(photo by Lauren Thomas)
The second annual Town of Lloyd SpringFest, slated for Saturday, May 11, may prove to be bigger and better than last year’s well-attended, community-centered event. According Kate Jonietz of the Town’s Events Committee, “It’s looking to be way bigger than last year, with so many returning and new participants and activities. There is literally something for everyone to do at every hour of the day!”
The kickoff to the day is the Blessing of the Bikes, where riders of all ages of all types of bikes, scooters and wheelchairs are encouraged to come into the sanctuary of the Methodist Church in the hamlet and receive a nondenominational blessing of safety over their wheel-powered travel machines. “It’s adapted from a phrase in the Bible where we ‘bless the spirit of the wheel’ and the living,” said Jonietz.
That event begins at 10 a.m. and leads right into a bicycle parade, where riders are encouraged to decorate their bike or scooter or unicycle high-style, funk-fashion, theme-based or just plain clever or crazy. There will be various prizes awarded for the best-decorated bikes, and the parade will be led by several mascots, including Highland’s own Husky and Sal’s Place’s chicken.
To give this opening activity even more of a boost, Jonietz reports that SUNY-Ulster is signed up to bring its bike van to the festival, where it will run a bike rodeo with obstacle courses, have helmet safety checks and all kinds of great bike tips. The Hudson Valley Whiffle Ball League is also participating in the SpringFest and will be holding a big tournament in the municipal field from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Dirty Dogs Pet Services of Highland will be hosting a pet show awarding prizes to the Prettiest Dog, Ugliest Dog, et cetera, and will also have service dogs on hand. There will be a Kids’ Corner, as there was at last year’s inaugural SpringFest, featuring chalk art, a jumpy castle, arts and crafts, hula-hoop contests and other activities throughout the day.
Join the family! 
