Our Story – The Chautauqua Lake Pops
The Chautauqua Lake Pops (formerly known as The Bemus Bay Pops) is a series of concerts featuring nationally known musical tribute bands on our floating stage along the shores of beautiful Chautauqua Lake. Each weekend throughout the summer season the concerts offer a variety of music that highlights the eras of disco, rock n' roll, swing, jazz, rock, country, island, Motown and more. During the weekdays we showcase local talent and the ever-popular Lake Night at the Movies. Over Labor Day weekend the Pops features world-class musicians from the Chautauqua region creating the sights and sounds of the talented Chautauqua Lake Pops orchestra who most recently backed up singer, Scott Kio. Scott performs a Michael Buble tribute show around the world.
The Pops is a creation of Dan and Sue Dalpra, former owners/operators of the Italian Fisherman Restaurant in Bemus Point, NY. They wanted to celebrate Labor Day by having the Bemus Bay Pops Orchestra perform a concert on the roof of the Italian Fisherman.
In 1998, the inaugural year, the Dalpra family had great success attracting an estimated 4,000 people who gathered for the concert on the lawns, decks and waters of Bemus Bay. The orchestra under the direction of Bruce Morton Wright performed a beautiful diverse program featuring the music of such composers as Gershwin, Strauss, Sousa and the Beatles.
In 2003, after 5 years on the roof, the summer season was expanded to concert performances on Friday evenings, Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons with the addition of a unique floating stage as the new and exciting concert venue in Bemus Point.
In 2019, the Chautauqua Lake Pops concert series drew record crowds in the Mayville/Lakeside Area. The Pops will proudly continue its rich history in Mayville
attracting concert-goers of all ages providing quality family musical entertainment.
attracting concert-goers of all ages providing quality family musical entertainment.
