Tomorrow, March 14, 2021, daylight saving time will begin again and we'll set our clocks forward by an hour in those regions that observe DST. These Fall and Spring clock changes continue a long tradition started by Benjamin Franklin to conserve energy.
Franklin takes the honor (or the blame, depending on your view of the time changes) in the summer months. At the time, Franklin was Ambassador to Paris and so wrote a witty letter to the Journal of Paris in 1784, rejoicing over his "discovery" that the sun provides light as soon as it rises.
Fewer than 40% of the world's countries observe daylight saving time. However, those who do observe DST take advantage of the natural daylight in the summer evenings. Most of the United States and Canada observe DST on the same dates with a few exceptions. Hawaii and Arizona are the two U.S. States that don't observe DST though the Navajo Nation, in northeastern Arizona, does follow DST. Some regions of British Columbia and Saskatchewan don't change their clocks. Most of Europe observes DST called "summer time".
We, at the Chautauqua Lake Pops love DST. It allows concert goers to mingle with friends while Pops volunteers assist ticket holders in locating their seats on the lawn prior to the evening performance at 8:00. Once the concert begins, dusk settles in quickly and the floating stage soon comes alive with its changing lights of color and the magic begins on a summer night at the Pops. Fireworks add to the ambiance on Labor Day Weekend as the colors in the sky reflect upon the water making unique watercolor images. Concert goers having arrived by boat with their vessels' red, green and white navigational lights seem to suddenly appear like scattered diamonds upon the calm water's surface. A Pops summer scene is now complete .. simply .. sit back and enjoy. And if the mood strikes .. get up and dance!
As we all know, summers in Western New York are fleeting so enjoy every magical moment to its fullest at the Chautauqua Lake Pops!
Bringing the arts to the people .. it's what we do!
Spring Forward .. Fall Back
Get me to the Pops, on time!
Pat Locke, Maestro Muse
