New this year will be a Highland Artist Exhibit at the 123 Play Private Preschool building off Vineyard Avenue, where local artists are invited to submit their art (forms can be found and downloaded from the town’s website at www.townoflloyd.com). Jonietz added, “Our Highland High School art students will also be displaying their art and curate the show, which provides them with both experience and exposure, as there is a lot of artistic talent in the schools and the region.”
The wildly popular Waiters’ Race and Bed Race will make their return this year, with the Waiters’ Race slated to go off at 2 p.m. and the Bed Race at 3 p.m. in front of Town Hall. “That was the main attraction last year, and I’m sure it’s going to be a big one again this year,” said Jonietz.
The Waiters’ Race invites those in the restaurant business to run a lap around the village hamlet with a tray and two cups filled to the brim with water, attempting both to cross the finish line first and to spill as little water as possible: easier said than done. The Bed Race involves five-person teams, with one driver and four “pushers,” kind of like an old-fashioned bobsled run without the snow. Thus far several teams have signed up, including the Fire Department, Police Department, CrossFit, Mohonk Mountain House, Burger King, McDonalds and many more. “Basically, you have to create your own bed-on-wheels, make it as creative as can be and as fast as it can be,” said Jonietz.
At one point in the race — which starts in front of Town Hall, goes north, makes a sharp turn onto Main Street and then finishes on Vineyard Avenue — the teams are asked to do some sort of “Chinese fire drill,” which they won’t know what it is until it happens. “Last year we made them stop, run laps around their bed, and have their rider turn around and race backwards,” said Jonietz. “It was hysterical.”
There is a $500 award for the bed that comes in first, as well as another prize for the Most Creative Bed. To sign up for the Bed Race, go to Town Hall or download the forms on the town website at www.townoflloyd.com. The entry fee is $10 per person or $50 per bed. All proceeds, and even some of the proceeds from the art show, go back into the Events Committee’s budget for future celebrations, like the fireworks or other community-related events.
There will also be two dance performances by Gina Marie’z Dance Studio in the Town Square at 12 noon and again at 5 p.m. New Paltz Karate will also be performing a demonstration at 1:15 p.m. on the Town Square Stage. Jacob’s Music will once again host a Kids’ Music Appreciation Day, and invites would-be musicians to try out various instruments from the store.
The Highland High School alumni will be holding a basketball tournament throughout the day, and there will also be various athletic challenges on the municipal field, like tug-of-war, bocce tournaments and sack races.
At 6 p.m. a well-known, Vegas-performing Elvis impersonator, Joe Borelli, will hold a concert that will run until 9 p.m. “At that point the entire hamlet becomes like one big block party,” explained Jonietz, who noted that the Downtown Business Association has lined up more than 20 vendors already, including food and beverage vendors, as well as the restaurants being open all day with special “signature” Spring Fest treats like Asian Garden’s fruited ice.
The full schedule should be on the town website by the end of the week, or you can find more information on its Facebook page.
Join the family! 
