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Highland

May 17, 2022

Paula Campbell
Posted 5/17/22

Let the Founding Fish Festival begin! In my last column I outlined all the festival’s music events but there are many other free events happening all along the seventy miles stretch of the …

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Highland

May 17, 2022

Posted

Let the Founding Fish Festival begin! In my last column I outlined all the festival’s music events but there are many other free events happening all along the seventy miles stretch of the Scenic Byway.

For me personally it is the perfect opportunity to visit a lot of the lovely river towns I have not been to in a long time. One of my favorite’s is Hancock.

Starting on Friday May 20th, they will be sponsoring several events in their town from 2-9pm including a Children’s Fish Themed Art Painting Class (3-4pm) Fish Festival & Fair - (Fair/Food Vendors (2-6pm) Live Music Showcase for local musicians (6-8pm.) and Moonlight Movie Night in the Hancock Town Square featuring the short film Shadrun and the Academy Award winning film “A River Runs Through It.” All the events take place in the Town Square.

Saturday, May 21st is World Fish Migration Day. In celebration from 11-12:00pm The Foundry 42 Restaurant in Port Jervis will be having a Children’s Fishy Story Time. Saturday is also the opening of the Barryville Farmer’s Market which is located at 3405 Route 97.

As part of ShadFest, celebrity Chef Annika Sundvik will demonstrate the best ways to prepare shad and there will be samplings for the Market visitors. The National Park Service Rangers will be giving a historical talk on the history of the yearly shad run and the Greater Barryville Chamber of Commerce and Reber River Tours will hold a Flotilla Raft River Race.

Brian Dougherty Acoustic Duo will be performing, and all your favorite Market vendors and some new ones will be there. As usual there will be a donation jar at the entrance for Market visitors to donate to local food and nutrition programs. During the opening of the Market and next weekend as well all donations collected will go to Food for Families and Friends Take Out Meals Program sponsored by the Knights of Columbus Council 12571. I am a volunteer for the program that feeds seven hundred people a month with delicious home cooked meals which I deliver to many residents of Highland. So-please be as generous as you can!

Another new local restaurant The OUTPOST located at 2378 Route 97 in Pond Eddy in addition to their extensive menu will be featuring special wraps and drinks to celebrate ShadFest. Owners Nick and Jessica Ralph will be hosting visitors at their restaurant and outdoor bar -The Barn and having a special Fishbowl Ping Pong Game available for some festival fun. Go to theoutpost97.com for more details. A very nice place serving breakfast, lunch and dinner and a great addition to our local restaurant choices with lots of outdoor seating.

From 10-5pm there will be the Grand Re-opening of the Fort Delaware Museum in Narrowsburg. Period dressed re-enactors depict colonial life in the Upper Delaware region. It is a terrific opportunity especially for kids to see this amazing historical site. General admission $10.00.

Our lovely New York Times bestselling author, actor, director, producer, and nicest neighbour ever Melissa Gilbert will be at Barryville General Store on Saturday from Noon to 4pm signing copies of her new heartfelt and hilarious memoir “Back to the Prairie.” If you have not had the opportunity to meet Melissa, go to the Barryville General Store and have her sign her book for you and visit with her for a bit. While at BG there will be music by the River Ramblers, a Zane Grey Plein Air Painting demonstration (noon-3pm) and a shad fishing demonstration by Andy Boyer (2-3pm).

On Sunday, I am going to hear Mike Edison “Gospel from the Garage” at the Callicoon theatre and have the complimentary brunch and see a film. The tickets are $25.00 and then I am automatically entered into a free raffle to win a round trip ticket on Play Airlines (out of Stewart Airport) to Iceland!

Frankly, I am not holding my breath about winning because I am one of those people who never wins anything! But this Festival of the Founding Fish – ShadFest is such a wonderful event and simply a great new opportunity for all our river communities in the beautiful Byway. Definitely see you there!

For tickets and more festival details go to www.festivalofthefoundingfish.com.

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