(Photo by Dion Ogust)
Consider the greatness of the lowly cauliflower, which will be celebrated this Saturday, September 28 as the Catskills community of Margaretville holds its annual Cauliflower Festival. One of the family Brassica oleracea, which includes cabbages, broccoli, kale and Brussels sprouts, the veggies are low in fat, low in carbohydrates and high in fiber and vitamin C. For generations, they were one of the region’s staples, and the upper Delaware River valley was considered one of the vegetable’s main growing areas in the world.
This Saturday’s family-friendly Cauliflower Festival celebrates this heritage of farming, down-home cooking and folk culture with several varieties of cauliflower and cauliflower-centered dishes for sale, a fun tractor parade at 11:30 a.m. and at 2 p.m., hay-bale demonstrations on a farm adjacent to the riverside festival grounds, history tents, lots of food, including pulled pork and baked goods, and loads of folk and bluegrass music, along with a community square dance. New this year will be a Sheep and Wool Festival, with both animals and woolen products, prepared by local vendors.
Annual Cauliflower Festival, Saturday, September 28, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., free, Village of Margaretville Pavilion, Bridge Street, Margaretville (off Route 28); (845) 586-3300, www.cauliflowerfestival.com.
