One Weekend, Two Great Events
 

Aug. 14 - 16

EVENT ONE: Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament

GUS MACKER 3-ON-3 BASKETBALL TOURNEY, America's largest outdoor basketball tournament celebrating its 35th anniversary in 2008, will be held in Olean for the first time on August 15-17, 2008.  The 3-day event will be organized and will benefit both the Olean High School Sports Booster and the Olean City School District Foundation.  The tournament is open to players of all ages and experience levels who are computer-matched by age, height and experience so that all participants can be competitive. The event, first held in Lowell, Michigan in 1974, is a family festival with food and  music along with  the basketball competition held on the streets in downtown Olean.

The Olean Gus Macker will feature the Dream Court, a special event introduced into the 2000 season of Gus Macker Tournaments. The Dream Court captures the appeal of the original McNeal family driveway, where the common hoopster becomes a star on center court.  Macker officials randomly select teams to visit a specially designed red, white, and blue All-American themed court. The experience includes bleachers, synthetic court surface, team benches, and sound stage. The contest is announced by expert play-by-play and color commentators. The goal is to provide the ultimate fun, family environment focusing on the nicknames and personalities of the players and spectators.

The Gus Macker Olean committee are also scheduling a kid zone with inflatables from the Olean Family YMCA, and a bocce court and a putting green also courtesy of Dr. Greenlawn.  Special contests that will take place include the Slam Dunk, a 3 Point, a Hot Shot, the I-86 Trifecta, and the Toilet Bowl.  Concessions will be provided by the Old Library Restaurant of Olean.  Opening ceremonies will take place Saturday, August 15.

EVENT TWO: Community Corn Festival & Wellness Rally

The Olean-Bradford Family YMCA sponsors the COMMUNITY CORN FESTIVAL & WELLNESS RALLY August 17, from 11 AM - 6 PM at Gargoyle Park in Olean. Families are invited to participate in this fun-filled day of alcohol-free activities. Wellness events include 5K Fun Run, 5K Fun Walk, Kids Fun Run, and a Wellness Fair.  Other activities include a Car Show, Children's Games, Family Challenges, Music by "DJ Dan Shembeda", Bounce Houses, Pony Rides, Corn-Eating Contest, Horse Drawn Wagon Rides, and a Petting Zoo.  Great Food includes Fresh Roasted Corn from Bockmier's Farm Market, BBQ Chicken or Ribs, hamburgers, hot dogs, salt potatoes, macaroni salad, corn chowder, strawberry shortcake, nachos, soda and various baked goods.