The Labor Day Festival Committee held their final organizational meeting on Thursday, announcing the 36th annual Greater Jamestown Labor Day Festival will be held Sunday, Sept. 6, from noon until 9 p.m. at Bergman Park.
The Greater Jamestown Labor Day Festival is a community celebration designed to honor the labor force of the city and surrounding area.
All money raised is used to directly fund festival activities and support the host of nonprofit community service agencies who participate.
Food vendors open at noon with all profits from the concessions benefiting nonprofit organizations in the greater Jamestown area. The following vendors will support the following organizations: the Bush Elementary Parent Teacher Association will benefit the Bush School Parent Teacher Association; Gametime Sports Bar will benefit the city of Jamestown; the Chadakoin Playground Organization will benefit the Chadakoin Park Playground; Elegant Edibles will benefit the Train Engine Museum; Chautauqua Vends will benefit Maple Grove Class of 2020; IBEW will benefit United Way of Southern Chautauqua County; and the Jamestown Babe Ruth World Series, Jamestown Harmony Express, Jamestown High School Marching Band, Mt. Moriah Lodge 145, Sertoma Club of Jamestown and Sons of Amvets 726 will benefit itself.
All organizations will be selling Pepsi products. In addition, there will be a wine and beer dining tent sponsored by Game Time Sports Bar & Grill for attendees 21 and older.
Other activities include the annual Dan Feather Memorial 5k Run/Walk, held by Chautauqua Striders at 9:30 a.m. with registration starting at 8 a.m. An Arts and Crafts Fair begins at 11 a.m. and will feature over 20 vendors from all over 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.
Also, 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.
Music will be playing on two stages in the park. The line up includes The Bogarts from 12:30-2 p.m., Teachers, Preachers & Trent from 2:30-4 p.m., We Speak Canadian from 5-6:30 p.m. and Two For Flinching from 7-8:30 p.m. on the main stage.
On the second stage, Jamestown Harmony Express will play from noon to 1 p.m., Razz and the Jamestown Community College Band featuring Victoria McIlvain on vocals from 1:30-2:30 p.m., Davis & Eng from 3-4 p.m. and No Limit from 5-6 p.m.
Committee organizers are recommending that festival participants get to the park early enough to reserve a prime location on the lawn in front of the main stage in order to be in the middle of the fireworks extravaganza by Zambelli Fireworks Internationale, which begins when the final band, Two For Flinching, finishes its performance around 8:30 p.m.
“Get to Bergman Park early Sunday, Sept. 6. 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 Mayor Sam Teresi.
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 Visa Gift card sponsored by Ahlstrom Schaeffer Electric Corporation.
Ahlstrom Schaeffer provides electrical services for industrial, commercial, institutional and construction businesses. There will also be two chances to win a season ticket for the Southern Tier Xpress hockey games. Parking is $5. The prize drawing will take place on the main stage just prior to the fireworks show.
While the committee welcomes candidates running for office in the upcoming November election, they would like to remind them to leave campaign materials at home.
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.
Original article by The Post-Journal.
