Friends of the Three Bears

10/08/2026

10/08/2026

Phoebe is returning to the Three Bears to teach a fall harvest wreath workshop. Class is free to attend and all materials are provided, but space is limited. Please email [email protected] for a link to the registration form. If the class fills up, there will be a waitlist.

10/02/2026

"𝘞𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘯𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘴, 𝘵𝘢𝘹 𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘴, 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦, 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳, 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘢 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯: 𝑫𝒐𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒃𝒐𝒅𝒚 𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒂 𝒇𝒖𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆?"*

That question becomes especially real when we look at the empty spaces left behind after the fire. We can see what was lost. But an empty space does not have to be the end of the story. It can also become the place where our next chapter begins, if enough people still believe that our story is worth continuing. The people represented by these banners stepped up to say "𝗪𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗢𝘃𝗶𝗱" and we’ll be honoring them tomorrow at our inaugural Founder’s Day event.

If 𝘺𝘰𝘶 believe that Ovid has a future and want to be part of the movement to make that happen, we’ll see you tomorrow.

🗓 October 3
⏰1:00 - 3:00 pm
📍Three Bears Park

*an excerpt from:
The Seeleys of Ovid
The Things That Endure
by OLDC Board Member Larry E. Nikula

09/25/2026

We’re taking a trip down memory lane for Founder’s Day on October 3rd, and we need YOUR help! We believe that our past can inspire us to make Ovid the vibrant town it once was, and we’re putting together a display of historic businesses to remind us of what’s possible if we dream big!

Got old photos of Ovid’s local hot spots from days gone by? We’d love to include them!

How to share:
🔹Scan or snap a quick photo of your picture with your phone
🔹Email it to [email protected]

Most importantly - be sure to show up for the event!

FOUNDER'S DAY
🗓 October 3
⏰ 1:00 - 3:00 pm
📍 Three Bears Park

09/24/2026

“When a small town loses part of Main Street, it loses more than buildings; it loses part of its memory. A village remembers the store, the family who owned it, who lived upstairs, what was in the windows at Christmas and walking through the door as children. Over generations, buildings become part of the architecture of belonging, the familiar places through which a community recognizes itself. When they disappear, the empty space is measured not simply in feet and acres, but in memories.” *

We believe that more great memories lie in our future. The OLDC is committed not only to Ovid’s physical restoration, but also to rekindling the civic pride and community spirit vital to our future. You can help us build our vision: join us as we partner with the Friends of the Three Bears and the Ovid Historical Society & Museum to honor our roots and look toward tomorrow at our very first Founder’s Day celebration.

Bring your family, invite your neighbors, and celebrate where we've been and where we’re going. Together, we can help Ovid live up to its full potential as the heart of the Finger Lakes.

🗓October 3
⏰1:00 - 3:00 pm
📍Three Bears Park

*an excerpt from:
The Seeleys of Ovid
The Things That Endure
by OLDC Board Member Larry E. Nikula

YOUR VOICE. YOUR VISION. YOUR OVID.
Build The Community You Want To Live In.

09/05/2026

Our 2026 Summer Concert Series ended on the 3rd with Jason Stotz. Thank you to all of the wonderful artists who performed in this series, and thank you to everyone who attended these shows. For future programming, please keep an eye on our social medias and website. You can also email [email protected] with any questions.

08/29/2026

08/28/2026

Please join us next Thursday September 3rd for a concert by steel pan artist Jason Stotz from 6:00 to 7:30pm in the Three Bears park. In the event of rain, the concert will be moved to the courtroom. Please bring blankets or chairs, and feel free to bring food and drink. We hope to see you there! Email [email protected] for any questions.

08/15/2026

Our beloved Three Bears complex has been the iconic symbol of Ovid for nearly 200 years. In 2002, these buildings were nearly in ruins with crumbling foundations, collapsing porches, and peeling paint. Seeing a deep need to preserve this slice of our history, Friends of the Three Bears was formed in 2002 as a nonprofit corporation, and has since raised over $1 million, donating countless hours of time and effort to help with the restoration.

They continue to maintain and promote Ovid’s cornerstone feature, which now serves as a community center for arts, culture, concerts, activities, and tourism. Thank you, Friends of the Three Bears for supporting our rebuilding efforts with your banner sponsorship, but more importantly, for your visionary commitment to preserving the past and creating the future.

You, too, can join the momentum and help us raise the necessary funds to rebuild Main Street. Whether through a banner sponsorship or a general donation, you can find out more on our website. Link in bio.

08/14/2026

Please join us next Thursday August 20th for a concert by local band the Notorious Stringbusters from 6:00 to 7:30pm in the Three Bears park. In the event of rain, the concert will be moved to the courtroom. Please bring blankets or chairs, and feel free to bring food and drink. We hope to see you there! Email [email protected] for any questions.