The many outdoor pleasures that come along with warm weather aren’t limited to activities that involve strenuous physical exercise. We get to flex our mental muscles as well by stocking up on bargain-priced summer reads at our region’s bounty of book fairs. Some of these have been institutions practically forever – fond recollections of childhood outings for even the elderly among us. Of these revered annual Library Fairs, perhaps the most venerable is the one in Stone Ridge, which wraps up its seventh decade of continuous existence this weekend, rain or shine: “the Library’s largest annual fundraiser,” per director Jody Ford.
Besides the Giant Book Tent that’s obligatory at any of these events, the Stone Ridge Library Fair also caters to the interests of the community groups who meet there to discuss topics other than what they’re all reading this week: gardening, for example. The Plant Tent brims with flowering annuals, perennials and herbs, and is a destination of particular interest to those who can never have enough varieties of daylilies in their collections. Antiquers can head for Eleanor’s Emporium, whose specialties include “gently used” fine china by such prestigious manufacturers as Limoges, Bayreuth and Adams.
Free live music goes on from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. this Saturday, June 13 on the Library grounds, with a lineup including such local luminaries as Kurt Henry and Cheryl Lambert, kindie-rock faves Fuzzy Lollipop, BLOOM, Breakaway and the Rondout Valley High School Vocal Jazz Ensemble. And, it being mid-June, picnic edibles for sale will feature the traditional strawberry shortcake. Shuttle bus service will be available all day from the SUNY-Ulster Parking Lots C & E, as well as from the Marbletown Elementary School.
If you miss all the fun on Saturday, come back on Sunday, also from 10 to 3, and scoop up the biggest bargain of all: a whole bag of books for $8. You won’t get first pick, but there will be still plenty of gems overlooked by the crowd.
Library Fair, Saturday, June 13, Book Bag Sale, Sunday, June 14, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Stone Ridge Library, 3700 Main Street (Route 209), Stone Ridge; (845) 687-8726, www.stoneridgelibrary.org.
Join the family! 
