Tis the season, not for presents, but for pumpkins.
Every year, about this time, as the leaves change and the weather turns chilly, I can't help but feel nostalgic for, "It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown."
One of my favorite fall activities is visiting a pumpkin patch. So, every year I head out in search for the Great Pumpkin. I've never found the Great Pumpkin, but, I've found a few great pumpkins in any case.
Article Photos
Dusten Rader
This year I did the same. I headed out to North Collins to U Pick Pumpkins and Corn Maze, located at W and J Awald Farms. They had plenty of pumpkins still in the patch for those who wished venture in to claim their own. I did so, and it was a wonderful amount of fun. On my way back from the patch I was greeted by two boys and their father who were headed to the patch. So, I handed them the little wagon used for carting pumpkins. One of the boys immediately jumped in the wagon and ordered the other to pull him, he did. It was hilarious for everyone watching.
I also decided to give the corn maze a try. I have to admit, even though the difficulty of the maze was minimal, walking through a field of tall corn stalks can really be disorienting. But, I managed to find my way through the labyrinth of loops and dead ends to complete the maze.
Unfortunately I wasn't able to stay until the eve, because that's when the corn maze transforms into the "Maze of Terror." At night a host of ghosts, ghouls, goblins, gremlins, zombies, vampires and every other spooky creature lurks in the foggy, strobe-lit corn maze. Guests have to venture into the maze equipped with nothing more than a flash light and some glow sticks. Maybe, just maybe, that's where you can find the Great Pumpkin. So, I'll give the night maze of terror a try next year. But, as for this year, I'm pretty happy with the pumpkins and strange gourds I found.
HIGHLIGHTS
The Water Street Trio Will Perform At The Unitarian Universalist Congregation Of Jamestown: Pianist Mi Kyung Kim, and saxophonists Sarah Marchitelli and Jacob Swanson are the Water Street Trio.
Their repertoire began exclusively as transcriptions and has since evolved to include original works for saxophone and piano. All three hold degrees from the State University of New York at Fredonia. They have been performing together in various combinations since 2005 at concert series as diverse as the Candlelight Concert Series in Rochester, the Four Seasons Concert Series in Erie and at the Lavatersaal in Zurich, Switzerland. Each member of the trio has won the SUNY Fredonia Concerto Competition.
The program is free and open to the public. The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Jamestown is located at 1255 Prendergast Ave. in Jamestown. For information call 488-1902 or email uucj@windstream.net.
SUNY Fredonia Pops Series Opens With Hits From The '60s, '70s and '80s: The Hit Men, a six-piece group that is touring the world will open the DFT Communications Pops Series at SUNY Fredonia on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in King Concert Hall at Rockefeller Arts Center.
The group is comprised of six musicians who have been described as "amazing performers, superior vocalists, great arrangers and creative composers." The group includes original performing members of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons and Tommy James and the Shondells and two founding members of The Critters.
Tickets are available through the SUNY Fredonia Ticket Office in the Williams Center at 673-3501 or fredonia.edu/tickets.
SUNY Fredonia Mainstage Series Offers 'Razzle-dazzle' Take Of Chicago: The SUNY Fredonia Department of Theatre and Dance invites audiences to step into the world of showgirls, vaudeville and celebrity crime when it opens the 2012-13 Walter Gloor Mainstage Series with the razzle-dazzle musical "Chicago."
Six performances are planned from Friday to Oct. 27 in Marvel Theatre at Rockefeller Arts Center on the SUNY Fredonia campus. Dates and show times are Oct. 19, 20, 25, 26 and 27 at 7:30 p.m. with a matinee at 2 p.m. on Oct. 21.
Set in the Windy City during the Prohibition-era, the story follows two would-be starlets accused of murder who become cell-block rivals as they try to turn their celebrity status into a ticket to stardom. The music and lyrics are by John Kander and Fred Ebb with a book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse.
SUNY Fredonia Alumni Joseph Mulhollen Returns For Performance: Joseph Mulhollen is on tour now in support of his new album, "Problematical Animals," which sounds like Belle and Sebastian or Sufjan Stevens according to AOL/Spinner. Mulhollen is a native of Hornell, where he first began to play music. He wrote, played and programmed nearly every instrument on the album, including synthesizers, drum machines, guitars, melodica and vocals.
Mulhollen will appear at SUNY Fredonia today at 8 p.m. For more information visit josephmulhollen.com or Facebook.com/JosephMulhollenMusic.
HAPPENINGS
To include an upcoming show or event in this column, email drader@post-journal.com or call 487-1111 ext. 253 by Monday.
Tonight
Blue Grass Jam: 7 to 10 p.m., Celoron Legion, 26 Jackson Ave. in Celoron. Area bluegrass musicians are welcome to sit in and play.
Friday
Jam Session Featuring Rat Ivy: 7 to 9 p.m., current and former Infinity students Oliver Burdo, Jordan Seager, and Caelan Register, Dan Davis and Alex Devereaux join Claud Schuckers to form the Jamestown local band, Rat Ivy. Other musicians may sign up the night of the performance to play in an open mic style opening set before Rat Ivy takes the stage.
Movies At The Reg: 8 p.m., "Hope Springs," 116 E. Third St. in Jamestown.
Amber Lee And Sean Lander From Hallow Society: 6 to 8 p.m., Bellini Lounge, Chautauqua Suites in Mayville.
Bill Ward And Amanda Barton: 8 to 11 p.m., Bellini Lounge, Chautauqua Suites in Mayville.
"Old Sneakers" With Warren Sischo Duo: 8 to 11 p.m., Miley's Old Inn, 845 E. Second St. in Jamestown.
Saturday
Movies At The Reg: 8 p.m., "Hope Springs," 116 E. Third St. in Jamestown.
Sammy Slicker Band: 8 p.m. to midnight, Celoron Legion, 26 Jackson Ave. in Celoron.
Kev Rowe: 9 p.m. to midnight, Steener's Pub, 322 Route 430 in Greenhurst.