Everyone LOVES a PARADE!!

It was the largest and the wackiest parade ever … parade watchers commented. “This was our first time at Mardi Gras… we came all the way from Virginia to ski here and the parade was a bonus-- what a HOOT! “ “This town is NUTS”! “Only in Ellicottville” “The kids went hog wild over Madigan’s cops and robbers shoot out right in the street“. I guess you could say the parade was a wild and crazy success! The NO Entrance fee proved to be the right move. Of course it meant hunting down some generous sponsors , like HoliMont, Holiday Valley, Ellicottville Brewing, Five Star Bank, ERA Vacation Properties, Century 21Town & Country, John Ciminelli, Gin Mill, Balloons and the Double Diamond to kick up their support. There were 22 entries in total including a few last minute costumed individuals who showed up and just joined in the parade route… Mike ‘Elvis’ Miller from Canton, Ohio just wanted to be in a parade - his first time ever. “The ‘bubble bike’ was the coolest”.. and Ken Brown’s King and the Kids thrilled the crowds by passing out over 3,000 strings of beads! Thanks, KING KEN and MJ!

Congratulations to the winning entries: BEST Overall (Prize: a 2 hour sailing cruise for 6 with wine and cheese in Lake Erie), Madigan’s Bar; The Best Lights (prize: pizza party) Holimont’s Adaptive Ski Program; The Tallest entry (prize- private snowboard lessons by Shad) The King and the Kids; the Funniest entry (prize- 2 golf passes at Holiday Valley) the Jefferson Jammies; and the Most participants (prize- Be A Brewer Experience at Ellicottville Brewing Company) Special Effects (although the Holiday Valley Rangers were a really close second with only 4 people less). The winners can pick up their winning certificates and prizes at the Ellicottville Chamber of Commerce office during business hours.

Thanks to our parade judges, Jerrine Neff, Al ‘Cato-Man‘ Weizenreid, and Sandy and Bob Ilhig and their friend Larry who kept the entry numbers coming in order. Carl McElwain from Ronco Communications for the ‘crowd sound meter’ monitoring. Guy Scheeler and Kevin Crotty for building and moving the meter. Great Valley Builders for construction materials and Frankie for ‘constructive’ ideas for making the parade better this year. And again, the awesome fireworks display was sponsored by HoliMont. . And thanks to Jen Freiburger and Heather Snyder from the Chamber and Co-Chairs Peter Kreinheder and Deborah McElwain. And as always thank you Bob McCarthy for everything you do for all of us here in this great community.

Great job everyone!
Brian McFadden, Ellicottville Chamber of Commerce