre

YMCA Bounce House, Obstacle Course, Balloon Animals, Face Painting & Petting ZooSalamanca Youth Center & Jefferson Street Park

Falling Leaves Festival Grande ParadeMain Street — Route Dependant on Interstate 86 Construction


By Rich PlaceManaging Editor

Fresh off its fi rst year of organizing Sala-manca’s most popular festival, city offi cials are ready to present the 37th annual Falling Leaves Festival during the fi rst weekend of October.

Last year, the city assumed responsibilities of the festival, which had been organized by the Seneca Salamanca Chamber of Com-merce. Now, the city has had a year to plan.

Th is year’s Falling Leaves Festival is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 3 to Sunday, Oct. 5 and will take place again in Jeff erson Street Park in downtown Salamanca.

A street dance will kick festivities off Friday night, and food and craft vendors will join entertainment such as the return of the popular “Minute to Win It” game and a new “Price is Right” game in the

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Th e kids’ area of the festival will look similar to last year but many of the attractions that were only at the festival on Saturday will be available both days this year, according to Youth Center Director Sandi Brundage.

Rides have been scheduled by American Amusement Rentals out of Machias for enter-tainment on Sycamore Avenue near the former Moose Lodge. A car cruise will return to Main Street Saturday.

Th e highlight of the festival will be the an-nual Grande Parade, scheduled this year for 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 5. Th e parade is expected to follow the same route as last year and will feature at least three musical acts.

Th e festival was created by the Salamanca Positive Action Committee (SPAC) in 1976 to celebrate community spirit in the city. Th e event has changed hands numerous times, including the chamber, the city, the mayor’s offi ce or sometimes ad hoc groups of volunteers.

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Street dance returning to this year’s festivalStreet dance returning to this year’s festivalBy Christa NianiatusPress Reporter

Th is year the Falling Leaves Festival will be expanded to three days to accommodate a street dance to be held Friday night.

From 7 to 10 p.m. the Oliverio Band will play at

the intersection of Clinton, Board and Main streets.

“Right now it will likely be in front of the (Ray Evans Seneca) Th eatre, but in may be in front of the lacrosse store depending on electric-ity needs,” said Janet Koch, Falling Leaves chairperson.

She also said there are plans for some of the food ven-

dors and the beer tent to be set up for the Friday night festivities.

Koch said she had seen a similar “street dance” done in Little Valley about 20 years ago. Past Falling Leaves Festivals have also hosted street dances — the fi rst festival in 1976 featured a square dance on Main Street.

“It just seemed like such a fun night and a fun idea so we wanted to incor-porate it in the festival this year,” she said.

She also made sure to mention this is a family-friendly event that welcomes community members of all ages.

“It’s for all age groups and for anyone who wants to come — it’s for the community,” said Koch. “I’m very excited for this new event and we just want the people to come out and have fun.”


By Christa NianiatusPress Reporter

Th ere’s something for everyone at the Falling Leaves Festival — even the community’s kiddies.

All kids activities at this year’s event are free of charge and will run from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

“We didn’t want it to cost anything so parents didn’t have to worry about trying to allow their kids to do everything. Th at can really add up for large families, we just want everyone to have fun,” said Sandi Brundage, a Falling Leaves organizer and director of the Salamanca Youth Center.

Brundage said activities include a bounce house/obstacle course, a petting zoo with pony rides, bal-loon animals, face painting and a special activity created by a friend of the youth center.

“It’s a build-your-own-bubble kind of thing. She made this contraption that you stand inside and pull a lever and you are inside a soap bubble.

It’s pretty cool,” she said.

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kids too, at the Falling Leaves Festivalkids too, at the Falling Leaves FestivalJodi Scanlan, another Falling Leaves or-

ganizer, said the popular Minute to Win It game will return this year, along with a new “quiz show” game for kids.

“We don’t have a name for it yet, but there is going to be a host and kids will make teams of three. Th ey’ll be asked a question and buzz in with the answer,” said Scanlan. “Winners will get prizes and treat bags.”

Brand new this year, carnival rides will also be a part of Falling Leaves celebrations.

According to Sue Ambuske, secretary to the mayor, six rides — three adult and three for kids — will be provided by American Amusement Rentals in the Sycamore Avenue parking lot near the former Moose Lodge. Th e rides will be in operation from noon to 8 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

Additionally, American Amusement Rentals will also be bringing two game carts and a drink cart.


What’s a festival without crafts?What’s a festival without crafts?By Christa NianiatusPress Reporter

Craft vendors will once again be a part of the Falling Leaves Festival weekend.

Jodi Scanlan, a Falling Leaves organizer, said there will be a similar number of vendors as last year with many craft-ers returning as well, as a few new faces.

“Th ere’s going to be a lot of diff erent crafts coming in, from country and primitive crafts, metal and wood working, and we have some candle makers coming as well,” she said.

Last year, organizers wanted to build the festival and did not require a fee from crafters, but this year have added a small fee for those participating. Scanlan said the city wanted to make prices low for vendors but bring in money to cover costs, setting the fee and $25 for homemade craft vendors and $50 for any vendors selling retail items.

“I personally sell crafts as well, and have been to a lot of fairs and you don’t see that low of a price anywhere. We really wanted it to be manageable for people and just cover costs,” she said.

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Five bands expected in this year’s paradeFive bands expected in this year’s parade

By Rich PlaceManaging Editor

It appears the Falling Leaves Fes-tival Grande Parade will be music to the ears of everyone who attends it this year.

Th e Salamanca Common Coun-cil, working as the organizers of

this year’s festival, and its team of volunteers has announced that fi ve

bands have been secured for this year’s parade. Th e additional bands are thanks,

in part, to the additional funding given by the council to the parade’s organizers led

by Ward 2 Alderman Bill Labuhn and his wife, Susan Labuhn.

“Th ank you for the increase because it really does make a diff erence,” Susan Labuhn said.

During a meeting this summer, the council had given parade organizers a $5,000 budget, com-pared to $1,200 for last year’s parade. Volunteer Ross Ledsome promised to raise $2,000 for the parade if the city would put $3,000 toward the event.

Th is year’s parade will feature Downbeat Percussion, Th e Hit Men Brass Band, 23 Skidoo,

Lancaster Renegade Drum Corps. and the West-ern New York Alumni Drum Corps.

Again this year, the parade is expected to begin at 2 p.m. near the Dudley Hotel and proceed south on Main Street. It’s offi cial route will likely be a “gametime decision” based on the closure of Interstate 86.

Offi cials are expected to not close Broad Street should the Interstate 86 construction still be in progress, and it’s likely the parade will instead continue down Sycamore Avenue.

In addition to the bands, other parade partici-pants will include the Salamanca and Iroquois American Legion Color Guards, Enchanted Mountains American Legion Riders, the Sala-manca Historical Society and several community groups like the Girl Scouts and Salamanca Sabers.


Tentative Falling Leaves Festival Parade LineupTentative Falling Leaves Festival Parade LineupSalamanca Police Car

Falling Leaves Festival Parade BannerSalamanca American Legion Color Guard Post 535

Iroquois American Legion Color Guard Post 587Enchanted Mountains American Legion Riders (Motorcycles)

23 Skidoo — Swinging the Oldies Bourbon Street styleSalamanca Historical Society

Benton Bryant —1927 Ford Model T CarTyler Searle — 1928 Ford Model A Car

Salamanca Euterpean Music ClubSalamanca Fire Department Vehicle

Girl Scouts of Western New YorkAbsolut Care Vehicle

Hit Men Brass Band of RochesterSalamanca Sabers Football Players & Cheerleaders

American Red Cross VehicleTwin Tiers La Leche League

Downbeat Percussion Band of SyracuseSwan Street Florist Car — Jim Johnston 1954 Oldsmobile “98 Holiday”

Enchanted Mountain Roller Derby GroupRenegade Drum Corps of Lancaster

Children and Families EmpowermentSalamanca Dance Center

Mike Maybee’s ‘77 Nova Muscle CarWNY Alumni Band Drum Corps of Dunkirk

Kill Buck Fire DepartmentHinsdale Fire Department

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...at the Falling ...at the Falling Leaves FestivalLeaves Festival


Recalling favorite momentsRecalling favorite momentsBy Amanda Grabowski

Lifestyles Editor

Talk to most people in Salamanca about the Falling Leaves Festival and they will conjure up tasty memories of curly fries and sausage sandwiches, pancake breakfasts at the United Congregational Church and pie eating contests.

Other popular events include the carnival rides, classic car display and the crafts show.

Talk to photographers who work for the local newspaper and you might fi nd they remember the annual events they’ve viewed through a camera lens one frame at a time.

For instance, from the 1998 festival I have clear memo-ries of Don Reinhoudt, billed as the “World’s Strongest Man” as he demonstrated feats of strength in the gazebo on top of the hill at Jeff erson Park. Th e children who made up his audience kept getting closer and closer to him, until all

that was visible in the pictures, was the top of his head. Th at guy certainly was big and strong, but very gentle.

In 2006, Oscar winning lyricist, the late Ray Evans, visited Salamanca for the 29th Falling Leaves Festival and was the

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ity Eddy Dobosiewicz when Evans was part of the Falling Leaves Festival in 2006.


of past Falling Leaves Festivalsof past Falling Leaves Festivalsparade marshal at the age of 91. I took a picture of him as his car lined up to begin the parade. It turned out to be the last picture of him I would take because he died the following year. As part of the festival he and two cabaret performers, Karen Benjamin and Alan Chapman, presented “Que Sera Sera: Th e Songs of Livingston and Evans” at the Ray Evans Seneca Th eatre.

For his part, Mr. Evans sat in a wing-backed chair on the stage and off ered dialog and explanation for each song.

Th e parade for the 26th festival in 2003 was partic-ularly memorable. Th at year the grand marshall was a Salamanca man named William “Bill” McClune who had just returned from serving 23 months of service in the U.S. Naval Reserves. For many reasons, the length of his service, (much longer than he expected) was a hardship for his family. I was taking parade pictures while standing in front of the Rite Aid. When the convertible carrying Bill (replete with Navy uniform) toward the turn on Main Street, it was very moving.

Th e real heartbreak came shortly after when he died of cancer.

In 2008, the parade, organized by Donna and Ron Raahauge was massive. In fact, it was reported the pa-rade was so long, some units were return-ing to the starting point before others had begun.

Th ere have been years when the festival was can-celed and years when certain popular events, such as the Falling Leaves Festival Queen Contest, were canceled due to lack of people willing to volunteer.

In 1980, the day following the festival, an edito-rial appeared in the Salamanca Press commending the organizing, planning and preparation by the Falling Leaves Festival Committee and encouraged “any civic-minded individual or groups to help in future years to take some burden off the handful of people who continually give of their time in a spirit of public-mindedness.”

Th at might still be good advice.


A A look look backback

20042004

Falling Leaves Queen Ellen Nary and her court


In 2008, the festival incorporated the county’s bicentennial and included a parade so long some units were returning to

the starting point before others had begun

Ray Evans returned to Salamanca in 2006, per-formed at the theater and

served as grand marshal of the parade

The Falling Leaves Festival fi rst started in 1976 by the Salamanca Positive

Action Committee

The festival was held for four years in Vets Park from 2005 to 2008

Did you know ...?Did you know ...?

There were two years the festival was not held, 1996 and 1997, before

returning in 1998

Baby Joe Mesi made an appearance at the 2003 festivalNearly 25,000 people

attended 1979 festival


Cancer Walk canceled this yearCancer Walk canceled this yearBy Christa Nianiatus

Press Reporter

Organizers regretfully inform that there will be no Cancer Awareness Walk/5K as a part of Falling Leaves Festival

activities — but hope it will return next year.

Sandra Magiera, Ward 4 Alderwoman and last year’s Cancer Aware-

ness Walk organizer, told Th e Press ar-rangements for the walk could not come

together in time for the Falling Leaves Festival.

“We just haven’t had the time to meet and organize it for this year. I’ve

had a heavy workload and just haven’t had the time to commit,” she said.

Last year was the fi rst for the Cancer Awareness Walk, and was of special interest

for Magiera, as she is a cancer survivor herself.“I’m a breast cancer survivor 10 years now

and I just think it’s a great cause to support and raise money for,” she said.

Th e hope, she added, is to get a jump start on next year and make it even bigger and bet-ter than the fi rst.

“Next year we want to begin earlier and have a bigger walk than we did last year. Hopefully it will be still tied into Falling Leaves,” said Magiera. “Whether I'm in offi ce or not, I will still work on it.”

Th e alderwoman encouraged community members to still come out and support all the other events planned for Falling Leaves weekend.

“I hope they come out for the other activi-ties we’re planning that weekend, even without the walk,” said Magiera. “We still want every-one to come down and support the Falling Leaves Festival.”


Don’t miss Don’t miss the car the car cruise!cruise!

On Main On Main Street Street

north of north of the bridgethe bridge

Saturday, Saturday, Oct. 4Oct. 4

10 a.m. to 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.3 p.m.


1976Th e fi rst year of Salamanca’s festival opened with a

carnival on Th ursday on the tannery lot near Loblaws Supermarket — site now of the Salamanca Public Library — and a concert by the Golden Age Kitchen Band on Friday.

On Saturday, Ted’s Bakery hosted a doughnut cut-ting competition, where Ted Leaskey tried to set the world record for donut cutting. Fentier Village’s grounds were open for the fi rst time in six years on Saturday for picnicking, public inspection and a view of the city from above and other activities included a doughnut eating contest, a children’s dog show and contest in the A&P parking lot and a gymnastics demonstration.

On Sunday, there was an antique car show at Vet-eran’s Memorial Park, the Salamanca See-Saws hosted square dancing on Main Street in front of the Sala-manca Mall, the U.S. Air Force jets conducted a fl yover and the festival’s fi rst parade took place with more than 60 units for a 90-minute parade witnessed by upwards of 5,000 people.

1977Weather put a damper on the second annual Falling

Leaves Festival, forcing the cancellation of a regatta, street dance and country western dance.

However, the festival was still considered a success. Events included a performance by the Salvation Army Golden Agers Band in Jeff erson Street Park, the Sala-manca See Saws square dance at the Holy Cross Athlet-ic Club and a dance attended by several hundred people at the Salamanca American Legion.

Sunday featured an International Food Festival, an-tique show, demonstrations on Main Street by the See Saws and YMCA gymnastics teams and a smorgasbord at the Masonic Temple. Th e parade featured 52 diff erent groups, including 15 marching bands.

About 7,000 people turned out to watch the parade despite cold and rainy weather with temperatures in the mid 40s. Th e crowd was below SPAC estimates but vendors inside the Salamanca Mall were “delighted by the volume of customers.”

Celebrating 37 years Celebrating 37 years of the Falling Leaves of the Falling Leaves

FestivalFestival


1978Early estimates from the Salamanca Positive Action

Committee noted that attendance at the third annual Falling Leaves Festival parade was near 16,000, about double what turned out for the parade the year prior.

“I loved every minute of it,” said a pleased Festival Chairman Rosalee Kalinowski at an after-festival party held at the Elks Lodge. “It was worth all the months of planning.”

New festival events included a Fun Run and AAU 5K race and a Festival Bed Race that pleased offi cials with the success.

1979Salamanca Positive Action Committee Chairman

Paul Formica estimated that nearly 25,000 people vis-ited the city during the four days of the festival, with more than 10,000 on hand Sunday for the parade.

One of the highlights of the festival was the adop-tion of Joe Giblin, manager of Fisher’s Big Wheel and president of the Salamanca Area Chamber of Com-merce, as a member of the Seneca Nation of Indians in a ceremony at Jeff erson Street Park.

1980Barbara and Alexander Rosen and Ann Larimore

were guests during the fi fth annual Falling Leaves Festival. Th e individuals were families of two Ameri-can hostages, Barry Rosen and Bill Daugherty, being held in Iran. Th e decision to invited them was done to “make the 1980 Festival a memorable one for us and for our friends from New York and Ossining,” according to a letter to the editor in the Salamanca Republican-Press written by Lucille Taylor, who met the visitors at the airport.

Maria Eddy, 13, was named Miss Falling Leaves Festival in the fi rst such competition at the event.

1981At 90 minutes, the Falling Leaves Festival parade

was slightly smaller than the previous year and wit-nessed by 6,000 to 7,000 people.

Events during the festival included traditional booths in both the Salamanca Mall and in Jeff erson Street Park, a Firemen’s Parade, ceramic show, tennis and soccer tournaments, Ann Archers Dance Demon-stration, a festival dance in the Moose Temple, church services in Jeff erson Street Park, a tug-of-war between Salamanca Paid and Volunteer Firemen and the Kill Buck Volunteer Firemen and a smorgasbord at the Masonic Temple.


1982Th e sponsorship of the seventh

annual Falling Leaves Festival was handed over to the Salamanca Area Chamber of Commerce.

Weekend events ranged from soccer and tennis tournaments to dog, car and photography

shows, a pie-eating contest and bed race and a continu-

ous videotape showing a new fi lm about Allegany

State Park. New at the festival this year was

also special excur-sions on the New

York and Lake Erie Railroad to and from

Little Valley.

1983Th e eighth annual Falling Leaves

Festival was transformed into an in-ternational event with the Sunday dedication of Triangle Park as Simon Bolivar Triangle Park. Th e city hosted more than 65 Latin American guests for the day; renaming the park was the city’s way of joining in the bicentennial of Simon Bolivar’s birth.

A new attraction to the festival the fi elding of a muster, or the gathering of antique fi re apparatus, by the Fentier Vil-lage chapter of SPAAMFAA. Th e event

was displayed at Fisher’s Big Wheel’s park-ing lot in the morning followed by a parade

up Broad Street and judging at Crowley Park.

1984More than 1,200 drawings, paintings, mobiles

and sculptures by Salamanca youth were part of the inaugural “Clothesline Art Show” in the Sala-

manca Mall during the ninth annual Falling Leaves Festival.

Another new festival event was a chili competi-tion, a sidewalk event sponsored by Texas Bar and Grille owner Bonita Wulf.

Brisk autumn temperatures failed to deter the enthusiasm of the thousands of people gathered for a 90-minute parade beneath bright sunny skies.

1985A total of 91 food and craft booths were at the

festival, and more than 200 meals were served at the sixth annual pancake breakfast at the First Congre-gational Church. Th e festival dance sold 281 tickets and standing room only was available at midnight.

Th e Seneca Th eatre hosted the second annual Clothesline Art Show, and other events included a fi shing derby and soap box derby. About 250 people attended the Sunday evening fi eld competition at Veteran’s Park.

Th e festival was again sponsored by the Salaman-ca Area Chamber of Commerce and led by festival co-chairmen Rick and Darlene Hoadley.

1986Th e 11th annual Falling Leaves Festival was held

a bit earlier that usual, Sept. 12 - 14, and saw smaller crowds likely due to two rainy days.

Another misfortune other than weather for the ‘86 festival was the malfunction of a generator at the carnival, which brought rides to a standstill on Saturday.

“Th ere were only six people who put this togeth-er,” Darlene Hoadley said. She named: June Numer-acki, Marie Jones, Jim Johnson, Carol Weatherly, herself and her husband.

1987Th e biggest obstacle of the festival was dealing

with the closure of the Main Street Bridge, which was at the time being constructed.

All events were concentrated on the south side of the Main Street Bridge, and new activities included a Baby Contest and Gospel Concert. Th e antique show was held at the Holy Cross Athletic Club, the car show was at Veteran’s Memorial Park and the bed races were held on Broad Street. All three adapted to the bridge situation with the new loca-tions.

1988Rev. Robert Odell, Tony Vesneski and Lance

Hoag served as the three Falling Leaves Festival co-chairmen. Odell said highlights were the parade, Ethnic Dancers and the classic car show. Th e festival began with the Funtastic Parade on Friday night.

Another unique aspect of the festival was the grand opening of the Caboose Information Center on Broad Street Extension, the fi rst joint project between the Salamanca City Council and Seneca Nation of Indians Tribal Council.


1989Th e festival returns to both sides of the Allegheny

River following the opening of the new Main Street Bridge, and festival goers weren’t confi ned to Jeff er-son Street Park.

Rail Museum director Gerald Fordham said the rail excursion was “one of the best we’ve ever had,” with an estimated 600 to 700 people passing through the museum and the “railroad fl ea market.” Th e excursion took 200 passengers to Cattaraugus and brought back 175 on Saturday.

A “jail for bail” fundraiser by the American Can-cer Society “detained” many city offi cials and well known residents and raised more than $900 in the process.

1990Th e 15th annual Falling Leaves Festival was

deemed fi nancially successful, but Tony Carbone, city mayor and also chairman for the parade, was forced to cancel the parade and bed races due to inclement weather.

Th e weather forced many vendors at Jeff erson Street Park to close up shop early and caused a low turnout of participants at the CCLAA Antique Car Show at Veteran’s Park. However, it was estimated 350 people came to the boxing matches and 497 people registered for the festival dance.

1991Music fi lled the air during the 16th annual

Falling Leaves Festival after the Salamanca Area Chamber of Commerce purchased and installed a new sound system. Th e new system was dedicated during ceremonies Friday in memory of the late Edwin “Ned” Fenton, Jr.

Activities during the festival included coaster car races, Mime Th eatre by the Youth Center at Jef-ferson Street Park, the Dixiecrats performing at the gazebo, the return of a boxing event, a teen street dance on Jeff erson Street, a 1992 new car show on Main Street and more.

1992In a unique situation, Gene and Wilma Panter

of Muscatine, Iowa served as the parade’s grand marshals. Th ey had been stopped on Route 17 by the Salamanca Area Chamber of Commerce, police and Falling Leaves Festival offi cials and were given accommodations at the Dudley Motor Inn courtesy of the chamber.

Th e parade consisted of about 40 units.

1993Th e 18th annual Falling

Leaves festival began Friday with the second annual R.C. Hoag Memorial Golf Outing. Offi cial opening ceremonies were held Friday evening with a Hawaiian Luau featuring cultural music and the Aloha Dancers at Jeff erson Street Park.

Similar to last year’s experi-ment, the chamber again “kid-napped” commuters on Route 17 to be part of the festival, with Floyd and Barbara Plowman, of York, Pa., being guests this year after being pulled over as part of the promotion.

Presiding over the parade were Falling Leaves Festival Queen Kristin Fuller and King Carl Ague, who were crowned at the Salamanca Satellite of the Buff alo Children’s Hospital Variety Club Telethon the previous year.

1994Early estimates had a profi t of “several thousand

dollars” for the 19th annual Falling Leaves Festival, according to Salamanca Area Chamber of Com-merce Vice President Donna Snyder and Treasurer Ned Fenton III, who served as co-chairs for the event.

Th e money would be used for operating expenses for the chamber’s offi ce located in a railroad caboose on Broad Street.

Th e carnival had three successful days, and a highlight of the festival was the annual duck drop, coordinated by County Clerk James K. Griffi th. Penny Brown won the duck race and the $1,000 prize.

1995Rain fell on the parade for the 20th annual Fall-

ing Leaves Festival, but the event, which was again sponsored by the Salamanca Area Chamber of Commerce, had successful days on Friday and Saturday.

Th e duck drop, which had been popular in recent years, encountered problems due to the low level of the Allegheny River. Th e chamber held a drawing for two dinners about the “murder mystery train” on New York and Lake Erie Railroad in Gowanda.


1996 & 1997No festival.

1998Th e Falling Leaves Festival re-

turned for its 21st year following a two-year absence, and included

a parade that was witnessed by 3,000 to 4,000 people.

Among the unique at-tractions included World’s

Strongest Man Don Reinhoudt. Th e festival kicked off on Friday

and included a live broadcast by WKBW’s Brian Kahle.

1999Salamanca Mayor Carmen Vecchiarel-

la said about 2,000 people turned out for the event on Saturday, which featured arts

and craft vendors in the Salamanca Mall, 22 fl ea market vendors in front of Cattaraugus

Community Action and 15 more arts and crafts vendors in Jeff erson Street Park.

2000Fantastic weather, an Elvis impersonator and

other new features brought people into Salamanca for what was deemed an “excellent” 23rd annual Falling Leaves Festival, according to Festival Co-ordinator Tracy Chamberlain, executive secretary to Mayor Carmen Vecchiarella.

Elvis impersonator Sterling Pollaro, of James-town, sung in front of a crowd of about 200 people in Jeff erson Street Park on Saturday. Chamberlain attributed changes in advertising and excellent weather for making the festival “twice as good” as its predecessors.

2001Th e weather was nice again, Sterling Pollaro

returned and the 24th annual Falling Leaves Fes-tival was deemed “very successful even with all the recent tragedies in the United States,” according to Salamanca Mayor Carmen Vecchiarella.

A 45-minute parade included 20 cars that had been in a car show sponsored by the Salamanca Area Chamber of Commerce, and Falling Leaves Festival Queen Stephanie Light.


2002Tracy Chamberlain, assistant to the mayor, again

served as festival coordinator for the 25th celebration, and the Salamanca Area Chamber of Commerce sponsored the annual car show.

Th ere were 65 entries for the car show and Out-let, a group made up of local high school students, performed in one of their fi rst live settings. Amberle Hutchison was crowned the Falling Leaves Festival Queen.

2003Rain dampened the 26th annual festival. However,

many indoor events were well attended and Sunday’s parade was dry.

Salamanca native William “Bill” McClune, who had recently served 23 months service in the U.S. Na-val Reserves, was parade marshal. A fi reworks display went off as scheduled on Friday, and heavyweight boxer Baby Joe Mesi attended the Knockout Factory open house and drew a large crowd.

Showers cut short the “Meet the Queen” session with Falling Leaves Queen Breanna Farner and her court.

2004Th e main event for opening night

of the 27th annual Falling Leaves Festival was Friday Night at the Fights, featuring Seneca Nation Boxing Club, at Jeff erson Street Park. Th e event included about a dozen bouts sanctioned by USA Box-ing. It was estimated more than 1,000 people attended the boxing matches. Th e 2004 Falling Leaves Festival Queen was awarded to Ellen Nary.

2005Th e 28th annual Falling Leaves Festival was

moved to Veteran’s Memorial Park instead of its usual location on Main Street, a move Salamanca Mayor Jeff rey Pond said had a lot of positive feedback. Th e most popular attractions included Rochester’s “Th e Hitmen,” a bugle corps which stopped to dance with residents of Th e Waters nursing home, a hot dog eating contest, a pie eating contest and traditional bed races. Danielle Phillips served as the Falling Leaves Festival Queen.


2006Ray Evans returned to his

hometown for the 29th annual Falling Leaves Festival, which was held a bit later than usual on Oct. 13-15. Evans participated in “Que Sera, Sera: Th e Songs of Livingston and Evans” on

Saturday at the Ray Evans Seneca Th eatre. It was a

full house.Th e majority of

festival was again held at Veteran’s Memo-

rial Park on Broad Street, including

the return of an amateur boxing event

organized by the Knock-out Factory.A chili cookoff was held for

the fi rst time in years, and other more unique attractions for the 2006

festival included tethered hot air balloon rides and about 45 people participate in a 5K run/walk at Allegany State Park. Music included Th e LeftOvers and Th e Oliverios.

2007Veteran’s Memorial Park remained the

host of the 30th annual Falling Leaves Festival, and the majority of events scheduled were traditional attractions

like past events.Th e Porcelain Busdrivers performed at

the Red Garter Bar and Grill on Saturday, West performed at the American Legion

the same night and both Th e LeftOvers and Th e Oliverios performed on Sunday.

2008Th e 31st annual Falling Leaves Festival was

combined with the county’s Bicentennial Parade in 2008 and deemed a success by organizers.Th e parade, organized by Donna and Ron Raa-

hauge, made its way down Main and Broad Street, fi nishing up on Front Avenue near the old Moose Hall. It was reported that the parade was so long, some units were returning to the starting point be-fore others had begun.

Th e festival was organized mostly by the Sala-manca Area Chamber of Commerce.

2009Following a celebration that included the county’s

bicentennial in 2008, the 32nd annual Falling Leaves Festival in 2009 returned to celebrating Salamanca and included traditional favorites.

Th e festival returned to Jeff erson Street Park by popular demand and included art and craft vendors, live music from local talents, radio station remote broadcasts and the Falling Leaves Festival Car Show and Cruise-In on Main Street.

2010Th e 33rd annual Falling Leaves Festival came

only weeks after the city of Salamanca cut dozens of employees due to a stalemate that had existed between the Seneca Nation of Indians and New York State, but the community rallied to keep many events.

Volunteers rallied to keep the parade on the schedule, although earlier in the month it had ap-peared it would be canceled. Th e festival hosted its traditional events in Jeff erson Street Park.

2011A strong emphasis was placed on Salamanca’s rich

culture in the 34th annual Falling Leaves Festival, most notably with the inclusion of a Seneca Culture and Heritage Exhibit through the Native Roots Art-ist Guild. Th e festival’s queen pageant was canceled prior to the weekend due to lack of volunteers to coordinate the event.

2012Th e 35th annual Falling Leaves Festival may have

looked much like the 2011 event, but the weather also cooperated for a much higher attendance in 2012.

Th e car show was a highlight of the weekend, according to Jenny Ingrao, events specialist for the Seneca Salamanca Chamber of Commerce. Nearly 100 vehicles were on display down Main Street and onto Sycamore Avenue.

2013Coordination of the 36th annual Falling Leaves

Festival returned to the hands of the city for the fi rst time in several years, after city offi cials in May as-sumed responsibilities of the event from the Seneca Salamanca Chamber of Commerce.

Highlights of the festival included Elvis imper-sonator Terry Buchwald, more than 70 arts, crafts and food vendors, a walk to raise awareness and money for cancer research and a weekend-long “Minute to Win It” competition.


Remembering last year’s Remembering last year’s Grande ParadeGrande Parade

2014 Falling Leaves Festival Guide

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Transcript of 2014 Falling Leaves Festival Guide