NEWSLETTER
Superstar comedians, nature-inspired art, and a summer-long schedule of cultural events on the shores of Chautauqua Lake are among the many reasons to visit this scenic region. Be sure to add classical music concerts, impressive outdoor sculptures, and historical landmarks to your itinerary. And tucked into the rural landscape, towns like Ellicottville and Jamestown host some of the best art and music festivals of the year. Plus, discover world-class arts and culture in every region of New York State with I LOVE NY’s newly launched regional map and guides, upcoming calendar of events, and more. Photo Credit: @lifesaporch on Instagram
JUMP TO: Visual Arts | Theaters and Performing Arts | Historic Sites and Landmarks | Music and Film | Events and Festivals
Visual Arts
Avid bird watchers can thank Roger Tory Peterson. His finely detailed paintings, first published in 1934 in his groundbreaking field guides, made for simple identification of birds, from blue finches and cranes to herons, falcons, and warblers. The Jamestown Institute named for Peterson holds the largest collection of his work. This includes more than 1,500 original pieces in the Fine Art Collection, as well as films, photographs, personal papers, and more that Peterson accumulated during his career. The institute, located on a 27-acre nature preserve, also features exhibits by artists inspired by the natural world and its conservation. Learn to paint or draw your favorite winged species at one of the many classes and workshops offered.
Griffis Sculpture Park
Credit: @kevin_lesika on Instagram
Marvel at large-scale sculptures throughout 450 acres of wooded paths, pleasant meadows, and hiking trails. Located in East Otto, Griffis Sculpture Park is divided into two main sections. Drive through the Rohr Hill section and view the works from the comfort of your car or lace up your sneakers and hit the trails at the Mill Valley Road section. Both areas feature some of the 250 striking sculptures throughout the park. For an extra special experience, plan your trip to coincide with Night Lights, when trails and sculptures are illuminated on select evenings in September and October.
Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts
Rotating exhibits bring contemporary art, photography, sculpture, ancient and modern Asian works, European and American paintings, and much more to St. Bonaventure University’s campus museum. Regional artists, both established and emerging, are often featured. Admission is free and open to the public. The Quick Center also hosts an annual performing arts series, with live classical and international music, theatrical performances, and more.
Close to 8,000 ceramic objects make up a must-see collection for enthusiasts of ceramic art. From small pottery shards to intact vases, bowls, and sculptures, the collection reveals the progression of American ceramic art. Located at Alfred University and open to the public, the museum features rotating exhibits of international ceramic artists. Chinese funerary jars, Roman and Byzantine lamps, and Nigerian market pottery are a few of the fascinating works in the permanent collection. In a series of public talks and lectures, artists and curators are often invited to discuss their work.
Seneca-Iroquois National Museum
Credit: @damarisstgo on Instagram
Watercolors, glass etchings, traditional clay pottery, carvings created from moose, elk, and caribou antlers, and one of the largest collections of beadwork on the East Coast are among the cultural art on display at the Seneca-Iroquois National Museum in Salamanca. The works, along with historical photographs, archeological finds, and other artifacts ensure the ongoing preservation of the Haudenosaunee (Six Nations Iroquois) Confederacy. Thousands of artworks and artifacts span the 33,000 square feet museum, allowing visitors a broad glimpse into multiple generations of this Indigenous culture.
Theaters and Performing Arts
Chautauqua Institution
Credit: @lifesaporch on Instagram
Become part of the vibrant tradition that takes place every summer on the shores of Chautauqua Lake. Chautauqua Institution offers an exciting schedule of plays, symphony performances, lectures, classes, and workshops that inspire creativity. More than 100,000 people attend events throughout the nine-week Summer Assembly, which has been a beloved tradition since 1874. There’s also plenty of programming for kids and lots of opportunities for outdoor recreation to round out this one-of-a-kind cultural experience.
Which comedies crack you up? Who makes you laugh until you cry? Questions like these are asked, via a digital kiosk, at the start of a visit to the National Comedy Center. Once your Sense of Humor Profile is complete, your personalized journey begins, and you are guided toward content tailored to your precise style of humor. This cutting-edge technology helps visitors make the most of the more than 50 immersive exhibits, which include Comedy Karaoke, a Laugh Battle, and Prop Stars, where you can take a deep dive into the use of classic comedy props like the rubber chicken and the whoopie cushion. Jamestown’s National Comedy Center aims to preserve and celebrate the art of comedy.
A historic theater in Fredonia broadcasts live performances of New York City’s Metropolitan Opera and London’s National Theatre in their Live in HD series. Additional diverse events include comedy acts, films, and concerts featuring live music from classical to jazz to pop to Broadway hits. The 19th-century opera house strives to keep ticket prices low to make the performing arts available to all.
Fun fact about The Reg: Lucille Ball, along with her husband and co-star Desi Arnaz, premiered their 1956 film Forever Darling here, in a nod to Ball’s hometown. The premier was accompanied by a parade and the famous comedy couple themselves were in attendance. The theater boasts a long history of being at the center of the arts. Live concerts, ballet, comedy, and movies are on the regular schedule of events. And in September 2024, The Reg hosted their first ever Jamestown Dance Festival, featuring a weekend of exciting performances from diverse dance companies.
Gowanda’s Historic Hollywood Theater
Catch a piano concert, one-act opera, tribute band, silent film, current movie, and more at Gowanda’s jewel of Main Street. No expenses were spared when the theater was built in 1926. Gems include three doors with glass panels depicting masks of comedy and tragedy and a massive domed ceiling inside the auditorium. The sound and projection systems have been upgraded to deliver quality performances. The theater also hosts a summertime musical theater camp for kids.
Historic Sites and Landmarks
A historic Greek Revival house in Westfield features more than 100 works of art. The pieces come in the form of paintings, sculptures, quilted wall pieces, glass, photography, and much more. The 1830s house is the home studio of Audrey Kay Dowling, an artist whose work has been exhibited around the world. Her works, along with juried art created by artists from the Chautauqua region and beyond, are on display in three rooms of the home.
Imagine a collection of rustic log cabins that housed early 18th-century pioneers. Now picture in their midst a gleaming 14-room mansion, complete with a grand salon and formal rooms, whose décor consisted of fine art, antique furniture, and rich textiles. This contrast of simplicity versus opulence was created by the 1818 construction of a Federal-style mansion built by James McClurg. Today, the pioneer homes in Westfield are gone but McClurg’s mansion, in all its grandeur, remains. On guided or self-guided tours, visitors can view period displays and see firsthand the fine art, antiques, and textiles of the era. A Victorian nursery holds a large doll collection. The McClurg Museum is also home to the Chautauqua County Historical Society.
Music and Film
A 19th-century theater in Cuba that once hosted opera and vaudeville continues to bring quality entertainment to Chautauqua-Allegheny. Attend a concert or musical theater performance, take part in a songwriting workshop, or enjoy an outdoor summer concert series on Monday nights from June to August. Got musical talent? Bring it in front of an audience at Open Mic Night on the first Thursday of every month!
Western New York Chamber Orchestra
For 40 years, an ensemble of outstanding musicians has delivered high-quality music to Western New York. The chamber orchestra takes on the works of Schubert, Vivaldi, Wagner, and more. They also premier new pieces, some of which are written by orchestra Conductor Glen Cortese. The ensemble is made up of talented musicians from Chautauqua County and beyond. Many members go on to join major symphony orchestras. Concerts take place at venues throughout the region.
Step back in time to the heyday of drive-in theaters. Established in 1970, this Portville staple features two screens showing recently released films. The spacious 22-acre lot provides plenty of room for everyone, with unobstructed views from any spot. The snack bar sells nachos, popcorn, candy, and any other snacks one may desire from a drive-in concession stand. Portville Drive-In Theatre is a cash-only establishment.
Events and Festivals
Legends like Jerry Seinfeld and Joan Rivers, and today’s hottest funny people including Nicole Byer and Nate Bargatze, have something in common. They’ve all had audiences doubled over with laughter as performers at the annual Lucille Ball Comedy Festival. During the four-day August event, more than 50 live performances take place, with the intention of showcasing up-and-coming stars and well-known comedians alike. The long-running festival, and its home at the National Comedy Center, continue to make Jamestown a one-of-a-kind comedy destination.
Griffis Sculpture Park Annual Festival
How could a scenic park filled with imposing large-scale sculptures be even more awesome? Invite a slew of talented local bands, set up a craft vendor village, designate an area for kids to be creative, and sell delicious food, beer, and wine! The one-day event at the East Otto Sculpture Park takes place in August and has been drawing crowds since its inaugural festival in 2013. Come out for a day of art, community, and creativity.
Plein Air Festival
Credit: @thomasannearart via @rtpinstitute on Instagram
The natural beauty of Chautauqua-Allegheny is celebrated during a plein air event at Roger Tory Peterson Institute in Jamestown. Each September, artists spend three days capturing the natural scenery on canvas. The choice of where to paint is the artist’s, as long as the location showcases the outdoor splendor of the region. The public can enjoy the fruits of this labor at a Wet Paint show, which takes place the day after the en plein air painting concludes. They can also see selected works from the event at the institute’s next plein-air exhibition.
Panama Rocks Foliage Festival
Credit: @panamarockspark on Instagram
In early October (5th-6th), it’s time to head to Panama Rocks to celebrate the crisp autumn air and brilliant fall foliage. Attendees are entertained with a weekend of live music from local bands. More than 60 vendors come out to showcase their arts and crafts. There are also glass-blowing, chainsaw carving, and blacksmithing demonstrations throughout the day. Plenty of delicious local cuisine is available for purchase. The winners of a costume contest (one for kids and one for adults!) receive a Panama Rocks season pass (or a T-shirt, alternatively).
If rock ‘n’ roll and classic cars are what rev your engine, you’re going to love a festival filled with both! On a September Saturday, more than 15 regional bands take over the bars and restaurants of Ellicottville. The following day is set aside for more than 250 classic cars and trucks, which come out and line the village streets. Admission is free. Rock N’ Roll Weekend is the perfect time to check out all that Ellicottville’s downtown scene has to offer!
The “red” and “white” wines of the local vino industry, along with talented “blues” bands, are showcased in this early September two-day festival. Bars, restaurants, and venues around Fredonia lend the spotlight to blues artists like The Untouchables, Miranda Wilcox and The Line, and Miller & The Other Sinners. Craft vendors, food trucks, restaurants, and local wineries are set up at Barker Commons.
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