×

Force Of Labor

Since 1980, Jamestown has celebrated Labor Day with food and entertainment.

This year will be no exception as the 35th annual Labor Day Festival is set to start at noon on Sunday, Aug. 31. The festival is a community celebration to honor the labor force of the city and surrounding area. All money raised is used to fund festival activities and support the host of nonprofit community service agencies.

Live music will start at noon on two stages. Eight bands will play throughout the day. Organizations that will be serving festival foods include Bush School PTA; city of Jamestown; Eastside Family YMCA; Falconer High School Marching Band; Jamestown Babe Ruth World Series; Jamestown Harmony Express; Jamestown High School girls basketball; Jamestown High School marching band; Greater Jamestown Riverwalk; Mt. Moriah Lodge 145; Sertoma Club of Jamestown; Sons of AMVETS 726; and United Way of Southern Chautauqua County.

All organizations will be selling Pepsi products. In addition, there will be a wine and beer dining tent inside the Babe Ruth Baseball Field sponsored by Game Time Sports Bar & Grill for attendees 21 and older.

Chautauqua Striders will hold the annual Dan Feature Memorial 5k Run/Walk at 9:30 a.m. with registration starting at 8 a.m. The arts and crafts fair begins at 11 a.m. and will feature more than 25 vendors from Western New York and some vendors from Pennsylvania. All vendors are required to sell handmade items.

Free Pepsi Bingo games will take place in the main pavilion starting at noon. Free kids carnival games including a bounce house by Eventz by Scott will start at 2 p.m. The Jamestown Area Central Labor Council AFL-CIO will present a deserving member of the area workforce the George Ritzer Labor Award at 4 p.m. on the main stage.

The big finale of the festival will be the fireworks display provided by Zambelli Fireworks, which begins when the final band finishes its performance around 8:30 p.m.

”Get to Bergman Park early Sunday, Aug. 31. Pick your spot on the lawn in front of the main stage. Get some food. Visit the vendors and crafters. Take the kids to play some games. Then enjoy the biggest fireworks display the region has to offer. The only way is to be right in the middle of all the action,” said Sam Teresi, Jamestown mayor.

People parking their cars at Bergman Park will receive a ticket to enter into a drawing at the information booth for a chance to win a $100 gift card that is being sponsored by Ahlstrom Schaeffer Electric Corporation. Ahlstrom Schaeffer provides electrical services for industrial, commercial, institutional and construction businesses. Parking is $5. The prize drawing will take place at 8:15 p.m. on the main stage.

The live band lineup for the main stage includes: Teachers, Preachers & Trent, 12:302 p.m.; The Bogarts, 2:30-4p.m.; We Speak Canadian, 5-6:30 p.m.; and Two For Flinching, 7-8:30 p.m.. On the second stage, Jamestown Harmony Express, noon-1p.m.; Razzer’s Jazzers, 1:30-2:30 p.m.; The New Tenants, 3-4 p.m.; and Cindy Love, 5-6 p.m.

Sponsors of the Labor Day Festival include the City of Jamestown, Media One Group, Ahlstrom-Schaeffer, Pepsi of Jamestown, IBEW Local 106, and Jamestown Area Central Labor Council AFL-CIO. For more details on festival events, visit the city’s website at jamestownny.net or call the Parks Department at 483-7523.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today