Briefly noted across the region (9/22/21)

Walktoberfest returns to Walkway October 2-3

The Walktoberfest Essential Farmers’ and Makers’ Market will be held on Saturday and Sunday, October 2 and 3 from noon to 5 p.m. at the Walkway over the Hudson’s Ulster Welcome Center Plaza and Hudson Valley Rail Trail at 87 Haviland Road in Highland. The event will feature a sample of what the Hudson Valley has to offer, including food and drink for purchase; wine, beer and spirits sampling; farm products; artisan goods; children’s activities and more.

All vendors are distanced throughout a wide, open area. Tickets are limited to avoid crowding. $25 tasting tickets are on sale now.

Walktoberfest brings a curated selection of the Hudson Valley’s finest producers – farms, distilleries, breweries, wineries, restaurants, artists, artisans and more – to the Hudson Valley Rail Trail and west approach to the Walkway over the Hudson State Historic Park.

For complete information, tickets and a list of participants, visit https://walkway.org/walktoberfest.

“We’re tremendously pleased to host another great Walktoberfest with the Hudson Valley Rail Trail on the west approach to Walkway over the Hudson,” said Elizabeth Waldstein, executive director of Friends of the Walkway. “This is an opportunity to showcase the bounty of the Hudson Valley, in partnership with HVRT, Town of Lloyd, New York State Parks Ulster County, Department of Ag and our generous sponsors, volunteers and vendors.”

All proceeds from Walktoberfest benefit the Friends of the Walkway and Hudson Valley Rail Trail, who have partnered to present this farmers’ market.

All attendees are required to wear a face covering except when sampling. Tickets are limited to discourage large gatherings of people, and entry for walk-up admission may be delayed if Walktoberfest reaches capacity. Traffic flow will be controlled where necessary. All seating areas and the children’s activity area are set up for social distancing. Hand-sanitizing stations will be available throughout the space.

Olana Plein Air Festival launches this Saturday

Drawing America, the Olana Partnership and the Olana State Historic Site announce the Olana Plein Air Festival on Saturday, September 25. Participants of all skill levels are invited to participate in this all-day festival taking place at the Olana State Historic Site.

Based in New York, Drawing America, a teaching and learning community of over 9,500 members, creates custom classes for organizations, corporations and private groups. “We are thrilled to partner with the Olana Partnership and Olana State Historic Site to make this event a reality,” says Simon Levenson, founder of Drawing America. “Our partnership will help make the Olana Plein Air Festival an inclusive, accessible and vibrantly creative event at such a perfect location!”

“Olana is the ideal venue for this inclusive open-air painting festival. We are grateful to our partners, Drawing America and the Olana Partnership, and to New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation for their support for this inaugural event that celebrates Olana’s artistic heritage and is accessible to people of all ages, skills and abilities,” said Amy Hausmann, director of the Olana State Historic Site.

During this daylong festival open to participants of all skill levels, participants are invited to bring their own supplies and materials to paint throughout Olana’s landscape. General admission to the festival provides each registrant with a plein-air painting map, a gift bag (while supplies last) and early access to set up their easels overlooking Olana’s famous views.

Those who are interested in diving deeper into their artmaking practice can register for one of eight artist-led workshops held throughout the day. Workshops will be held during morning and afternoon timeslots and will focus on a range of topics such as Introduction to Landscape Painting, Field Sketching, Plein Air Watercolor Painting and Painting the Figure in Nature. Workshops will be led by a diverse range of professional artists practiced in various media, including Eileen Murphy (Brooklyn), Mario Robinson (Altus, Oklahoma), Eudes Correia (Brazil), William Low (New York) and Jean Mackay (Schodack Landing).

“Frederic Church’s masterwork Olana is the ultimate place for creative inspiration and artistic exploration,” says Carolyn Keogh, director of Education and Public Programs at the Olana Partnership. “We are delighted to work with Drawing America to bring artists of diverse skill levels and media to create outdoors at Olana.”

To make this one-day festival accessible to the widest possible audience, general registration costs $25 (free for students under 16 with an adult) and workshops are offered at $45. Scholarships are available upon request. To register and learn more, visit www.drawingamerica.com or e-mail education@olana.org.