Proceeds from it helped pay for Elba's fire equipment and supplies. Now what?

"We are going to look at other money-making options," said Elba Fire Department President Ken Miller this morning. "But without rides, without a car raffle, can you call it the Onion Festival? We haven't decided 100 percent what we're going to do, what we can do. But the festival is done."

What, if anything, will take place there in mid-August has yet to be decided. Miller said the board of directors for the all-volunteer fire company will meet and discuss the situation in a couple of weeks.

More and more, ride operators are skipping the small-town events that last a couple days, like the one in Elba, and sticking with bigger venues where they can turn a profit after they pay for insurance, wages and others costs of doing business. The result for places like Elba is fewer attendees -- not enough to buy tickets, only sold locally, to raffle off a new car.

Other little fire companies are facing similar circumstances.

Assemblyman Steve Hawley has introduced legislation to allow charitable organizations holding raffles to accept checks and credit cards and to allow them to advertise raffle tickets online, thereby boosting sales and reaching more people. Hawley is also going to introduce a constitutional amendment to allow nonprofit organizations more fundraising flexibility.

Whatever other money-making options might be employed for the all-volunteer fire company will be discussed at its next meeting in two weeks. But the Onion Festival will still take place in mid-August, just as it has for the past 79 years. 

The decision not to have rides is actually the result of not being able to secure a company to provide them, said Elba Fire Department President Ken Miller.

"It comes down to money," he said. "The ride companies don't want to go to small-town events. Ours is just Friday and Saturday. After they get insurance and pay wages, there's not enough money in it for them."

Miller said the trend is hurting fundraising efforts for small, volunteer fire companies -- two or three in Monroe County have cancelled fundraisers featuring rides this year.

For at least the last 50 years, Elba has raffled off a car at the Onion Festival. They only sell tickets in Genesee County.

Elba not having a Mustang raffle in 2016 is the result of a trickle-down effect: No rides, fewer people, not enough money to buy the car.

It has nothing to do with Stafford Volunteer Fire Company, which had this year's Corvette raffle suspended by the State Gaming Commission because it had online raffle tickets ads posted last year in violation of the rules. (Refunds are being issued to Stafford raffle ticket buyers.)

Proceeds from the Onion Festival help pay for Elba's fire equipment and supplies.

"It hurts," Miller said. "It's a huge community deal. People come from all over. It's like a big family picnic. But things change."

Meanwhile, Assemblyman Steve Hawley is co-sponsoring two bills which would allow charitable organizations holding raffles to accept checks and credit cards and to allow them to advertise raffle tickets online, thereby boosting sales and reaching more people. Hawley said he will also be introducing a constitutional amendment to allow nonprofit organizations more latitude in their fundraising efforts.

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There will be roast beef on weck available from the Ladies Auxiliary inside the Rec Hall at  6 p.m. and Buffalo Amusements will be providing rides from 7 to 11.

At 9 o'clock the band Blood Money performs inside the Beer Tent.

Take advantage of the chance to win a 2015 Ford Mustang or $20,000 cash, courtesy of Orleans Ford.

On Saturday, the fun continues will the Kiddie Parade, starting at noon in front of Dan's Pizza. Afterward, there will be a Kids' Tractor Pull at the Memorial Statue, and more beef on weck available from the Ladies' Auxiliary.

Also Saturday:

• 1 to 5 p.m. -- Ride Specials
• 4 p.m. -- Chicken BBQ inside the Rec Hall
• 6 to 10 p.m. -- Ride Specials
• 6 p.m. -- Mac & Company perform in the Beer Tent
• 7 p.m. -- ***CROWNING OF THE ONION QUEEN*** -- by the Memorial Statue in front
• 9 p.m. -- Savage Cabbage performs in the Beer Tent
• 11 p.m. -- Grand Prize winner announced -- choice of 2015 Ford Mustang or $20,000 cash

The 78th Elba Onion Queen, Alexandra Lacey, was crowned Saturday at the Elba Onion Festival grounds, among family, friends and community members. The Elba High School Senior’s college plans include a study in Social Work with a minor in Special Education. Lacey has narrowed down her college of choice to three: Houghton, Fredonia or Niagara University.

First runner-up went to Haley Brown. This high school senior will be going to college for a business major and is looking into St. John Fischer.

Second runner-up went to Jennifer Pedro, also a Senior at Elba. Her college plans include counseling or social work.

The 78th Elba Onion Festival kicked off Friday with the opening of the carnival and evening parade. The festival is one of the largest fundraisers for the Elba Fire Department.

Just up the road a bit from the festival is the Elba Muckland; there, red, white and yellow onions grow, which gives the festival its name. 

One bit of trivia: Onions are one of the largest vegetable crops in the United States.

The festival continues throughout the day today.

Friday's hours are 5 p.m. 'til 2 a.m. and the main parade starts at 7 p.m. The parade route will be starting on West Avenue going south down Route 98 and ending at the Elba Rec Hall.

Saturday's festivities start at noon with the Kiddie Parade, and also end at 2 a.m. The Kiddie Parade begins at the corner of Ford Road and Route 98 and goes to the rec hall. All kids are welcome to attend. They can walk, ride a bike, drive a battery-operated four-wheeler or Jeep or whatever it may be, or be pulled in a wagon by mom or dad.

The crowning of the Onion Queen will be at 7 p.m. Saturday.

The drawing of the 2014 Ford Mustang (Courtesy of Orleans Ford), or $20,000 cash, will be at 11 p.m. on Saturday.

There will be ride specials both Friday night (7-11) and Saturday (1-5).

Savage Cabbage will be playing in the beer tent from 9 p.m. 'til 1 a.m. on Friday night.

Then Mac and Company will be playing in the beer tent from on Saturday starting at 6 p.m. and later, from 9 p.m. 'til 1 a.m., the Mercury Blues Band performs.

John Bisig took this nighttime photo of the Elba Onion Festival around 8:30 while flying over in his powered parachute on Saturday.

Kayla Casper, center, is the new Elba Onion Queen. She's joined by her court, Joyce Tristan and Katie Horton.

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The 77th Elba Onion Festival kicked off Friday evening with the big opening event being the annual parade.

Here's tomorrow's list of events for the festival:

• 12Noon - Kiddie Parade (starting at Dan's Pizza)
• 12Noon - Kiddie Tractor Pull (by Memorial Statue in front)
• 12Noon - Ladies Aux. Roast Beef on Weck (inside of Rec. Hall)
• 1:00pm - Ride Special Main Events
• 5:00pm - Chicken Barbeque (inside the Rec. Hall)
• 6:00pm - Mac & Company (in the beer tent)
• 7:00pm - Crowning of the Onion Queen (by Memorial Statue in front)
• 9:00pm - Black Widow (in the beer tent)
• Midnight - Award winners of grand prize!
  Choice of 2013 Ford Mustang or $20,000 Cash!

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