Chautauqua Harbor Hotel will host the Dining in the Dark event.

CELORON – Chautauqua Blind Association Vision Rehabilitation Services invites the community to its 14th annual Dining in the Dark on Friday, April 17 at the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel. This unique event gives guests the chance to enjoy a three-course meal completely without sight, guided by trained volunteers, offering a truly unforgettable sensory experience.

Doors open at 5 p.m. for a cash bar, silent and live auctions, a wine pull, t-shirt sales, and a 50/50 raffle. Dinner begins at 6:15 p.m., when guests are blindfolded and led to their tables.

The event not only delights the senses but also raises awareness and funds for CBA’s programs, which support individuals of all ages with legal blindness through their Vision Rehabilitation services, Orientation and Mobility Training, Vocational Rehabilitation, and Braille training services. CBA also has a Youth Vision Screening Program that provides free screenings for over 4,500 children each year in Chautauqua and Cattaraugus Counties.

CBA continues to partner with JCC’s Occupational Therapy Assistant Program and SUNY Fredonia’s Pre-Health Professions Club for the event.

These students, along with several community volunteers and CBA staff, assist guests at the dinner, guiding them around the tables and ensuring a memorable experience.

“This event truly brings our community together in a special way. I love that it has become a beloved tradition for many,” said Megan Maynard, executive director. “Guests leave with more than just a memorable meal–they gain understanding, empathy, and a connection to the CBA programs that empower individuals living with vision loss in our community every day.”

CBA has been providing one-on-one training for legally blind clients for more than 100 years, and conducting vision screenings for children in the community for decades. The Dr. Timothy Grace Sight for Success Program is also a fund managed by CBA, named after the late Dr. Tim Grace. It ensures children have access to essential eye care once vision is screened.

Tickets for the fundraising event are available for $70 per person. Reservations can be made online at www.cbavision.org. Discounted room rates are also offered at the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel. There are also business sponsorships to fit a variety of budgets, which include dinner reservations. For more information, visit the website, contact director@cbavision.org, or call the office at 716-664-6660. The deadline to purchase tickets or sign up for sponsorships is April 1st.

Those unable to attend can still support CBA through tax-deductible donations online or by mail to CBA, 510 W. 5th Street, Jamestown, NY.

CBA Vision Rehabilitation Services is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and a United Way Community Partner.