CALLICOON, NY — The Callicoon Street Fair has been a long-time staple of summer entertainment in the Upper Delaware River Valley, and this year it is coming back in a fresh new incarnation: the Callicoon Country Fair, themed to emphasize our area’s farming heritage, on Saturday, July 25. There will be animals, attractions and demonstrations to underline that theme, more local vendors, more things to do, and this year it will be happening all over town.

According to Irene Nickolai, president of the town business association, organizers had three guiding principles in reimagining the fair for this year: theming; bringing the whole town, from Upper Main to Callicoon Creek Park, within the scope of the festivities; and expanding the attractions and activities provided for kids.

The theme is perfect for the town, as much of the working farmland in Sullivan County is concentrated in the northwest portion where Callicoon is, in effect, the capital—a fact already celebrated in the enormously popular Tractor Parade, held on the second weekend of June. To bear out the country theme, there will be a tent set up in Callicoon Creek Park, where 4-H animals, alpacas from Buck Brook Alpacas, a cow from Kay’s Farm, sheep from Callicoon’s Will-O-Wool Farm, and many more of our furry friends can be encountered up close and personal—not to mention Sullivan County’s own Dairy Princess. Will-O-Wool Farm will be represented, with some of the lanolin and fiber products they make from their own sheep, and a possible spinning demonstration is in the works. Diehl Farm will be there as well, with cotton candy made, appropriately enough, from its own maple syrup. The country theme will even be given a bit of a Western slant, given that the day of the fair is also National Cowboy Day, with Bangor, PA-based Sue Kies, a trick roper who will demonstrate her skills for the crowd.

To transform the whole town into a festival venue, this year the area between Upper and Lower Main Streets will be part of the fun. Some of this area will house the new attractions for kids: there will be pony rides and booths with old-fashioned children’s games like basketball hoops and a dart toss, complete with prizes, sponsored by Callicoon Supply. The Job Corps, a major local employer and presence in town, is also providing major support for the games: in addition to constructing the booths, youngsters from the Job Corps (under the supervision of Job Corps personnel) will assist in manning the booths, directing traffic and otherwise helping the event run smoothly. There will also be food vendors and a stage for musical entertainment near the train station. As for displaced parking, the organizers have thought of that as well; Nickolai pointed out that the Western Hotel on Upper Main has 25 parking spots that will be available. You can also park at the Delaware Youth Center at the bottom of Lower Main, along Upper Main. or on Audrey Dorrer Drive along Callicoon Creek.

On Upper Main Street, Callicoon Brewery will hold micro-brewery tastings. On Main Street, vendors will line up, including artists and artisans selling locally made, handmade art, crafts and products. Move toward the river and you will come to Callicoon Creek Park, where you will find not only the animal tent, but another tent hosting more microbrewery tastings, sponsored by the Roscoe Beer Company; as well as tastings of Catskill Distilling Company’s award-winning products; and a second stage, this one on the riverfront.

Nickolai said that enhancing the musical entertainment has been another aim of the revamp, and there will be plenty. As of July 1, 10 bands had been booked, including local favorites like Little Sparrow as well as newer faces like Shlomo Franklin, who has received rave reviews from TRR’s Jonathan Fox. If you like dancing, you can do that too: Poison Love and caller Laurie B. will be there to lead some contra dancing.

Nickolai mentioned more events and attractions than we can fit in here; to name a few: Bold Archery Design of Jeffersonville will set up an archery station; there will be photo and selfie stations; there will be a dance performance by the Catskill Dance Company; and the Delaware Valley Opera Company will be there. The truth is, in order to find out all there is to do, you’ll just have to show up and see for yourself.

Check out and like the Country Fair Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/callicooncountryfair, for daily updates, map and schedules.