Yates County Chamber of Commerce

10/01/2026

Calling anyone who as an avid or hobby hiker in Yates County (or nearby) 🥾

As we build our new website for our Yates County tourism brand, Finger Lakes Countrysides, we are continuing to capture photography that captures the essence of Yates County. We'll have various shoots from now through December, with our first shoot this Saturday, October. 3rd.

Fall hiking is one of the shoots we'll be doing, but we need our community's help to bring this to life and show a local's perspective.

Some of the location's we plan to shoot at:
🌱 Botsford Nature Preserve
🌅 High Tor Wildlife Management Area
🌲 Italy Hill State Forest

If this is something you're interested in or know anyone who love to do this and would be a good fit, please reach out by private message or email [email protected]

09/29/2026

The community is invited to take the Yates County Housing Survey, administered by Yates County Public Health's Housing Subcommittee.

❓ Who should take the survey
Whether you rent, own, are searching for a place, or are happy where you are, you're encouraged to take this survey.

❓ What is the purpose of the survey
The survey seeks community input on residents’ experiences, thoughts, and concerns related to housing in Yates County & helping identify what housing affordability and stability mean to you or your family.

Hearing from a broad range of residents will help create a better understanding of the housing experiences and concerns of the community, this includes challenges and wins.

❓ How long does the survey take
The survey takes about 5 minutes.

❓ How long is the survey live for
The survey closes October 13th, 2026.

👉 Take the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YCHousingNeeds
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🏠 Housing affordability and stability have been identified as a priority in Yates County Public Health’s Community Health Improvement Plan. This priority was identified through community input gathered during interviews, focus groups, and community forums conducted in 2025.

Learn more about the Community Health Assessment and Community Health Improvement Plan: https://www.yatescountyny.gov/491/Community-Health-Assessment-and-Improvem

09/25/2026

Have you been to Moore Sweets yet? 🍦🍩🧋

We were honored to be able to celebrate them during a ribbon cutting and open house at the end of August!

Moore Sweets is owned by Alysen and Shelly Moore, who bring a passion for homemade treats and warm hospitality. The bakery offers ice cream, homemade desserts, a full lineup of coffee and specialty drinks, fresh donuts made daily, breakfast dishes, and more.
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📍 17 Seneca Street, Dundee
Full press release: https://business.yatesny.com/news/details/yates-county-chamber-celebrates-ribbon-cutting-and-open-house-at-moore-sweets-in-dundee

09/23/2026

Friday, Sep 25th is the last day to sign up for this year's Scarecrow contest!

More details ⬇

School is back in session, grapes, apples & pumpkins are abundant, & our annual scarecrow contest is right around the corner! 🎃

New dates this year ⚠
In order to align with Fall Festival in Downtown Penn Yan that will be taking place the first Saturday in October this year, the dates will be the following:

ENTRY DUE DATE: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25TH
Scarecrows must be on display by Friday, October 2.
All scarecrows must be removed by Tuesday, November 3

Contest Voting will be on the Yates County Chamber of Commerce page beginning Tuesday, October 13th and ending on Thursday, October 29th. Winners are announced on Friday, October 30th!

👉SIGN UP NOW: https://bit.ly/yates-scarecrows-26
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About the Scarecrow Contest:
🍁Open to all ages, individuals, families, organizations, groups, and businesses in Yates County.
🍁There is NO cost to entering the contest.
🍁Cash prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners (most votes on Facebook).
🍁Participants may request a specific lamppost throughout the Villages of Penn Yan or Dundee, though the Chamber cannot guarantee the lamppost you have requested will be available. Scarecrows will be displayed along Main Street & Elm Street in Penn Yan, Water and Main Streets in Dundee, or at your business/home. All scarecrows in Yates County are welcome!
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⭐️THANK YOU SPONSORS ⭐️
ONYA Ontario/Yates Fund for Women and Girls
Seneca Lake Duck Hunters Club
Camp Good Days and Special Times Inc.

[ We are still accepting sponsors. If your business or organization is interested in supporting a local fall favorite community event, please contact us. ]

Questions? Give us a call at 315-536-3111 or email Jody Tyler at [email protected]

09/23/2026

The Yates County History Center has two unique events coming up in October that should be on your radar! 👀

🚌 Saturday - October 3rd - On the Trail of the Friend: A Bus Tour of Public Universal Friend sites.
Details: Step aboard for a journey into one of America’s most fascinating stories. The Public Universal Friend (the Revolutionary-era preacher who founded a settlement right here in Yates County) comes to life on this guided bus tour hosted by the Yates County History Center. The tour departs from the History Center at 107 Chapel Street in Penn Yan at 1:00PM and lasts about an hour and a half; tickets are $50 and include lunch beforehand starting at 11:30am.

🕯️Saturday - October 10th - Murder & Mayhem
Details: Visit the Oliver House for true and terrifying tales from Yates County's past. Tours are every 30 minutes between 6:00-8:00pm. $10/members, $15/non-members. Recommended for ages 12 and up.

Both events require pre-registration. Get your tickets by calling the center at (315) 536.7318 or visit 107 Chapel Street in Penn Yan.

09/22/2026

Finger Lakes Textiles & Arctic Gear® (a division of Mozaic) are in the final round of the 2026 Coolest Thing Made in New York competition, goated by Business Council of New York State.

Voting closes soon on Thursday, September 24.
✅ You can vote once per day, per device.

Arctic Gear is a brand developed by Mozaic and is comprised of an inclusive workforce that includes people with disabilities, veterans, and dedicated employees working side by side in our Waterloo facility. The majority of Arctic Gear products are manufactured at Finger Lakes Textiles.

🔗 Vote here: https://madeinny.org/2026-coolest-thing-made-ny-voting-page

09/16/2026

The Yates County Tourism Grant Program is now accepting applications for the first round in 2027! Businesses, organizations, or municipalities with projects that promote tourism and draw visitors to Yates County are encouraged to apply for up to $10,000 in funding.

⏱ Application deadline: Friday, September 25th

More details / application: https://www.yatescountyny.gov/265

Questions? Email the Tourism Advisory Committee (TAC)
💬 [email protected]

09/11/2026

🎉 50 Years at Rainbow Junction Educational Childcare Center!

Mary Jo Covert has been the lead teacher in the Yellow Room at Rainbow Junction since 1976! Five decades of laughter, learning, and countless hugs, Mary Jo has been a steady, loving presence for generations of Yates County families.

"Fifty years of service is an incredible achievement... we are incredibly grateful for everything she has contributed to our organization and our community." — Dan Wickham, Board President

Drop a 💛 below if Mary Jo cared for you or your kids over the years — we'd love to see how many lives she's touched!

09/09/2026

School is back in session, grapes, apples & pumpkins are abundant, & our annual scarecrow contest is right around the corner! 🎃

New dates this year ⚠
In order to align with Fall Festival in Downtown Penn Yan that will be taking place the first Saturday in October this year, the dates will be the following:

ENTRY DUE DATE: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25TH
Scarecrows must be on display by Friday, October 2.
All scarecrows must be removed by Tuesday, November 3

Contest Voting will be on the Yates County Chamber of Commerce page beginning Tuesday, October 13th and ending on Thursday, October 29th. Winners are announced on Friday, October 30th!

👉SIGN UP NOW: https://bit.ly/yates-scarecrows-26
________________________________________

About the Scarecrow Contest:
🍁Open to all ages, individuals, families, organizations, groups, and businesses in Yates County.
🍁There is NO cost to entering the contest.
🍁Cash prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners (most votes on Facebook).
🍁Participants may request a specific lamppost throughout the Villages of Penn Yan or Dundee, though the Chamber cannot guarantee the lamppost you have requested will be available. Scarecrows will be displayed along Main Street & Elm Street in Penn Yan, Water and Main Streets in Dundee, or at your business/home. All scarecrows in Yates County are welcome!
________________________________________

⭐️THANK YOU SPONSORS ⭐️
ONYA Ontario/Yates Fund for Women and Girls
Seneca Lake Duck Hunters Club
Camp Good Days and Special Times Inc.

[ We are still accepting sponsors. If your business or organization is interested in supporting a local fall favorite community event, please contact us. ]

Questions? Give us a call at 315-536-3111 or email Jody Tyler at [email protected]

09/04/2026

A little update for the Community Table Dinner: A handful of tickets opened up - if you've been considering attending, now is the time! The event is next Saturday, September 12th in Penn Yan.

We just got a first look at the Chef's menu they have been working on, and we are so blown away (as usual) 🤯

We're talking oysters, smoked meats, tons of homemade breads & spreads, a whole lot of local produce woven into some creative dishes & so much more made by 10 local chefs & hospitality gurus...where else can you eat dinner made by this many kitchen wizards?

Get your tickets: https://www.yatesny.com/community-table-dinner/

This year's proceeds benefit The Dundee Library.