Collaborative Children’s Solutions owner Pat Smeraldo is organizing this year’s event in conjunction with the city of Jamestown. The festival has been on hold for the last two years due to the Pandemic.

Smeraldo said the Dan Feather 5K will be in the morning with the Arts & Craft Show starting at 11:00 a.m., “And then at noon is when the entertainment begins and the food vendors begin. So, the park will be open at 11 but at noon is when the entertainment will start and not only music but Randy Grey with Southern Tier Wrestling and Mike Baron‘s magician shows, petting zoo, Scott Mekus will be up there doing kids games and bingo.”

Smeraldo said the Jamestown Area Central Labor Council AFL-CIO will present the George Ritzer Labor Award at 4:30 p.m. on the main stage.

The fireworks show by Zambelli Fireworks Internationale will take place about 8:30 p.m.

While admission to the park is free, parking for the event is $5 with proceeds going toward the festival.

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JAMESTOWN – The Labor Day weekend is upon us and there’s a variety of activities and events in store to keep people busy all weekend long, including the 39^th annual Greater Jamestown Labor Day Festival will be held Sunday, April 2 at Bergman Park.

The day begins with the annual Dan Feather Memorial 5K run, organized by Chautauqua Striders, with registration beginning at 8 a.m.

At noon the festival events begin, providing residents with a day of food, music, and other events for the whole family, including a professional wrestling event beginning at 1 p.m. and provided by Southern Tier Wrestling.

At 4 p.m. the Jamestown Area Central Labor Council AFL-CIO will present former City Councilman and retired DPW employee George Spitale with the George Ritzer Labor Award.

The day will wrap up with a fireworks extravaganza, beginning shortly before 9 p.m.

There is no cost for the event, although there is a $5 fee for those who wish to park their vehicles in the Bergman park parking lot.

All money raised is used to directly fund festival activities and support the host of non-profit community service agencies who participate.

Attendees should also keep in mind that all tobacco products, including chewing tobacco and e-cigarettes, are prohibited at the park under city law.

The use of private fireworks and sparklers are prohibited in the City of Jamestown and, thus, the Labor Day Festival. Pet owners are advised to leave their pets at home for both their safety and the safety of others.

For more details on the Labor Day Festival, visit the city of Jamestown website’s Labor Day Festival page.

The final holiday weekend of the summer has arrived and there’s plenty going on throughout Chautauqua County, including here in Jamestown.

On Sunday, the 37th annual Jamestown Labor Day Celebration will take place at Bergman Park to honor the area’s labor force. The event is free and open to the public with a variety of food, entertainment, and other attractions taking place from noon to 9 p.m.

“This is to celebrate what we feel is the miracle of hard work and the greatest labor force that you’re going to find anywhere in the country, starting with the good folks who work for the city of Jamestown,” Jamestown Mayor Sam Teresi explained during this week’s Community Matters program on WRFA. “The origins go back to 1979 when city officials decided to create a major festival for the community, on Labor Day, to make it a safe, non-travel holiday weekend and give everyone an opportunity to come together and celebrate the meaning of the holiday.”

In addition to live music featuring eight different acts including the Bogarts, Two for Flinching, and We Speak Canadian, there will also be a professional wrestling event – The Bergman Brawl – presented by Southern Tier Wrestling. The bouts will take place on the Babe Ruth Baseball Field from 1 to 3 p.m.

At 4 p.m. the Jamestown Area Central Labor Council AFL-CIO will present Joe Sweeny with the George Ritzer award. Mary Ellen Decker will be accepting the award on Sweeny’s behalf.

And while the event is free, there is a $5 fee for parking. But anyone parking their car at Bergman Park will receive a $5 raffle ticket for a chance to win a $100 Visa Gift card sponsored by Ahlstrom Schaeffer Electric. There will also be two chances to win a season ticket for the Jamestown Jammers.

The day will culminate with a fireworks extravaganza by Zambelli Fireworks International, slated to light up the sky at 8:30 p.m.

For local fitness enthusiasts,  Chautauqua Striders will hold the annual Dan Feather Memorial 5k Run/Walk at 9:30 a.m. with registration starting at 8 a.m.

For more information on all events and attractions at the city’s labor day festival, go online to Jamestownny.net.

The Greater Jamestown Labor Day Festival is a community celebration designed to honor the labor force of the city and surrounding area. All money raised is used to directly fund festival activities and support the host of non-profit community service agencies who participate.

Committee organizers are recommending that festival participants get to the park early enough to reserve a prime location on the lawn in front of the main stage in order to be in the middle of the fireworks extravaganza by Zambelli Fireworks Internationale, which begins when the final band, Two For Flinching, finishes its performance around 8:30 p.m.

“Get to Bergman Park early Sunday, September 6th. Pick your spot on the lawn in front of the main stage. Get some food. Visit the vendors and crafters. Take the kids to play some games. Then enjoy the biggest fireworks display the region has to offer. The only way is to be right in the middle of all the action,” said Mayor Teresi.

People parking their cars at Bergman Park will receive a ticket to enter into a drawing at the Information Booth for a chance to win a $100 Visa Gift card that is being sponsored by Ahlstrom Schaeffer Electric Corporation. Ahlstrom Schaeffer provides electrical services for industrial, commercial, institutional and construction businesses. There will also be two chances to win a season ticket for the Southern Tier Xpress Hockey League games. Parking is $5.00. The prize drawing will take place at on the Main Stage just prior to the fireworks show.

Live music begins at noon and will be featured on two stages. The lineup includes:

Main Stage

• 12:30 – 2:00 p.m. The Bogarts
• 2:30 – 4:00 p.m. Teachers, Preachers & Trent
• 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. We Speak Canadian
• 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. Two For Flinching

Second Stage

• 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Jamestown Harmony Express
• 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. Razz & the JCC Band, featuring Victoria McIlvain on vocals
• 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Davis & Eng
• 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. No Limit

The Food Court opens at noon with all profits from the concessions benefitting not-for-profit organizations in the Greater Jamestown Area. All organizations will be selling Pepsi products. In addition, there will be a wine and beer dining tent sponsored by Game Time Sports Bar & Grill for attendees 21 and older.

Chautauqua Striders will hold the annual Dan Feather Memorial 5k Run/Walk at 9:30 a.m. with registration starting at 8 a.m.

The Arts & Crafts fair begins at 11 a.m. and will feature over 20 vendors from all over Western New York and some vendors from Pennsylvania. All vendors are required to sell hand-made items.

Free Pepsi Bingo games will take place in the main pavilion starting at noon. Free kids carnival games including a bounce house by Eventz by Scott will start at 2 p.m.

The Jamestown Area Central Labor Council AFL-CIO will present a deserving member of the area workforce the George Ritzer Labor Award at 4 p.m. on the main stage.

Sponsors of the Labor Day Festival include the City of Jamestown, Media One Group, Ahlstrom-Schaeffer, Pepsi of Jamestown, IBEW Local 106, and Jamestown Area Central Labor Council AFL-CIO.

For more details on Festival events, visit the City’s website at jamestownny.net or call the Parks Department at 483-7523.

The festival is scheduled to run from noon until 9:00 p.m. at Bergman Park and will feature plenty of food, arts and craft vendors, events for the kids and live music throughout the day. A fireworks display is also slated to take place, beginning at 8:30 Sunday night.

Last year, the festival had to be cut short because of the poor weather conditions and the Fireworks display never took place. This year, city officials are hopeful the weather will be more cooperative, although the current forecast does say there is a likelihood of rain, at least for part of the day. Officials say they will wait until Saturday afternoon and make a decision on whether or not to hold the event, or wait until the rain date of Monday, Sept. 1.

FESTIVAL DETAILS

Admission to the festival is free, although there will be a $5 fee for parking in Bergman Park. Although anyone who pays for parking will receive a ticket to enter into a drawing at the Information Booth for a chance to win a $100 Visa Gift card that is being sponsored by Ahlstrom Schaeffer Electric Corporation. The prize drawing will take place at 8:15 p.m. on the Main Stage.

All money raised is used to directly fund festival activities and support the host of non-profit community service agencies who participate.

Live entertainment at the festival includes music from Two for Flinching, We Speak Canadian, the Bogarts, Cindy Love, the New Tenants, Razzers Jazzers, Teachers and Preachers and Jamestown Harmony Express.

The Arts & Crafts fair begins at 11 a.m. and will feature over 25 vendors from all over Western New York and some vendors from Pennsylvania. All vendors are required to sell hand-made items.

The Food Court opens at noon with all profits from the concessions benefiting not-for-profit organizations in the Greater Jamestown Area.

And, the day will once again begin with Chautauqua Striders holding the annual Dan Feature Memorial 5k Run/Walk at 9:30 a.m. with registration starting at 8 a.m.

The Jamestown Area Central Labor Council AFL-CIO will present a deserving member of the area workforce the George Ritzer Labor Award at 4 p.m. on the main stage.

For more details on Festival events, visit the City’s website at jamestownny.net or call the Parks Department at 483-7523.

The Greater Jamestown Labor Day Festival is a community celebration designed to honor the labor force of the city and surrounding area, widely recognized as the very best in the nation. All money raised is used to directly fund festival activities and support the host of non-profit community service agencies who participate.

As with past years, there will be a fireworks extravaganza by Zambelli Fireworks Internationale at the end of the festival, which begins when the final band, Two For Flinching, finishes its performance around 8:30 p.m.

The Jamestown Area Central Labor Council AFL-CIO will present a deserving member of the area workforce the George Ritzer Labor Award at 4 p.m. on the main stage.

And Chautauqua Striders will once again hold the annual Dan Feature Memorial 5k Run/Walk at 9:30 a.m. with registration starting at 8 a.m.

The Food Court opens at noon with all profits from the concessions benefitting not-for-profit organizations in the Greater Jamestown Area.

Live music will be provided throughout the day at two stages and will feature songs from various acts – including The Jamestown Harmony Express, Razzer’s Jazzers, the Bogarts, Cindy Love, We Speak Canadian, and Teachers, Preachers and Trent – along with the aforementioned Two for Flinching.

People parking their cars at Bergman Park will receive a ticket to enter into a drawing at the Information Booth for a chance to win a $100 Visa Gift card that is being sponsored by Ahlstrom Schaeffer Electric Corporation.

For more details on Festival events, visit the City’s website at jamestownny.net or call the Parks Department at 483-7523. WRFA will also talk with festival organizers during the Aug. 28 episode of Community Matters.