ELLICOTTVILLE - The Fourth of July holiday provides a number of choices for places to go and things to experiences.
The Cattaraugus County destination of Ellicottville is offering a wide variety of fun this holiday weekend, with options ranging from music to sports and much more. Among the highlights of the weekend in the resort town will be the 2011 Summer Music Festival, held at Holiday Valley's slopeside main stage.
''Summer Music Festival is a signature event in Ellicottville,'' said Brian McFadden, executive director of the Ellicottville Chamber of Commerce. ''This year, we have literally something for everyone - including families, the over-40 crowd and even younger, edgier audiences.''
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Boogie kings KC?and the Sunshine Band will be just one of many entertainment options in the Cattaraugus County destination of Ellicottville this weekend. Music, rodeo and many other fun offerings are planned in the resort town for the holiday weekend.
Alternative rockers Rusted Root will take to the main stage on Friday night at 8 p.m., with admission to their performance being $25 at the gate. Formed in Pittsburgh in 1990, Rusted Root hit it big with their major-label debut album ''When I Woke'' in 1995, which featured the Billboard Hot 100-peaking hit single ''Send Me On My Way.''
Saturday night at 8 p.m., the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra will perform the sounds of Disney. The Philharmonic's show will be followed by a fireworks display as the orchestra plays ''The 1812 Overture'' and ''Stars and Stripes Forever.'' Admission to the Philharmonic's performance will be $35 at the gate.
Sunday night at 7:30 p.m., KC and the Sunshine Band will close the festival. With a boogie style that has been entertaining audiences for nearly four decades, the band has sold more than 100 million records and is well-known for its hits including ''Get Down Tonight,'' ''That's The Way (I Like It)'' and ''(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty.'' Admission to their concert will be $35 at the gate.
Fact Box
What: Chautauqua County July 4th celebration
When: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday
Where: Lakeside Park, Mayville
Cost: admission free (fees for attractions vary)
County bicentennial parade begins at 10 a.m., followed by festivities in the park including children's rides, face-painting, concessions and more. Fireworks display closes the event at 10 p.m. For more info, call 753-2280 or visit www.cc4th.com.
* 19.9 miles from downtown Jamestown.
What: Village of Lakewood 2011 Concert Series
When: 7 p.m. Thursday
Where: Richard O. Hartley Park
Cost: free
The Groove will play Thursday night. The concert series is presented by the Lakewood Village Board. For more information, visit www.lakewoodny.com/recreation.php.
* 5.1 miles from downtown Jamestown.
What: GeoWoodstock IX
When: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday
Where: Warren County Fairgrounds, Pittsfield, Pa.
Cost: free
The world's largest geocaching-related event. Activities include prize giveaways, classes and seminars, geocoin trading, and much more. For more information, visit www.geowoodstock.com.
* 23.8 miles from downtown Jamestown.
Children 12 and under will be admitted free to all concerts in the Music Festival.
If the excitement of competition is more your thing, you may consider attending the Ellicottville Championship Rodeo, which will also be taking place Friday through Sunday at Holiday Valley's Somerville Riding Stables. The action begins at 7 p.m. Friday night, continues at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, and wraps up with a show at 2 p.m. Sunday.
More than 350 rodeo athletes are expected to descend upon the grounds for the weekend of action. Seven standard rodeo events are planned, along with Hardway Buckout junior bull riding, contract acts and, of course, the famous rodeo clowns.
Youngsters who want to get involved in the action are invited to take part in the kids' stick horse race. Registration will take place before the rodeo, and stick horses will be available to purchase on site. The rodeo midway will also be open each day two hours before the show, with a rodeo kitchen serving a variety of food including chicken barbecue.
Musical entertainment is also part of the rodeo, as country singer-songwriter Amanda Nagurney will perform at the Saturday night show. Nagurney recently released her new album, ''So Full of Country,'' and has opened for artists including Sara Evans, Gretchen Wilson, Travis Tritt, The Band Perry, Miranda Lambert and many others.
Fireworks will follow the shows on Friday and Saturday nights as well. Tickets for each show in the rodeo are $15 for adults and $8 for children, with passes for all four shows also available for $50 for adults and $25 for children. All children under 5 years old will be admitted for free. For more information, visit www.ellicottvillerodeo.com.
As if all this entertainment weren't enough, an arts and crafts festival will also be taking place on Jefferson Street in the village from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, the annual pet parade will be happening at 11 a.m. Saturday on Washington Street, and the first-ever Strawberry Festival will be happening on Sunday.
For more information about all these festivities and more in Ellicottville, visit its Chamber of Commerce's website at www.ellicottvilleny.com.