By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
LITTLE VALLEY — Crowds of people looking to get an early start on their holiday shopping turned out in droves for the 14th annual WILMA Woolly Bear Weekend at the Cattaraugus County Fairgrounds on Saturday.
WILMA stands for We Invite Local Manufacturers & Artisans. All the products are made in the Enchanted Mountains.
There were 47 local Cattaraugus County vendors selling locally made products in both the Corporate Building and the adjacent Domestic Building.
Doors are open Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
It is sponsored each year by the Cattaraugus County Department of Economic Development, Planning and Tourism.
Crystal Abers, director of the department, said Saturday the WILMA Woolly Bear Weekend was created to help promote “made local, shop local and buy local.”
County residents are “very supportive” of local manufacturers, artisans and crafters, Abers said. Evidence of that is the full parking lot and line of people waiting to get in.
“What we’re doing is helping the little guy, smaller operations that don’t always get noticed,” Abers said.
The family-oriented WILMA event is also a great Christmas shopping opportunity, she added.
The first 75 people through the doors on Saturday received $5 in WILMA bucks to be used at the event. On Sunday, the first 25 people in line will get $5 in WILMA bucks.
There’s a 40-basket raffle drawing at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
There is no admission fee, but everyone gets a coupon for a free donut from the South Dayton Super Duper — one of the sponsors.
Other sponsors are the Cattaraugus County Agricultural Society, Cattaraugus County Industrial Development Agency, Pumpkinville and Cutco.
Another feature of the WILMA Weekend is to forecast what type of a winter we’ll have — mild or harsh.
Longtime prognosticator Cattaraugus County Legislator Norm Marsh of Little Valley forecast a slow start to the winter, picking up in December. January and February don’t look that bad, he said, but watch out for March.
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