Genesee County to celebrate bicentennial

Genesee County will be celebrating its bicentennial with a grand birthday party on March 30.

The county was legally established on March 30, 1802. The Bicentennial Birthday Party will be 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. March 30 at the Holiday Inn, 8250 Park Road, Batavia. Admission is free, as is entertainment throughout the day. Door prizes will be awarded.

Bands scheduled to play include Crossroads, Batavia Brass Society, Bel Canto, Bart & Kevin, Batavia Concert Band, Alexander Firemen's Band, Holland Land Harmonizers, Sunny Mayo, Pavilion Classic Rock, Big Band of Batavia and Blue'n Dusen Band. A special Bicentennial Anthem will be performed. A "Taste of Genesee" is planned, with area restaurants offering their best cuisine for tasting, and Tabone Bakery is baking a birthday cake large enough to serve more than 1,000 people - it will take four tables to hold it.

Antique dealers are bringing their wares, and appraisals will be available. Displays of local history and demonstrations of spinning, weaving and quilting are part of the events planned. World War I and World War II encampers will mingle with the crowds and works by area artists will be on display. A countywide stamp cancellation will be conducted March 30. There are events scheduled for all age levels, organizers said.

The Bicentennial Time Capsule will be on display, and people are invited to write "letters to the future" to be sealed in the capsule, which will be hidden and opened in 50 years when the county celebrates its 250th anniversary.

Events are planned through the year including: lectures, Seneca Awareness Day May 11, a bicentennial play written by Bill Kauffman of Elba, the Fourth of July Community Picnic, a huge parade in connection with the O-At-Ka Festival July 13 in LeRoy; tour of the Batavia Cemetery August 11; fireworks in connection with Oakfield Labor Daze celebration September 2; a tour of century farms in September; Civil War Candlelight Tour and living history September 14; a firemen's exhibit; unveiling of the bicentennial quilt in redwork at the Museum Quilt Guild show August 15; and various exhibits throughout the county.

For information, call the Genesee County History Department at 585-344-2550, ext. 2613 and ask for Ellen Bachorski, the birthday party chairwoman, or Sue Conklin, the county historian.