The Gathering at Chaffee’s - A Short Story
A long time ago, in a backyard far, far away……or maybe not so much. In 1980, Doug Chaffee began hosting an annual party for family members, his friends, and friends of friends. What he did not expect, was to begin a music festival that has run consecutively, in his own backyard, for 46 years called The Gathering at Chaffee’s (originally “The Party at Doug’s Place” or “Chaffee Gathering”). We even had a socially distanced, Department of Health approved, festival in July 2020. Over the course of four decades, the festival has transformed and grown ever so slightly compared to some of the mainstream corporates. While there are so many music festivals that are larger and have a more well-known lineup, we like to pride ourselves on being the oldest home grown “sticking to its roots” festival. The hope is to always embrace and illuminate it’s core of being family-run and music and community centered.
What the Chaffee family believes is the best way for the festival to stand out, sometimes is not a prominently known fact. For about 25 years, the proceeds have been donated annually back to the community. These local charities include The Bradley H. Foulk Children’s Advocacy Center of Erie County, Shriner’s Hospitals for Children of Erie, and formally, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation of Erie County. It seems becoming a non-profit would have been a realization years ago. However, it wasn’t until this past year that the family made the endeavor and The Gathering at Chaffee’s is officially a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. The new-found era of this festival is ladened with hope for a bright future to come including increased donations to the Erie County and surrounding community.
The basic description of the festival is a two-day, two-night, camping festival, still located in Doug Chaffee’s backyard in Girard, PA (20 minutes outside of Erie, PA as well as a 1 1/2 hour drive to Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Buffalo). The "Chaffee Fam" loves being a family-friendly, pet-friendly, and intimate festival and is committed on providing warm hospitality and authenticity due to lacking a large spending budget. It only happens with the hard work and voluntary support of family and friends that have become family. While we are not enormous in numbers, we have deep passion and fondness of music and local community. There is a strong, diverse band of hundreds of repeat attendees that lovingly circulate the festival with greetings of “Happy Chaffee’s!”, and the family always looks forward to new attendees and enjoyment of our event.
The festival’s musical history is a mosaic of jam, rock, reggae, bluegrass, funk, ska, blues, and even some zydeco bands. Variety is the goal and each year there are efforts towards expanding even more. Our local talent makes up most of our lineup and it just shows what a beautiful and collaborative music scene there is closer than one may think. The Gathering at Chaffee’s has also been host to regional, national and international acts alike, such as Dizgo, Chalk Dinosaur, Tropidelic, Jimkata, Fubar, Big Something, Rumpke Mountain Boys, Ekoostik Hookah, Minka, You Bred Raptors?, The Quasi Kings, G-Nome Project (of Jerusalem), Mungion, Joe Hertler & the Rainbow Seekers, Spiritual Rez, and so many more.
So, if you think that there is a “type” of attendee that would fit in at music festivals that prevents you from going, think less. Come and join our family to annually experience the beauty of music, intimacy, community, and support. Not only is it a wonderful weekend, but it also gives back to a world that so needs it.
