hankus wrote:
> I am presently living near new orleans and planning to retire in a couple of
> years.Having summered often in your area- HRiv Valley-I was planning to move
> there to be closer to the kids in Albany,Tarrytown and New Haven,CT
> ... BUT this fair doesn't sound like much... and we Louisianians do like to
> eat,drink,listen to music and,as they say on the bayou ,"pass a good time"!
> Around here,we have enjoyed the Oil field chili cookoff as well as the
> French Quarter fest,and many crawfish festivals
> Where was this Rib fest?
> What other activities with music,GOOD food,etc go on near you?
>
Well, it's only in it's second year. If you're looking for
good BBQ it was tops. It's being held at the Ulster County
Fairgrounds just outside of New Paltz. The link to it is in
an earlier post.
Another one in the area is the Garlic Festival, now that's a
big sucker and food everywhere as well as demonstrations,
crafts, kids activities, bands, etc... It's always held the
last FULL weekend in September in Saugerties New York. If
you ever go, I'd advise going early as traffic can become a
virtual parking lot shortly after noon.
http://www.hvgf.org/
There aren't a lot of what you'd call food festivals around
but there is a lot to do in the area. It's absolutely y in
the fall and there are a lot of great resteraunts around.
Being in New Orleans, you may not appreciate the cold and
snow of the winters though. ;-)
I live in Poughkeepsie. (Dutchess County) The RibFest and
Garlic Festival are held across the Hudson River in Ulster
County. Poughkeepsie would be about in the center of the
area you describe. Albany, 1.5 hours. Tarrytown (I'm
guessing you mean the one in Westchester County as opposed
to the one up by Albany) about 1 1/4 hr. New Haven, 2 hours.
Here's a couple of links that may be in interest:
http://tinyurl.com/mp5n8
http://www.dutchesstourism.com/
I wouldn't let the lack of food festivals scare you, it's
actually a nice area with quite a bit to do. It is rather
expensive and rapidly becoming a suburb of NYC <shudder>.
--
Steve