Harvest, Halloween, HauntingsOh, My

SCHOHARIE COUNTY — Think festival fun is over by Labor Day?  Not exactly.  There are a lot of indoor and outdoor events happening between now and Halloween, even into November.  Here is a run-down of several happenings in Schoharie County.  Check other nearby county and village calendars for even more events.

Looking to work on crafty décor for fall (and beyond, including holiday gifts)? The Studio for Art and Craft on Main Street in Cobleskill is highlighting ceramic pumpkins and gourds to paint, along with a Hocus Pocus item, and other stained glass and stoneware projects. Details on special events being held at nearby locations are listed by date below. 

END OF AUGUST

To close out the summer, the weekend of August 30-31 includes the 42nd Annual Iroquois Arts Festival at the Iroquois Museum in Howe’s Cave, featuring Haudenosaunee culture, dancing, arts, storytellers, family crafts and wildlife. Charges to members, non-members, and children vary.  Then head over to Cobleskill to Empty Pockets Ranch where with FREE entry (Parking, however is $10), the 5th Annual Sunflower Festival offers vendors, entertainment, food, and animal petting. See Facebook pages for details on each event.

SEPTEMBER

The September 6th and 7th weekend features Schoharie Library’s annual Book Sale & Trustee Treasures Porch Sale on Saturday the 6th, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 103 Knower Ave. See Facebook for details. On Sunday the 7th, Market in the Meadow happens from noon to 4 p.m. at Wayward Lane Brewing at 255 Ward Lane in Schoharie, with a farmers market, live music, and food trucks.  That day at 3 p.m. Serious Brewing ,116 Caverns Road in Howes Cave, hosts a Stained Glass class by The Studio for Art and Craft.  See thestudioforartandcraft.com for details and registration.

On September 13th  Grapevine Farms hosts a fundraiser Garden Party for Schoharie Animal Shelter. A $50 ticket includes dinner, music, and a silent auction from 4 to 7 p.m.  See the Animal Shelter of Schoharie Valley Facebook page for details and purchase tickets from the shelter or from Grapevine Farms ahead of time. (www.grapevinefarms.com or www.schoharieanimalshelter.org ).

September 14th the Joshua Project hosts an Annual Family Fun Day at Wayward Lane Brewing, Ward Lane in Schoharie, from 12 to 3. Free admission covers games and activities, crafts, and vendors. Hungry?  There’s popcorn, chicken BBQ, and more. The same day, from 4 to 6 p.m., The Studio for Art and Craft holds a Halloween pottery class at Serious Brewing on Caverns Road in Howes Cave. Register at www.thestudioforartandcraft.com.  Materials, instruction, and a drink are included.

Get into the “spirit” of the season on September 18 with a  group reading by Psychic Medium Katie Manning at Grapevine Farms beginning at 5 p.m. Light fare appetizers will be served prior to the presentation. Tickets are $65 from Katie (call 518-234-9148). Contact Grapevine Farms for details at shop@grapevinefarms.com. 

Schoharie County gets busy on the weekend of September 20th and 21st. In Chalybeate Park, Sharon Springs, the 15th Annual Sharon Springs Harvest Festival has a full schedule of artisans, vendors, live music, demonstrations, delicious food and beverages, seasonal produce and a trip to a local orchard for apple picking. 

Nearby, Cobleskill’s annual tradition of village- and town-wide tag sales begins at 8 a.m. on the 20th until 5 pm. Cobleskill Partnership, Inc. invites local organizations to share information and host activities in Veterans Memorial Centre  Park. 

On the 21st,  Laura Kelley Pottery hosts a Harvest Bazaar—open to the public-- from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Middleburgh Reformed Church, 178 River Street, with food, artisans and a café to benefit mission projects.  Contact larakelleypottery@gmail.com .  Also in Middleburgh that day, The Treasure Barn gift and thrift shop at 2956 State Route 30 hosts a Craft Fair with 20 vendors and Chris’s Concession food truck.

Don’t miss the 49th Annual Fall Antiques in Schoharie organized by the Schoharie Colonial Heritage Association on September 27th and 28th on the grounds of the Schoharie Valley Railroad Museum complex on Depot Lane, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday and 10a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Heritage Crafters and dozens of vendors will be there. Country Kitchen’s selling food, desserts, and beverages. Money raised benefits Schoharie Valley Railroad Museum and the 1743 Palatine House Museum.

OCTOBER

There is no place like the historic Stone Fort (and nearby cemetery) at 145 Fort Road in Schoharie to begin celebrating the fall season. On Saturday, October 4, their 3rd Annual Fall Festival from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., features craft vendors, local organizations, and a quilt show from 10 to4. There’s music all day, food vendors and adult or non-alcoholic beverages,. 

Saturday, October 11th also at the Stone Fort in Schoharie, a Trunk or Treat event, features cool cars and candy, between 2 and 5 p.m.  

Check out the Middleburgh Oktoberfest on the 11th, at the Baker Avenue William “Bill” Morton Park Pavilion from noon to 5:30 p.m. Live music featuring Crossfire, family games, along with Chicken BBQ from Ten Pin Catering, New York State produced beers and cider. Middleburgh Fire Department receives $5 from every dinner sold. More details on the Middleburgh Oktoberfest Facebook page.

Grapevine Farms on Route 7 in Cobleskill will host a dinner on October 11th with a presentation by Orange County Paranormal followed by a mini- investigation on the premises. Dinner is $45, and another $45 covers the hour-long investigation.

More from The Studio for Art and Craft at Serious Brewing on Caverns Road in Howes Cave on October 19, with a class on painting and decorating stoneware plates and serving dishes, just in time for the upcoming holidays as gifts or for those big holiday meals.

Trustco Bank in the Walmart complex in Cobleskill will hold a Trunk or Treat on October 24th in the parking lot close to Dollar General behind the branch. 

Prepare for Halloween Schoharie style on October 28th  by gathering for the Foxes Town Ghost Watch after dark at Lily Park. Bring lawn seating or blankets to sit on and wrap up in, and wear warm clothing. Candlelit pumpkins and lanterns illuminate the lawn between the park footpath and the covered bridge where the Schoharie (and beyond) ghostly tales will be told. Flashlights are recommended for navigating to and from parking and the event. Cost per person will be $10 cash/check only for 10 years and older. Under 10 free. In case of rain, group will meet in the nearby Nicholas Juried Pavilion.  Bring a camera for the end of the ghost tales. Details for parking and more available on www.turningpoint1777.com . 

Look for upcoming stories of ghostly encounters in Scary Schoharie County – planned  for October.