September is probably my favorite month of the year, at least this time around.

The leaves are changing, football season officially kicks off next week, our local hockey team the Southern Tier Xpress will host its first home games the following week and some of my most highly-anticipated gigs are coming up all at the same time.

Growing up, the summer months were always the ones I lived for most. No school, warmer weather, etc. I’m quickly finding that the heat and humidity, particularly that which I have experienced over the past few months, is far too oppressive and I therefore end up spending as much time indoors as I would during a relentlessly unforgiving polar vortex.

Yes, September seems just about right for those of us who prefer a more temperate climate. With temperatures now beginning to dip just slightly enough to become bearable, I can try focusing more on enjoying and partaking in the activities that I enjoy most: sports and music, especially the latter.

The fun generally commences alongside Infinity Visual and Performing Arts’ annual Local Music Showcase, which will be Saturday, Sept. 10, this year. It’s always a great night for local music as dozens of acts perform within a five block radius of one another throughout downtown Jamestown all evening long. And typically I get to follow that up the next day relaxing while enjoying Week One games in the National Football League. I really couldn’t ask for a better weekend, and yet I get to experience more of the same less than a week later!

I’ve made no secret about the excitement I have over my involvement with the final installment of this year’s Third Thursday on Sept. 15, but to summarize: more music and football at Winter Garden Plaza – come and see the show! Round it out with what I’m expecting to be another great night of music with The Elektra Kings and Trip the Deuce at Mojo’s on Sept. 23, and possibly the chance of catching an Xpress game or two, and this month is looking pretty nice.

It’s a good time of year to be an entertainment lover in Western New York.

And now, here’s some of what you can expect to find in the area this week.

HIGHLIGHTS

Findley Lake Harvest Festival Is This Weekend: Findley Lake will host its 19th annual Harvest Festival from Friday through Sunday. The annual festival is held on or in the vicinity of Labor Day weekend each year, and this year’s event is slated to feature the largest number of vendors ever hosted by the festival committee. Live music will also be heavily featured in this year’s festival, which will run from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Scheduled to perform at this year’s festival are: Mike and Marie; Brokenstraw; Lance Kinal; Uncle Earle; Amanda Barton and Charity Nuse; Highlife; Matt and Josh; and Kev Rowe. As with last year, there will be an expanded arts and antiques show as well as a number of children’s activities in lieu of a fireworks display.

For more information on the Findley Lake Harvest Festival, as well as a complete schedule of live music and events, visit findleylakeinfo.org or call the Findley Lake Chamber of Commerce at 769-7609.

Jamestown’s Annual Labor Day Festival To Be Held Sunday: The city of Jamestown’s 34th annual Labor Day Festival will be held Sunday in Bergman Park from noon to 9 p.m. The Greater Jamestown Labor Day Festival is a community celebration designed to honor the labor force of the city and surrounding area, widely recognized as the very best in the nation. All money raised is used to directly fund festival activities and support the host of non-profit community service agencies who participate. The festival will include a number of vendors and bands providing entertainment. It will conclude with a fireworks display beginning at 8:30 p.m. Southern Tier Wrestling will also present its live-action “Bergman Brawl” professional wrestling event beginning at 1 p.m.

For a schedule of events, call the Parks Department at 483-7523 or visit jamestownny.net and follow the “Parks and Recreation” and “Programs and Events” links.

Willie Nelson To Perform In Salamanca Sunday: Willie Nelson, one of the most recognizable performers and one of the most popular recording artists of all time, will perform a special Labor Day weekend concert at the Seneca Allegany Events Center at 7 p.m. Sunday. Nelson helped to create the “outlaw country” genre in the late 1960s and has reached the top of the charts with hits like “On The Road Again,” “Always On My Mind,” and more. His most iconic hit came in 1984 in the form of his duo with Julio Iglesias, “To All The Girls I’ve Loved Before.” Tickets to the concert start at $45.

The Seneca Allegany Events Center is located at 777 Seneca Allegany Blvd. For more information, or to purchase tickets, call 1-877-873-6632 or visit senecaalleganycasino.com/events/willie-nelson/.

Authors Books And Music To Hold Open Read Night Tuesday: Authors Books and Music – located at 227 Liberty St. in Warren, Pa. – is inviting aspiring writers, poets, lyricists and others to read their works before a live audience at its monthly open read night Tuesday from 6-8 p.m. Listeners are also encouraged to attend this free event held inside the book shop. These events are held the first Tuesday of each month through October.

For more information, call 814-688-3009, email authorsbooks@hotmail.com or visit authorsbookstore.com.

Swedish Band ‘Jaerv’ To Perform At Shawbucks Wednesday: The five-member Swedish band Jaerv will perform at Shawbucks from 8-11 p.m. Wednesday. The award-winning Swedish quintet presents an extroverted, vigorous and heartfelt folk music with influences in both jazz and pop music. Together, the five members have created a homogeneous, vivid sound which has established Jaerv on the folk music scene as well as in many other forums. Rooted in several different musical traditions, Jaerv offers a varied stage performance where vocal, five-voiced tunes blend in with energetic dances and free improvisations. Jaerv has done several tours in the U.S., played live at BBC Scotland and performed twice at the biggest folk festival in northern Europe, Celtic Connections in Glasgow.

There is no cover charge to attend the show, but a donation will be accepted to help cover expenses associated with travel and boarding, etc. For more information on the band and samples of its music, visit jaerv.com.

HAPPENINGS

To include an upcoming show or event in this column, email gpaterniti@post-journal.com or call 487-1111, ext. 243 by Monday.

Tonight

Not Sold Separately: 4 p.m., Southern Tier Brewing Company, 2072 Stoneman Circle in Lakewood

Jamestown Thunder community drum circle: 5:30 p.m., Ellery Town Park pavilion in Ellery

Adam McKillip: 6 p.m., Lakeview Hotel, 13 Water St. in Mayville

Pulse Poetry Slam open mic: 6 p.m., Infinity Visual and Performing Arts, 301 E. Second St. in Jamestown

Bluegrass Jam: 7 p.m., Lakewood Legion, 174 Chautauqua Ave. in Lakewood

Jules-R-Us Karaoke: 8 p.m., Good Time Saloon, 590 Fairmount Ave. in Jamestown

Karaoke with DJ Xcite: 9 p.m., Bullfrog Hotel, 1414 E. Second St. in Jamestown

Karaoke with Felony Entertainment: 10 p.m., Forte, 114 E. Third St. in Jamestown

Beastmaker with Blood Feud: 10 p.m., Mojo’s Music Bar, 104 E. Second St. in Jamestown

Friday

Charity Nuse and Amanda Barton: 6 p.m., The Wine Cellar, 309 N. Main St. in Jamestown

Greg Ford: 6 p.m., Lakeview Hotel, 13 Water St. in Mayville

Corey and Friends: 6 p.m., Authors Books and More, 227 Liberty St. in Warren, Pa.

Michael Gerholdt: 7 p.m., The Hadley House, 3328 Hadley Bay Road in Stow

No Limit: 7 p.m., Lakewood Legion, 174 Chautauqua Ave. in Lakewood

Brian Chase: 9 p.m., Yesterday’s, 103 Chautauqua Ave. in Lakewood

DJ Goodrich: 10 p.m., Lakeview Hotel, 13 Water St. in Mayville

DJ 8on3: 10 p.m., Mojo’s Music Bar, 104 E. Second St. in Jamestown

Iron Eyes Experience: 10 p.m., Bullfrog Hotel, 1414 E. Second St. in Jamestown

Smokin’ 45: 10 p.m., Village Casino, 1 Lakeside Drive in Bemus Point

Saturday

Bill Ward: 6 p.m., Lakeview Hotel, 13 Water St. in Mayville

Tongue Cluckers: 6 p.m., The Hadley House, Hadley Bay Road in Stow

Derek Davis Band: 8 p.m., Lakewood Rod and Gun, 433 E. Terrace Ave. in Lakewood

Urban Ranch: 8:30 p.m., Celoron Legion, 26 Jackson Ave. in Jamestown

Jules-R-Us Karaoke featuring Tami T: 9 p.m., Good Time Saloon, 590 Fairmount Ave. in Jamestown

Ryan Melquist Duo: 9 p.m., Webb’s Captain’s Table Restaurant, 115 W. Lake Road in Mayville

Mosaic Foundation: 10 p.m., Mojo’s Music Bar, 104 E. Second St. in Jamestown

New Wave Nation: 10 p.m., Village Casino, 1 Lakeside Drive in Bemus Point

Smokin’ 45: 10 p.m., Shawbucks, 212 W. Second St. in Jamestown

Sunday

Bob Campbell and Liz Osborne: 2 p.m., Lakeview Hotel, 13 Water St. in Mayville

Willie May Blues Band: 2 p.m., The Pad, 1064 Route 394 in Kennedy

Bill Ward and Company: 4 p.m., The Hadley House, 3328 Hadley Bay Road in Stow

Derek Davis and Tim Bartlett: 7 p.m., Top-A-Rise Campground, 4267 Dean School Road in Falconer

Open Jam: 9 p.m., Bullfrog Hotel, 1414 E. Second St. in Jamestown

Refuge: 10 p.m., Village Casino, 1 Lakeside Drive in Bemus Point

Monday

Bill Ward: 6 p.m., Andriaccio’s, 4837 W. Lake Road in Chautauqua

Greg Ford: 6 p.m., Lakeview Hotel, 13 Water St. in Mayville