The dog days of summer are dwindling. There’s even a morning chill in the air. Back-to-school shopping lists have begun and the countdown to mums is upon us.

But oh wait…! What’s that you say?! It was as if I had awoken from a dream. A midsummer’s daydream. Pinch yourself. Could it be true?! Just when we thought summer fun might be behind us… BERT KREISCHER is coming to town!?!

As part of summer’s signature, national-tier Lucille Ball Comedy Festival, the National Comedy Center is bringing comedy heavyweight Bert Kreischer to Jamestown on Saturday, Aug. 8, for an evening of laughter at Northwest Arena. Yes, it’s true! Kreischer, of course, is known to many as the guy who performs shirtless, the wild storyteller with the party reputation and the comedian who somehow makes chaos feel like an invitation.

But there is more to him than the legend.

Kreischer’s comedy relies heavily on storytelling, and while he is famous for outrageous adventures, some of his funniest material comes from everyday life as a husband and father of two daughters. He has a remarkable ability to turn the noise, mishaps and tender absurdities of family life into stories that feel familiar, even when the details are completely over the top.

Fans know him from his hit podcasts Bertcast and 2 Bears, 1 Cave with Tom Segura, along with his cooking and interview series Something’s Burning. He is also the creator and star of the Netflix comedy series Free Bert, inspired by his own life as a husband and father trying, not always gracefully, to navigate family life and suburban parenthood.

Kreischer has starred in several Netflix stand-up specials, including Lucky, Razzle Dazzle, Hey Big Boy and Secret Time. He also starred in and co-wrote The Machine, the feature film based on his legendary viral story from his time in Russia.

His rise began after Rolling Stone named him the “Number One Partier in the Nation,” and Forbes later recognized him as one of the best storytellers of his generation. Today, he is one of the world’s highest-grossing touring comedians, regularly selling out arenas and theaters across North America and beyond. He is also the founder of the Fully Loaded Comedy Festival and Berty Boy Productions.

In my opinion, his comedy makes you feel like you have spent the evening with the funniest person you know. That is what great comedy does. It brings people together through shared experiences, through laughter, through the relief of recognizing a little bit of ourselves in someone else’s outrageous story.

Whether you are already a fan or seeing him for the first time, don’t be surprised if you leave saying, “That was one of the funniest shows I’ve ever seen.”

And Bert Kreischer is not the only reason to keep your summer calendar rolling strong. August in Chautauqua County is chock-full of festivals, gatherings, music, food, baseball, boats, books, rodeo nights and small-town celebrations. If July was the warmup, August is the main event. There is the Chautauqua Region Vintage Book and Paper Show on Aug. 1, Bemus Point Summer Fest on Aug. 1 and 2, Sherman Day and the Ellington Town Picnic running July 31 through Aug. 2 and the Gerry Rodeo from Aug. 5 through 8. The Lucille Ball Comedy Festival runs Aug. 6 through 9, bringing not only Kreischer, but also Jerry Seinfeld, Seth Meyers and a full lineup of comedy events to Jamestown.

On Aug. 8, the Chautauqua Lake Dragon Boat Festival brings color and energy to the water in Celoron. The Babe Ruth World Series returns to Jamestown from Aug. 13 through 23, while Jamestown Cruisin’ rolls in on Aug. 14 and WRFA’s Great American Picnic takes the stage at Southerntier Brewery on Aug. 16. Later in the month, the calendar promises even more fun with Chautauqua Institution’s Food Festival, the Bluegrass Festival and the Celtic Festival in Mayville, the Fredonia Farm Festival and the Whirlybird Music & Arts Festival in downtown Jamestown.

That is the beauty of this place in August that we love to call home. Just when you think summer is slipping away, Chautauqua County gives you another reason to stay out late, hear live music, eat something wonderful, laugh until your face hurts, wave to someone you know, and take one more sunset pic before the season changes.

So get out there. Buy the tickets. Pack the lawn chairs. Take the kids. Call your friends. Say yes to the festival, the rodeo, the ballgame, the concert, the comedy show, the small-town picnic and the afternoon you almost talked yourself out of.

Especially, I promise you, Bert Kreischer.

Make the memories. And make it the August of your dreams.

Every year, thousands of people flock to Chautauqua County to take in the various lakes, the amenities, and attractions for days filled with equal parts leisure and excitement. In 2024, the New York State Tourism Industry Association reported that visitor spending at local businesses totaled more than $312 million. However, summer fun is not limited to just those visiting the area. Local residents who live here year-round also rave about the incredible experiences available right in their own backyard. From fantastic ice cream shops to beautiful lakeside views and epic hiking trails, a few local residents sat down with the Chautauqua Gazette to impart their favorite summertime haunts and happenings.

Local resident JASON SAMPLE has lived in Chautauqua County for most of his life, with brief intermissions at West Virginia University and Morgantown in the late 90s to early 2000s. Sample, Communications and Marketing Coordinator for the CCIDA, said he has lived in various areas in the county, including Jamestown, Falconer and Panama. Some of his favorite activities during the warmer months include running, long walks, hiking and mountain biking on local trails.

“There’s a lot of them to choose from,” Jason said.

However, Jason tempers his enjoyment of hearty athletic pursuits with visits to the Jamestown Farmers Market every Saturday and never leaves the annual Great American Picnic Fundraiser for WRFA off his calendar. Held at the Southern Tier Brewery, Sample said it is something to look forward to. (Incidentally, the Picnic this year is on Sunday, August 16, 2026, 12 – 5 p.m.)

“It features local bands and is for a great cause,” he said. “Shout out to the annual Great Blue Heron in Sherman and Jamestown Whirley Bird music festivals too!”

When it comes to the frosty treats that everyone craves on a hot summer day, Jason said he doesn’t have a favorite ice cream shop to stop at; rather, he enjoys them all.

While the more temperate climate of the summer months is a nice change of pace, Jason said he truly values the changing seasons and variety of weather as they make the county “a great place to live.”

“No matter what season you’re in, you can find an outdoor activity to help keep you busy and it’s always very pretty in the fall and winter months, especially after a new snowfall,” he said. “Summertime is always great because our county is buzzing with all kinds of events and things to do. So there’s no shortage of activities to keep you busy!”

For those looking for a little guidance regarding all the happenings in the area, Jason said there are incredible resources available to help plan your next “staycation,” or outing.

“There’s always so much to do in a short period of time, so it can be overwhelming to try and figure out when and what to do,” he said. “But the County Visitors Bureau’s website and vacation guide has always been a great resource for staying on top of what’s happening… along with the Chautauqua Gazette, of course!”

MONICA SIMPSON, Partner Engagement Coordinator for the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth, has been a Chautauqua County resident for 11 years.

“I moved here with my now-husband, who is originally from Brocton, and we have made this area our home,” Monica said. “I have lived in big cities but I am happy to call CHQ home.”

For Monica and her family, the biggest draw of the Chautauqua County area in the summertime is anything to do with the water. From beach combing to paddle boarding and boating, she said they enjoy “having fun together outdoors.”

“We live like locals but enjoy our community like a tourist – making the most of every adventure and opportunity,” Monica said. “Wright Park Beach is one of our favorite places because it has something for everyone. In addition to the beautiful beach, it offers an outdoor shower, volleyball courts, the Beach Grill, a skate park, a state-of-the-art playground and a splash pad—all in one location.”

Monica and her family specifically enjoy the live music, local food and summer atmosphere of Music on the Pier in Dunkirk as well as Hideaway Bay and Sunset Bay Beach.

“We love the beach, the welcoming atmosphere, and the variety of kid-friendly places nearby,” she said. “Chautauqua County is a safe, welcoming, and accessible place to live. As a parent of two young children, I especially value the strong sense of community. It is the kind of place where people know one another, look out for each other and feel connected.”

Monica said her favorite place to grab an ice cream cone is the Sullivan Charbroil in Sheridan.

“They offer nine flavors of soft serve, and it is also very affordable, which makes it a great family stop,” she said. “Their food is amazing too!”

Whether you’re looking for live music, a beach experience or a delightful soft serve, Simpson said Chautauqua County has it all, not only in the summer time, but all year-round.

“There is always something happening throughout Chautauqua County, so I encourage everyone to get out and make the most of the summer,” Monica said. “Follow Live CHQ and the Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau to learn about events, activities and opportunities happening in communities across the county.”

ERICA ROSE, owner of Rose and Grace Social Co. as well as Rose and Grace Studio in Jamestown, has been a Chautauqua County resident for 11 years. She came to the area by way of Binghamton, New York City, Rochester and Buffalo.

“I think that’s why I feel so strongly about the area, because I see it through fresh eyes,” Erica said. “I went to college in Manhattan and had a friend who lived in Chautauqua, so I would come here during the summer and visit.”

She experienced big city life in various areas of New York, but ultimately chose to “put down roots” in Chautauqua County for many reasons, chief among them being her great interest in the outdoors and her family.

“I was still working in Buffalo, but I knew Chautauqua was the place that I wanted to raise a family,” Erica said. “And the things that I absolutely loved about it and attracted me here was that I’m such an outdoor enthusiast, and everything is at my fingertips here, compared to the cities I had lived in prior.”

While some might not think a more rural area would provide as many opportunities as larger, more urban areas, Erica said she was pleasantly surprised that she was very much able to transition from corporate work to owning her own business here.

“The one thing that truly stood out to me here was that I could make a greater impact faster compared to bigger cities where you kind of get lost in the mix,” she said. “Here it was easier to make connections and you didn’t have to be so loud to be noticed.”

Rose said she particularly loves summer in Chautauqua County and works to squeeze in as many activities and events as she can.

“I love summers here,” she said. “I always get summer fever in Chautauqua County, as I call it, so I actually scale back on my business during the summer months so I can enjoy everything that’s at our fingertips. Being an outdoor enthusiast, I strive to hit the water as much as I can.”

Rose said she and her family enjoy cruising the lake on their boat or jet skis and spending time at their permanent campsite at Camp Chautauqua.

“It’s right here, and we can hop over even in the evening and get on the boat and go to Bemus for dinner,” she said. “It feels different than getting in a car and driving over … it is a different experience, and one that I never experienced as a kid that we’re able to provide for our family.”

When they’re not on the lake, Erica said she and her family enjoy the family parks in Lakewood or taking in live music at one of the many venues across the area.

“There is so much live music, multiple days a week,” she said. “You don’t even have to look for it. You can stumble upon live music in all the parks, to the bars, to restaurants and breweries. It’s everywhere.”

When she’s not grooving to local tunes, Erica said she and her family like to stop in to The Pine Cone Creamery in downtown Jamestown for ice cream. Her partner and his daughter cannot have dairy, and Erica said they thoroughly enjoy the dairy-free ice cream there.

“The flavors are incredible,” she said. “The fact that they offer non-dairy and it doesn’t taste like cardboard is a game changer for us.”

Erica said since she and her family are “ice cream freaks,” they are recording an ice cream reaction video series this summer. Those interested in following their ice-cream themed shenanigans, find her on Instagram, Facebook or TikTok under @xo.ericarose.

For those looking for things to do in the area, resident and visitor alike, Erica advised to “dive in,” meet other people and use the incredible resources available to stay informed. Live CHQ offers a program called “Workforce Ambassadors,” in which Erica is involved, pairing those curious about the area with a local resident to show them the sights and sounds of Chautauqua County. She said the ambassadors are paired with people by lifestyle or interests.

“We take them out and introduce them to the community,” she said. “The people who are ambassadors totally love Chautauqua and they know the ins and outs of Chautauqua.”

For more on local happenings and events, Erica suggested following MYCHQ.com or visiting https://www.tourchautauqua.com/. For more on the Workforce Ambassadors program, visit https://www.choosechq.com/live-chq/workforceambassadors/.