A Fair Deal

By Jonathan Ment

Have you been getting your fair share of the loukoumades?

OK. Trick question, sort of. Loukoumades are the Greek variety of zeppoles—the donuts without holes that are the Italian version of the funnel cake common to the Pennsylvania-Dutch countryside. Funnel cake is the more complicated version of what some folks call simply “fried dough,” those lazy-man’s fried pancakes of flour, sugar and baking soda generally found around these parts.

The Mrs. and I tried loukoumades at August’s Greek Festival in Windham, along with baklava and other pastries—along with the requisite gyros. What made this particular fried dough special was the post-fryer treatment:o ften that consists of a healthy shower of powdered sugar.

Last year at a festival at the base of Hunter Mountain I sampled a friend’s fried dough with powdered sugar and what I think was apple pie filling—it was, uh, sweet. Fruity toppings, chocolate syrup and powdered sugar are pretty standard.

The Greek approach was new to me. These fried dough balls were rolled around in honey before the confectioner’s sugar was applied. Really good, very interesting. Extra flavorful—though local honey might have been preferable (the jug on the table cited Malaysia as the source.)

You never know what you’ll find when you venture off your well-beaten path. You may think you’ve had fried dough, or cotton candy, then you drop in on an event you’re just a little bit curious about and try the former, or wander down the paths of the Dutchess Fairgrounds and discover a new flavor of the latter, as happened earlier this summer.

We left the Greek Festival before the music started in earnest, but not before listening to the music of conversation in Greek at the next table, and what we presumed to be a Greek Orthodox service being broadcast outside the church via bullhorn-type speakers hanging over the parking lot where the festival tents were erected. Not a bad way to spend a cool Tuesday evening in August.

September is garlic harvest season and there’s more than one opportunity to sample this smelly stuff, probably even with fried dough.

Looking for something new? Well then read on...

Columbia County
Stock up for the coming winter at Spencertown Academy Arts Center’s second-annual Festival of Books September 7, 8 and 9, and September 14, 15 and 16. The celebration of books and reading can be found at 790 Route 203. Call 518 392 3693 for more information. You can also donate gently-used books and cd’s prior to the event, Thursday through Sunday from 1 to 5 pm.

September 8’s National Park Service Campfire could be interesting. It will be held at the Martin Van Buren National Historic Site, 1013 Old Post Road, off Route 9H, in Kinderhook. Call 518 758 9689 for information.

September 9 in Valatie Village is the Celtic Festival in Martin H. Glynn Village Square. For more information, call 518 758 9689.

The Eighth Annual Hudson River Valley Ramble spans two weekends and 10 counties this month, with more than 100 guided walks, hikes, paddles , bike tours, river explorations and cultural events on September 15, 16, 23, 29 and 30. Visit www.hudsonrivervalley.com/ramble for the rundown of events.

September 22 is Harvest Day at the Martin Van Buren National Historic Site, 1013 Old Post Road, off Route 9H, in Kinderhook. Call 518 758 9689 for information or visit www.nps.gov/mava.

The Second Annual Columbia-Greene Chili Cook-off and Riverfront Fair heats up Hudson’s Waterfront Park on September 29. There will be a shuttle between the Park and Catskill Point at the foot of Main Street. E-mail info@mexrad.com for more information.

Delaware County
Celebrate the harvest on September 2 at Farm Fair at the West Kortright Centre, 49 West Kortright Church Road, East Meredith. The evening concert, featuring The Roches, is sponsored by Frank Lumia Real Estate. General admission is $10. Those under 18 are admitted for $7. For more details visit www.westkc.org or call 607 278 5454.

September 29 is the Fifth Annual Cauliflower Festival from 10 am to 4 pm in Margaretville Village Park and on Main Street, Route 30. Hosted by the Greater Margaretville Chamber of Commerce, this old-fashioned country fair celebrates food, culture and history with local craftspeople and vendors, music, dancing, cooking demonstrations and even antique appraisals. Admission is free. For more details visit www.margaretville.org or call 607 326 4523.

Also on September 29 is the Annual Scarecrow Festival, just up the road in Stamford and sponsored by the Greater Stamford Chamber of Commerce. Celebrate the history, culture, commerce and beauty of Stamford from 10 am to 4 pm with crafts, children’s activities and more at Veterans Memorial Park. Call 607 652 7869 for more details.

Quilts Along the Delaware, on September 29 and 30 is a celebration of the art of quilting with more than 150 examples on display at the Delaware County Historical Society, 46549 Route 10, 2.5 miles northeast of Delhi. In addition to the quilts, there will be vendors, door prizes, a quilt raffle, block contest and demonstrations from 10 am to 4 pm. Call 607 746 3849 for more details.

Dutchess County
The town of Clinton celebrates Heritage Day on September 1 from 11 am to 4 pm, with a range of craft demonstrations including blacksmithing, wood carving, basket weaving, leather working, knitting, crocheting, quilting and corn husk doll making, just to name a few.

You can ride a pony and learn how to care for them, or drop in on the cookie and vegetable contest. There will also be a colonial costume contest, kids activities and games, and a chance to meet alpacas, llamas, and Don Estes, author of Willy the Little Jeep Who Wanted to be a Firetruck.

The event will be held rain or shine, and is at the Creek Meeting House and Grounds, 2433 Salt Point Turnpike, Clinton Corners. Admission is free, but donations are appreciated.

Stormville Airport, 428 Route 216, Stormville, hosts its Labor Day weekend flea market on September 1 and 3 from 8 am to 3 pm daily, rain or shine. More than 600 vendors from eight states fill the grounds with antiques, collectibles, new merchandise and crafts. There’s also a food court. Admission is free. Pets are not permitted.

A concert by Stolen Heart will take place at 7 pm on September 8 in Millbrook, at the Millbrook Bandshell on Franklin Avenue, presented by the Millbrook Arts Group.

You’ll also find live music each Sunday in September at the Rhinebeck Farmer’s Market, along with locally-grown produce, fresh meats, cheeses, bread, wine, flowers, honey and more, at the Municipal Parking Lot, East Market Street, from 10 am to 2 pm. Click on www.rhinebeckfarmersmarket.com for more information.

September 15 is the Hudson River Arts Festival from 2 to 10 pm at Waryas Park, where Main Street Poughkeepsie meets the Hudson River. The Bardavon presents this 12th annual free fall festival with nonstop music, Hudson River cruises, kids activities, ethnic foods and a tent village of crafters, art exhibits, and more. There will be dozens of musical performances, including the festival’s main stage co-headliners: singer, songwriter and guitarist David Bromberg and his Quartet, the Angel Band, and singer/songwriter Suzanne Vega.

You can also take a cruise on the Hudson River aboard the Sloop Clearwater and the Estuary Steward Ferry Boat, visit the Mid-Hudson Children’s Museum, paint from a live model with the Barrett Art Center, drop in on the Dutchess County Arts Council’s Folk Arts demonstration tent and visit participating ARTHOP galleries

The main stage and second stage will also feature the 10th year of the Dutchess County Arts Council’s program, “One River: Many Streams,” a traditional folk arts festival and the 8th year of the Hudson Valley Bluegrass Association’s Bluegrass Between the Bridges Festival.

For more information, visit www.bardavon.org/ab_community.htm.

Greene County
Start the month off right with a fireworks display on September 1 at Bear Creek Restaurant and Recreational Park, where Route 214 meets 23A in the town of Hunter. The free display will also feature a live DJ. Visit www.bearcreekrestaurant.com for more information.

The Riverside Farmers and Artisans Market continues at Historic Catskill Point every Saturday in September from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm with live music, local produce, plus art and craft vendors. Call 518 622 9820 for more details.

September 13 to 16 is Catskill Mountain Thunder, the popular annual motorcycle festival at Blackthrorne Resort, 348 Sunside Road, East Durham. The event features vendors, rodeo games, a bike show with cash prizes, demonstration rides, a leather show, the “wall of death,” fire works, a pig roast and more. Visit www.blackthorneresort.com or call 518 634 2541 for more information.

Hunter Mountain’s Microbrew and Wine Festival is September 22 and 23. Sample microbrews and wines from New York and beyond, and find vendors with specialty foods, sauces, and crafts. There’s also a farmers market and live entertainment daily. Admission is free, but there’s a $20 per day fee for tasting—which includes a souvenir beer or wine glass. Visit www.huntermtn.com or call 888 Huntermtn for more details.

Return to Blackthorne Resort on September 21, 22 and 23 for the Mustang Fall Roundup, base camp for a cruise through the mountains, a riverboat cruise on the Hudson and a catered roadside lunch.

The Columbia-Greene Fall Celebration begins on September 21 and runs through October 28, asking all eyes to focus on the arts, history, nature and culinary delights to be found in these counties. For a free brochure or more information, call 1 800 355 2287, ext. 1 or visit www.ILoveNYAutumn.com.

Head back to Hunter on September 29 and 30 and October 6 and 7 for a jump on your Oktoberfest needs. Austrian and German-American bands perform along with Schuhplattler dancers, puppeteers, jugglers, magicians and more. There will be a petting zoo, arts and crafts, free pumpkins, vendors and more. The skyride will also be open, weather permitting. For more information, call 888 HUNTERMTN or visit www.huntermtn.com.

Otsego County
September 1 at the Cooperstown Farmers Market, 101 Main Street, features music by Skip West, but the weekly market is best known for its demonstrations of gardening techniques. Visit www.otsego2000.org/farmersmarket/ for more details.

September 8 is the Grand and Glorious Garage Sales spectacular in Oneonta from 9 am to 4 pm.

September 15 is the Susquehanna Valley Garlic Fest at Wood Bull Antiques, 3920 State Highway 28 in Milford. Featuring 10 area garlic growers, food vendors, music and demonstrations by Cornell Cooperative Extension, the event runs from 10 am to 5 pm. Click on www.svgarlicfestival.com or call 607 638 9016 for more details.

September 15 and 16 is Ommefest at Brewery Ommegang, 656 County Highway 33. The harvest, beer and medieval arts celebration is modeled on the Belgian Kermesse, a traditional village festival featuring Belgian foods, local fermented and slow foods, music, games, amusements and, of course, beer—including a special release. Call 607 544 1800 or visit www.ommegang.com for complete details.

Another harvest festival will be held that same weekend at The Farmers’ Museum, Lake Road in Cooperstown. The two-day event offers traditional crafts, food and entertainment from 10 am to 5 pm daily. Call 607 547 1450 or click on www.farmersmuseum.org for more information.

Also on September 15 and 16 is a “Pride of New York” sampling weekend devoted to the award-winning cheeses from the McCadam Cheese Company. Share recipes and experience new flavors at the Fly Creek Cider Mill and Orchard’s sampling station. Promotions and recipe ideas are paired each day and in addition to the mill’s daily sampling of over 40 different products. Visit www.flycreekcidermill.com or call 607 547 9692 for information.

Return to Fly Creek September 22 and 23 for Applefest, from 10 am to 5 pm on Saturday and noon to 5 pm on Sunday. The event features music, antique tractors, live music, exhibits and more.

September 23 brings the Fall for the Arts, a celebration of art and culture to Glimmerglass Opera, 7300 State Highway 80. Programs will be by Otsego County arts organizations, including ballet, string, jazz & Broadway show tunes on the Main Stage, choral, brass and more in the open air, interactive workshops in dance and theater, plus art classes in pottery, weaving, painting, stage make-up and more. Call 607 547 2255 or see www.glimmerglass.org for more information.

September 29 on the Cooperstown and Charlotte Valley Railroad is Oktoberfest, with German food, beer and live music. Call 607 432 2429 or click www.lrhs.com for additional details.

September 29 and 30 in Cooperstown is Pumpkinfest 2007 at the Doubleday Field parking lot from 10 am to 4 pm. There will be a giant pumpkin weigh-in, and prizes in competitions for giant gourds and huge watermelons, plus music, pumpkin carving, an antique car show and food. Check with the Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce, at www.cooperstownchamber.org, or call 607 547 9983 for information.

Schoharie County
September 1, 2 and 3 is the 26th Annual Iroquois Festival at the Iroquois Museum, 324 Caverns Road, Howes Cave. The event features Iroquois social dancing, storytelling, Iroquois food, an all Iroquois Art Market, children’s activities, nature park walks, genealogy, archeology and more. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for kids. Group discounts are available. Visit www.iroquoismuseum.org or call 518 296 8949 for more information.

Schoharie’s village-wide yard sale is on September 8 and includes food, music and more. Maps are available throughout the village.

September 15 and 16, from 10 am to 5 pm daily, is the Sharon Springs Garlic and Artisans Festival, bigger than ever in its seventh year. You’ll find raffles, entertainment, crafts, artists and of plenty of garlic on Main Street. There’s free admission and free parking.

The Sharon Springs Chamber of Commerce and Citizens for the Arts Council sponsor this event being held on the front field of the Sharon Springs Central School.

September 22, at the Visitor’s Center and Lansing Manor Museum of the New York Power Authority, 1378 State Route 30 in North Blenheim, is the annual Wildlife Festival and Energy Expo. Head over for animals, food vendors, crafts, arts, entertainment and energy-saving information. Call 800 724 0309 or click www.nypa.gov for more information.

Sullivan County
Hill’s Country Inn is the site of the seventh-annual Day to be Gay in the Catskills Festival from 1 to 5 pm. Admission for adults is $15. Performers will include Susan Norfleet, Phillips & Driver, Snaggletooth, CoCo MaMa Salsa Band and the DC Cowboys. There will also be a Dog of the Day contest, carnival games and prizes, followed by a dance party in the Clubhouse at 6 Bethlehem Road, Callicoon Center. Call 845 482 4729 or click on www.daytobegay.org.

September 9 in Narrowsburg is the day for town-wide garage sales beginning at 8:30 am.

September 22 in Yulan is the 17th Annual Von Steuben Parade and Germanfest with food, crafts, music and dancing. The parade begins at noon with the festival to follow. General admission is $5 for those 12 and older.

Also on September 22 is Jeff Fest in Jeffersonville, from 10:30 am to 5 pm. This autumn festival and community appreciation day features scavenger hunts, wheelchair races, sack races, a classic and custom car show, music, games, crafts, food, hayrides and more. Call 845 482 4275 for additional details.

Ulster County
September 1, 2 and 3 is the Woodstock/New Paltz Art and Crafts Fair, a juried crafts fair featuring over 300 artists and craftspeople, exhibitions and demonstrations. There’s also a children’s center, entertainment, specialty foods and more, all at the Ulster County Fairgrounds in New Paltz. Call 845 679 8087 or 845 246 3414 or visit www.quailhollow.com for more information.

Kingston’s Hooley on the Hudson V is on September 2. Head to the waterfront for food, music and entertainment on two stages, step dancing, storytelling, craft demonstrations and more at T.R. Gallo Park, from noon to 9 pm. There will even be a chartered bus to the Hooley from Dubliner Pub in Poughkeepsie with complimentary appetizers and souvenir t-shirts. Visit www.ulsteraoh.com for more information or call 845 338 6622.

September 3 at High Woods Reformed Church is the Labor Day Fair with an antiques and crafts sale, quilts, live music and a roast beef dinner. Head over to 12290 Church Road in Saugerties from 10 am to 5 pm.

September 6 at The Wiltwyck Golf Club is the 11th Annual Fall for Art, a juried show and sale featuring regional artists from 6 to 9 pm. This event is a fundraiser for the Jewish Federation of Ulster County. Call 845 338 8131 or visit www.ucjf.org for more information.

September 8 is the Woodstock Reggae Festival. Call 845 679 3382 or click www.reggaewoodstock.com for more information.

Also on September 8 from 9 am to 6 pm is Olive Day, featuring a frog jumping contest, live music, children’s activities, and a foot race beginning at 10 am. The frogs will be at Lester S. Davis Park in West Shokan.

Also on September 8 is the Kingston Rotary Club’s Fall Festival at Rotary Park at Kingston Point. You’ll find vendors, live entertainment, a chicken barbecue and friendly faces.

Old New Paltz Day is on September 9 on Historic Huguenot Street from 11 am to 5 pm. You’ll find reenactors, period demonstrations and exhibits celebrating community’s historic roots. Call 845 255 1660 or click on www.huguenotstreet.org for more details.

September 9 is also the Fourth Annual Family Farm Festival with a farm market, artisan breads, heritage breed farm animals, a celebrity chef competition, draft horse hay rides, kids’ activities, music and more at Epworth Camp & Retreat Center, High Falls beginning at 11 am. For more information, call 845 687 8938 or visit www.familyfarmfestival.com.

Rivendell Winery hosts it’s 12th Annual Lobster Fest on September 15, with live music and authentic “down-east” menu of lobsters with all the trimmings. Visit www.rivendellwine.com for more information.

Also on September 15 is the 11th Annual Craft Fair/Apple Festival at Golden Hill in Kingston, with live entertainment, homemade crafts and apple pies, raffles, clowns, flowers and more at 99 Golden Hill Drive from 10 am to 4 pm. Call 845 340 3818 for more details.

The New Paltz Chamber of Commerce’s largest event of the year, the Taste of New Paltz, will be held on September 16 from 11 am to 5 pm, rain or shine, at the Ulster County Fairgrounds in New Paltz. Come celebrate the best food the Hudson Valley has to offer. For more information, call 845 255 0243 or visit www.newpaltzchamber.org.

September 22 is the 10th Annual “Car Show for a Cause” with food, music, hot rods and imports at the Hudson Valley Mall in the town of Ulster from 4 to 10 pm. Call 845 246 6855 for more information, or just go to the mall!

If classic boats are more your style, check out the International Antique and Classic Boat Meet at the Hudson River Maritime Museum in Kingston on September 24. Call 845 338 0071 or click www.hrmm.org for more information.

September 29 is the Third Annual Jennie Bell Pie Festival at Kelder’s Farm on Route 209 in Accord. There will be a band, arts and crafts, a car and motorcycle show, pie judging and auction, a quilt show and auction, hayrides, miniature golf, a youth talent show, pumpkin picking, and fireworks at dusk. The fun begins at noon. Call 845 626 2616 for more information.

Also on September 29 is the Esopus Fall Festival with a 5K run, a flea market, a car show, a quilt show, book sale, arts and crafts, entertainment and more. There will even be a roast beef dinner at Methodist Church. Events are held throughout Port Ewen beginning at 9 am. Call 845 338 6494 for specifics.

There there’s the 11th Annual Fall Penny Social, on September 29 at Highland Hose Station #1 on Milton Avenue beginning at 6:30 p.m.

September 29 and 30 is the Hudson Valley Garlic Festival at Cantine Field in Saugerties. Brace yourself for more garlic than you can shake on a pizza from 10 am.to 6 pm Saturday and 10 am to 5 pm on Sunday. Tickets for those 12 and older are $7 per day at the gate or $5 online and a several shops in Saugerties.

Everything I’ve every heard about this massive, popular festival suggests it’s way over the top (I’m not ready for garlic ice cream, although I’ve heard it’s delicious). Visit www.hvgf.com for a schedule of events and photos that will give you an idea of what awaits.

To submit your events, kindly e-mail festsandfairs@yahoo.com.