MAYVILLE — The Mayville-Chautauqua Community Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce its 33rd annual Presidents’ Day Weekend Winter Festival, which will take place Feb. 15-17, at Lakeside Park in Mayville, along the shores of scenic Chautauqua Lake.

This annual winter event, a highly anticipated Chautauqua County tradition since 1987, will feature winter events and activities for the entire family, contests for children and adults, as well as food and craft vendors. The centerpiece, weather permitting, will again be the massive ice castle constructed of blocks from a frozen Chautauqua Lake. More details will be available as the planning progresses.

The 2019 Presidents’ Day Weekend Winter Festival will feature a number of new events and activities, including the addition of a beer and wine tent, a pond hockey tournament and a children’s activity tent with activities planned by Camp Mission Meadows.

Other events and activities again featured will be the traditional Saturday-evening fireworks, bonfire and flare parade (weather permitting) by Chautauqua Lake Snowmobile Club, the Polar Plunge benefit organized by Family Health Medical Services (call 716-753-7107, Ext. 100 for information and to participate), horse-drawn rides by Magic Moments Carriages, a cold-water rescue demo by the Dewittville Fire Department, snowmobile rides (weather permitting) by the Chautauqua Lake Snowmobile Club, a snowball distance throwing contest, children’s Snowman/Snow Animal Building Contest sponsored by Andriaccio’s Restaurant, Lego Creation Contest sponsored by North Shore Specialties, Kids Corner edible crafts and Rainbow the Clown, among many more to be added.

The annual Chili Cook-off invites anyone who’s been told they make a “mean” chili — to enter, call the Chamber office at 716-753-3113. More details will be given to those calling for information or to participate.

The annual Winter Festival Scavenger Hunt will again take place during the month of February at no cost to participants; contestants will visit participating Chamber-member businesses to find the Winter Festival logo located somewhere inside, copying a codeword onto an entry form, and mailing the form to the Chamber office when complete. More details are forthcoming.

Those interested in volunteering to help with the festival preparations or at the festival itself should call Chamber Coordinator Debby Marsala at 716-753-3113.

Special thanks to festival sponsors to date: Town of Chautauqua (Platinum Sponsor); Chautauqua Institution, Smith Boys of Chautauqua (Gold Sponsors); and Maplevale Farms (Silver Sponsor). Those interested in making a financial contribution to the festival to help cover the many expenses associated with an event this size, should call the Chamber office at 716-753-3113 to learn about sponsorship opportunities available.