The Rhinebeck area has morphed into a nationally recognized node of homestyle home style, with tens of thousands of visitors converging on the Dutchess County Fairgrounds for the annual Country Living Fair. It’s back again this weekend, June 1 to 3.
Always a big draw, the Fabulous Beekman Boys will do their cooking demo/book-signing thing on Sunday, but there’s lots else going on all weekend. One particularly eyecatching Saturday workshop features HGTV.com writer Melissa Caughey of Tilly’s Nest, who will share tips on how to “speak chicken.” If you didn’t already know that raising chickens is the height of hip for country gentlepersons these days, you will now.
Other celebrity guests include Annie Sloan, creator of Chalk Paint; Betsy Olmstead, author of Hand Printing Studio; Cooper Boone of Foundry42; Deborah Trickett of The Captured Garden; Joanne Palmisano, award-winning interior designer/DIY Network contributor; Kim Leggett of City Farmhouse, author of City Farmhouse Style; Mary Randolph Carter, Country Living contributing editor; Nora Murphy of Nora Murphy Country House; Silvia Baldini, winner of the Food Network’s Chopped; and Trace Barnett of The Bitter Socialite.
More than 200 vendors will be hawking their wares at the fair as well. Some come from far away; more local purveyors will include Beekman 1802 Mercantile of Sharon Springs, Earth Angels Studio of Warwick, Ihnken’s Creations of Ithaca, Made from Coins of Woodstock, Rockerbox Garlic of the Hudson Valley, the Saratoga Peanut Butter Company and Sweet Bella Stationery of Rhinebeck.
Fair hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, rain or shine. One-day admission costs $13 in advance and $18 at the door; three-day weekend passes are available for $15 in advance and $25 at the door. The Early Bird three-day weekend pass, available for $40, grants early admission at 8:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. Admission is free for children ages 16 and under. For an extra fee, and by preregistration, you can also participate in Make & Take Workshops instructed by Fair vendors and presenters.
For tickets, the full schedule and other details, call (866) 500-FAIR or visit www.stellashows.com or www.countryliving.com/fair. The Dutchess Fairgrounds are located at 6550 Spring Brook Avenue (Route 9) in Rhinebeck.
Country Living Fair, Friday-Sunday, June 1-3, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., $13-$40, Dutchess County Fairgrounds, 6550 Spring Brook Avenue/Route 9, Rhinebeck; (866) 500-FAIR, www.stellashows.com, www.countryliving.com/fair.
Join the family! 
