Earth laughs in flowers.
– Ralph Waldo Emerson
This weekend we’ve got festivals galore, in every direction! Here’s my roundup.
Pine Bush UFO Fair
Aliens call our world the “Water Planet” in the Dog on Fleas song of the same name. Uncle Rock sings about a “Secret Spaceman.” Some of you have pretty strong ideas about Area 51. Whovians…well, you know who you are. If visitors from outer space and UFOs are your thing – and even if they’re not – there’s something for everyone this Saturday, April 27 at the Pine Bush UFO Fair.
Pine Bush holds the reputation as the UFO Capital of the East Coast, due to decades of reported sightings of UFOs, alien abductions, unusual and unexplained light patterns and ghostly presences. The Pine Bush UFO Fair offers entertaining diversions for all ages, such as the “Eye Spy an Alien” scavenger hunt game, kiddie carnival area, an air pirate radio show and a parade, with participants decked out in out-of-this-world alien costumes. For folks interested in a more serious focus on UFOs and aliens recalling Whitley Strieber’s famous Communion experiences near Pine Bush, there are author and speaker presentations, as well as a premiere of the documentary film In the Night Sky: I Recall a UFO.
Enjoy the Pine Bush UFO Fair all day on Main Street and throughout the town. For more information, call (845) 744-8230 or visit https://pinebushufofair.com.
Serious Laughs workshops for kids at Kingston Library
Speaking of aliens, comedian Kathy Griffin once said, “Children are like aliens – they might as well have antennas.” Griffin did a show at the Ulster Performing Arts Center (UPAC) this past Sunday as part of Serious Laughs, a six-week comedy festival in Kingston from April 1 through May 12, including special arts workshops for children.
On Saturday, April 27, three different children’s events will take place at the Kingston Public Library. First, it’s Sophie the Surrealist Dog and Carol Meyer to explore what’s funny about art and the alphabet and what’s so serious about the Surrealists. This event is open to ages 4 and up and includes reading, writing and hands-on activities from 10:30 to 11:45 a.m. Preregistration is required.
Next, it’s a screening of William Wegman’s film Alphabet Soup at 12 noon, where Wegman’s famous dogs pose in the shape of letters. The film is 30 minutes long and recommended for ages 3 and older. Then, an event for teens and up: “Write a Wrong – the Art of Protest: The Persuasive Power of the Pen plus Passion.” This acting/writing/art workshop is led by teaching artists Casey Kurtti and Terianne Neden and will “yield signs, actions and ideas on how to change the world one letter at a time.” This activity runs from 1 to 3 p.m.
The Kingston Library is located at 55 Franklin Street in Kingston. For more information or to register, call (845) 331-0507 or visit www.kingstonlibrary.org. To learn more about Serious Laughs, visit www.bardavon.org.
El Día de los Niños Festival at Thrall Park in Middletown
Juliette Gordon Low, who founded the Girl Scouts in 1912, said, “The work of today is the history of tomorrow, and we are its makers.” Last week, 101 years after this organization began, the New York State Senate adopted a resolution honoring our local Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson for El Día de los Niños (the Day of the Children) Festival: “Events and occasions like El Día de los Niños Festival exemplify and add strength, vigor and inspiration to the diversity and quality of life of the communities of the City of Middletown and State of New York.”
Be a part of “the history of tomorrow”! Join in on this gathering that celebrates children, honors the diversity of our community and encourages families to spend special time together while having fun. And it’s all free! El Día de los Niños Festival takes place on Saturday, April 27 from 12 noon to 3 p.m. at Thrall Park, located at 21-41 Grove Street in Middletown. The excitement includes balloons, music, exhibits and more. For more information, call (845) 236-6002, extension 225, or visit www.girlscoutshh.org.
What about a food festival, you ask? I’ve got you covered! Here are two to consider. Why not go to both?
Rosendale Rec Center hosts Wild Earth’s pancake breakfast
On Sunday, April 28, Wild Earth hosts its big blowout seventh annual pancake breakfast. Locally sourced, you ask? Of course! Wild Hive flour for pancakes; eggs from Taliaferro Farm, Old Ford Farm and Bradley Farm; maple syrup from the Lyonsville Sugarhouse; and smoked ham from the Karl Family Farm and Full Moon Farm. Coffee is responsibly sourced and roasted by Mudd Puddle Coffee Roasters & Café.
How about locally sourced entertainment? Yes! The local family music band Fuzzy Lollipop performs outside in the pavilion at 10:30 a.m. The band describes itself as “lively original music full of irrepressible fun! Think Shel Silverstein in the bouncy house!” Fuzzy Lollipop member Callie Hershey shared, “We’re happy to be offering some upbeat entertainment at the pancake breakfast. We will be presenting some of the new songs we’ve been writing this winter, as well as some of the favorites our fans crave. We’ve got music to sing along, play along, dance along and shake your shakers with!”
The pancake breakfast takes place at the Rosendale Recreation Center from 8 a.m. to 12 noon, and admission costs $10 per person, with family discounts. Proceeds support scholarships for Wild Earth kids. The Rosendale Recreation Center is located at 1055 Route 32 in Rosendale. For more information, call (845) 256-9830 or visit https://wildearth.org. To learn more about the musicians, visit https://fuzzylollipop.com.
Hudson Valley Pizza Fest in Hopewell Junction
After you’ve worked off the pancakes by dancing and singing with Fuzzy Lollipop, you will be ready for another food festival. Here you go: It’s the Hudson Valley Pizza Fest! The Pizza Fest takes place on Sunday, April 28 from 2 to 6 p.m., and kids get in free!
Kids will enjoy activities including Macaroni the Clown, watching the competitions for pizza-eating and dough-tossing, the live music – and the pizza, of course! For the rest of you, $20 gets you samples from every pizzeria at the festival. For $38 you can score a VIP admission, which includes wine and beer. $3 discounts are offered to military and first responders. The Hudson Valley Pizza Fest will be held at Arbor Ridge Caterers at 17 Route 376 and Route 52 in Hopewell Junction. For tickets or more information, call (845) 590-1915 or visit HV Pizza Fest on Facebook.
Join the family! 
