The nostalgia-themed Old Timers’ Day, plus a raucous bed-race, will be held Aug. 6. Main and Partition streets will be closed to traffic from noon to 5 p.m. Old Timers’ Day will kick off with a parade of beds down Partition Street at noon. There will be live music all day.
At Kiersted House, there will be several history-themed displays and lectures. Baseball historian John Thorn and Native American heritage expert Sadie Numssen will be on hand. Ulster County Clerk Nina Postupak will distribute information and exhibit games people played during the colonial era. Ronald Rifenberg, a cooper, or barrel-maker, will demonstrate his craft at Smith Hardware. Ray Mayone will offer horse and wagon rides; Anita Barbour will introduce people to the art of paper folding called origami at the library; and the Saugerties Vintage Tractor Club will educate people about antique farm equipment.
The zany highlight is sure to be the first ever Great Saugerties Bed Race on Partition Street, for which prizes will be awarded to teams of four bed-pushers for speed, costumes, creativity and “Most Outrageous.” The festivities will conclude with a free square dance at the HITS facility from 7 to 9 p.m., featuring Earl Pardini and the Slide Mountain Band.
The bed race winner’s awards presentation will take place at 4 p.m., followed by a concert by the Kingston Sea Chantey Singers.
Many stores will offer items at yesteryear prices, too. Participating businesses, according to a map distributed by the Saugerties Historical society, include:
English Garden Custom Framing 10% store items, 20% custom framing, sidewalk sale, 135 Partition St.
The Reformed Church Barbeque, hot dogs & hamburgers, watermelon, historic tours, 173 Main St.
Main Street Restaurant Sidewalk sale w/Old time prices, 244 Main St.
Central Hotel Antiques Sidewalk sale, 20% off, 83 Partition St.
Pacha Mama Sidewalk sale, 165 Partition St.
Partition Street Wine Shop Raffle for $50 gift certificate, 102 Partition St.
Willow Tree Sidewalk sale, 243 Main St.
Our Bookstore Sidewalk sale, 97 Partition St.
Hudson Valley Dessert Co. Contest- Guess the number of coffee beans in a jar, win a prize, 264 Main st.
Juda Leah Atelier & Boutique Period costumes, handmade jewelry workshop, 103 Partition St
Happy Paws Thrift Shop Sidewalk sale, 282 Main St.
Bob’s Furniture Things Sidewalk sale, 230 Main St.
Kid Around Sidewalk sale, local crafts, 114 Partition St.
Montano’s Sidewalk sale, inside display of shoes, 77 Partition St.
Red Hook Shoe Repair Sidewalk sale, 107 Partition St.
Love Bites Cafe Period-related items, 85 Partition St
Lucky Chocolates Penny candy, 115 Partition St
Sugartown Vintage Boutique Employees dress in period clothing, 114 Partition St
Root Note music shop, live sidewalk music, 207 Main St
Fox & Crane Hula hooping event, 250 Main St.
Green Sidewalk sale, 92 Partition St.
Family Lodge Victorian tea, 108 Main St.
Smith Hardware Old Time sidewalk sales, employees dress in period hats, 223 Main St.
Other events/features include:
Ronald Rifenberg-Master cooper craftsman – Smith Hardware
Sadie Numssen – Native American display – Kiersted House
John Thorn – Official historian, Major League Baseball, book signing to benefit Historical Society
Joe Sinnott, Spider Man illustrator
Horse rides at the American Legion on Lafayette St.
Bill Nieffer- Flag display – Kiersted house
Audrey Klinkenberg – Town historianlLibrary, Ulster County Round Table
Saugerties Vintage Tractor Club – Main St.
Saugerties Community Band – Kiersted House
Linda Russell – New York Council for the Humanities – Kiersted House
Ulster County Clerk Nina Postupak –
Kiersted House
Town of Saugerties Historic Commission-culturial survey – library
Anita Barbour – origami – library
I thoroughly enjoyed the Great Bed Race this past Saturday, hope to see this continue, unlike the Jazz Festival that was also a wonderful event, but discontinued for some sad reason…