The Tenth Annual Margaretville Cauliflower Festival will bring food, fun, history and a hip new dance craze – square dancing! -- to the Village Park in Margaretville this Saturday, Sept. 28 from 10 to 4.
The Catskill Mountain Boys and guest caller John Jacobson will lead experienced and newbie do-si-doers through their paces in as many dance squares as can fit under the pavilion at 3 p.m. This traditional form of down-home entertainment is making a comeback, as evidenced by the hundreds of people who turn out in New York’s Central Park every week to clap, sing and dance to the rhythm of fiddle, guitar and bass.
The Catskill Mountain Boys – John VanBenschoten, Mike Herman and Todd Pascarella – will also perform at 1 p.m. with a set of country blues and folk.
At Noon and 2, Jason Starr will share songs and ballads, from Woody Guthrie to Pete Seeger.
Saturday’s celebration of all things country includes a Tractor Parade that gives current and former farmers a chance to step into the limelight. The parade takes a couple of spins around the festival grounds at11:30 a.m.
Tractor-drawn hay rides on the Davis farm along the East Branch of the Delaware River will be offered during the day, and, weather permitting, a hay baling demonstration will take place at 2:30 p.m.
Cauliflower, a product for which Catskill Mountain farms were noted through much of the 20thcentury, will be offered to modern-day fans of this versatile vegetable. Buy a recipe book to help you prepare it, and add “When Cauliflower Was King in the Catskills” to your home or video library. Sales benefit the Central Catskills Chamber of Commerce, sponsors of the Festival.
In the History Tent, the Historical Society of the Town of Middletown will mount its exhibit on cauliflower industry history, as well as a display of farm photos from its collection. Anthony and Lynette Liberatore will be in the tent to sign and sell their new photographic history book, “Around Roxbury,” along with a display of images from the legendary Ron Ballard’s collection.
Other exhibitors will share information on the Catskills environment, and on community activities and opportunities to become involved. Vendors will sell everything from woolen items to honey. Artisans will display stained glass, ceramics, original works and other hand-made items.
Food offerings range from the Rotary Club’s chicken barbecue, to pulled pork, empanadas, cauliflower soup and other special surprises.
Family fun includes Strich’s popular pony rides and petting zoo, and face painting and crafts with the MCS Student Art Club.
For more information, visit www.cauliflowerfestival.com
This celebration of authentic rural life is supported by Coldwell/Banker Timberland Properties; MTC; Directive, Inc., HealthAlliance of the Hudson Valley, the Watershed Agricultural Council, Pure Catskills and Catskills Family Creameries.
