New York wines celebrated at Harvest Festival opener

BETHEL, NY — The Harvest Festival at Bethel Woods opens with its annual Wine Festival on Sunday, August 30. The festival will feature a tasting of 16 regional wineries from the Finger Lakes and the Hudson Valley’s Shawangunk Wine Trail. Wine is available for tasting and for sale. There is a $5 tasting fee, which includes a complimentary souvenir glass (available while supplies last).

This year marks the 11th anniversary of the Harvest Festival at Bethel Woods, an annual event celebrating the bounty, talent, and beauty of Sullivan County and surrounding areas. . Over the years, the festival has grown from a small farmer’s market with a handful of vendors and a few guest musicians, to a full festival featuring close to 100 vendors each week as part of the farmers’ market, craft village and festival food areas. The festival also presents artist demos, corn and hay mazes, pony rides, art and education programs, a Woodstock and ‘60s themed table auction, “gathering of the scarecrows” and more.

There will be live folk music by Joe Crookston at 11:30 a.m. and Helen Avakian at 2:30 p.m., plus a performance by The Dance Emporium of Middletown at 1:45 p.m. County Historian John Conway will be at the festival signing his new release, “Sullivan County: A Bicentennial History in Images.”

Activities held in the children’s area this week will include a ‘60s inspired paint project with The Museum at Bethel Woods education manager, Margaret Hughes, an art activity with Matt Sherman, and a dance demonstration by The Dance Emporium of Middletown. The corn and hay mazes will be operated by, and proceeds will benefit, Bethel First and Bethel Lions Club. The Sullivan County SPCA will also be on site with adoptable dogs.

One of the wineries participating will be Basha Kill Vineyards, Sullivan County’s first commercial winery. The vineyard is on a slight slope which flows down to the Bashakill wetlands, which provides ideal conditions for growing. The moist, warmer air off of the wetlands pushes the colder air off the vineyard and provides a blanket, protecting the vines from the early frosts so commonly found in this region.

The Harvest Festival at Bethel Woods occurs every Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., August 30 through Columbus Day weekend, rain or shine. A $2 per car parking fee has been implemented to help offset costs to operate the festival. Admission is free.