Shandaken Primitive Biathlon in Oliverea this Sunday
If you’re reading this, you either live here in the Hudson Valley, wish you lived here or are visiting here. One reason people come here is to spend time in nature. If you’re looking for some relief from cabin fever, or you want an alternative to skiing, here’s a great activity for ages 12 years and up: the 16th annual Shandaken Primitive Biathlon. On Sunday, January 20 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon, participants will snowshoe their way through a 1.25-mile course and four shooting stations using muzzle-loading firearms. Bonus time deductions will be awarded for competitors wearing 1800s-era attire. There is also an opportunity to do an untimed woodswalk, with a chance to snowshoe and shoot the course without being timed.
There are four age groups for this event, beginning with 12 to 16 years. The youngest age group may opt to compete with a .22 rifle. Entry fees are $18 for the competition and $12 for the woodswalk. The Primitive Biathlon takes place at the Upper Esopus Fish & Game Club, located on Little Peck Hollow Road in Oliverea. For more information, call (845) 246-3954 or visit www.shandakenprimitivebiathlon.net.
Strawberry Hill Fiddlers perform in Saugerties this Sunday
The Strawberry Hill Fiddlers have an electric energy to their playing: They’re so on! Check out these musical teens’ CDs or look them up on YouTube. One of the aspects that I enjoy about their performances is how open it feels to listen to them: They communicate directly to you and to each other without a leader in the middle, the way you see a conductor in front of an orchestra. The players really own it.
I think that any Strawberry Hill Fiddlers gig is a must-see, and their next appearance takes place this Sunday, January 20 at 3 p.m. at the Saugerties United Methodist Church, presented by Saugerties Pro Musica. Admission costs $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and is free for students. The Saugerties United Methodist Church is located at 67 Washington Avenue in Saugerties. For more information, call (845) 679-5733 or visit https://saugertiespromusica.org. To learn more about these young performers, visit www.strawberryhillfiddlers.com.
“Dreaming and Doing” with Hudson River Playback Theatre in New Paltz this Sunday
I can’t get enough of Hudson River Playback Theatre (HRPT) because it’s both entertaining and soul-stirring. It’s doing a show honoring Martin Luther King and everyone who works for change and justice this Sunday, January 20 at 7 p.m. called “Dreaming and Doing.” Audience members are invited “to reflect on their dreams for the future and actions in the present, both in personal life and in today’s world.”
Each performance is based on true personal stories told by audience members and acted out on the spot by a team of actors and a musician. This is not an event specifically geared toward children or youth, but I think that HRPT’s performances are accessible and engaging to most ages, especially tweens on up. Every time I see HRPT, I feel so good; I feel more whole, more connected and lighter.
“Dreaming and Doing” takes place at Deyo Hall on Broadhead Road in New Paltz (next to the Rail Trail behind the Salvation Army). The suggestion donation is $10, $8 for students and seniors. For more information, call (845) 255-7716 or visit https://hudsonriverplayback.org.
Esopus Meadows Preserve hosts School’s Out Winter Fun Day on Monday
School’s Out Winter Fun Day kind of says it all. It’s Scenic Hudson’s name for some outdoor fun this Monday, January 21 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Esopus Meadows Preserve. Activities include snowshoeing, ice skating, sledding, crafting and building snow shelters. Participants should bring a lunch, winter clothing and, if available, any of the gear listed above. Children must be accompanied by a parent.
School’s Out Winter Fun Day is free and open to the public, weather permitting, so RSVP and stay current with any last-minute changes by checking www.scenichudson.org or Scenic Hudson’s Facebook page. Esopus Meadows Preserve is located at 257 River Road. For more information or to RSVP, call (845) 473-4440, extension 273.
Erica Chase-Salerno loves knowing what day it is by following Bonny’s updates on www.crazycelebrations.blogspot.com. Erica lives in New Paltz with her husband Mike and their two children: the inspirations behind hudsonvalleyparents.com. She can be reached at kidsalmanac@ulsterpublishing.com.
Join the family! 
