BOCES Tubing Park Carnival

Perfect weather greeted app roximately 700 students from Cattaraugus-Allegany BOCES and District Special Education classes participated in the Fourth Annual Winter Carnival held at the Holiday Valley Tubing Park this past week.

Country music filled the air, as the theme for this year’s event was Country Western, plus there were six activity areas available to this year’s participants.

According to Event Coordinators Chris McNell and Debbie Golley, this year’s Winter Carnival featured tubing, snow soccer, an obstacle course, broom hockey, hay rides, as well as indoor games. “This is a great day for our kids who might not normally have some of these opportunities,” said Ms. Golley.

Participants from Olean and Salamanca BOCES classrooms, along with non-BOCES classrooms from Allegany-Limestone, Cattaraugus-Little Valley, Franklinville, Hinsdale, Olean, Portville, Randolph and Salamanca participated on the on the first day. On the second day, Feb. 25, participants from Allegany County and Pioneer classrooms, along with non-BOCES classrooms from Pioneer, Fillmore, Genesee Valley, Bolivar-Richburg, Cuba-Rushford, and Whitesville, enjoyed the day

BOCES and Holiday Valley provided hot dogs, chips, cookies and hot chocolate to all participants. To the delight of big and little people alike the Big Pig from WPIG was on hand both days as was the Voice of Ellicottville, Bob McCarthy who provided music and emceed the event. Last but not least, entertaining the throng of smiling faces was Ellicottville’s favorite balloon creating, juggling, clown Tom O’Conner from Shhh!

Nearly 300 volunteers, including the Rotary Club of Ellicottville assisted over the two-day event.