By Jenny Neal
FLEISCHMANNS — The 2nd Annual Village Fest of Fleischmanns was a rip-roaring success this year, following on from its great success of last year, its inaugural year. The brainchild of Joe DeVito of the Print House, it was a day of music, food, art and culture from 10am to 4pm.
The event was a “team effort” said Joe, who organized it with his wife Rebecca, and they collaborated with Randy Leer and Heidi Stonier of Arts Inn.
“We wanted to keep it more local this year”, said Joe. “We reached out to friends who are doing what we are doing here, but in other villages, like Cafe Marguerite, and food trucks. We wanted to create something that felt hyper-local and really like a taste of the area”.
This eclectic village festival seemed very much a community event: a combination of village fair and block party, with some local residents hanging their art for sale in their front yard, and musicians playing on porches and in the public gazebo by La Cabana restaurant.
At the Arts Inn, a figure drawing session took place from noon to 1pm with live model Robin Williams. This art session was attended by members of the current Catskills figure drawing group originally started by William Duke almost ten years ago. These weekly sessions take place in Andes over the summer months, and are hosted by Gary Mayer at ArtUp in Margaretville during the winter. All were welcome and encouraged by Arts Inn proprietor Heidi Stonier to try sketching or painting, regardless of skill or experience.
The Print House is known for being “music forward” and Joe wanted to bring more music to the area. “The village had done such a great job with Memorial Day throughout the years, so I thought it a great idea to bookend the summer with an event like this”.
Vendors included Honeybee Herbs, Cafe Marguerite, Kimchee Kitchen, Sacred Soil, Two Stones Farm, Catskill Mountain Embers (delicious pizza), Shandaken Inn, Candle Alchemist and more.
Honeybee Herbs Store had a large booth near 1053 Gallery. Honeybee Herbs is owned by Kelley Edkins, a local beekeeper whose bees roam the wild forests of the Catskills. Kelley’s stand offered a wide variety of lotions, potions, soaps, herbs, teas, and honey-based products. You can find all these products in her store on Main Street in Margaretville.
Live music was provided at different venues along Main Street so attendees could stroll around, eat tasty food, and enjoy the music. The line-up was Marji Zintz, Callie Mckenzie, Jaketown Road, Gabe Parsons, Joe Colwell, Simone Ayers & The Robert Hill Band and Lali & The Pops, who played in the Arts Inn backyard. The Print House was packed all afternoon and the festivities continued in there until 8pm.
Says Joe: “I wanted to make sure the spirit of what we’re doing is captured. Our village is full of many different folks. I wanted to do something that got everybody together to enjoy the day of music and art, which is what our village projects, where art and music and community is at the forefront. Fleischmanns is alive and well and its a fun place to hang out”.
The event was sponsored by Catskills Air, in partnership with Fleischmanns First, Shandaken Inn, MTC, with support from 1053 Main Street Gallery, Upward Brewery, Sounds Good Music and Shamro’s Tire. A grant was provided by Delaware County Tourism.
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