Fine Arts & Festivals in the Great Northern Catskills

Hudson River Skywalk, a walking path on the Rip Van Winkle bridge, is viewed from artist Frederic Edwin Church’s Olana, and connects to the Thomas Cole historic site, on the Hudson River School Art Trail © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

Where can you see Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts, Little Big Town, and Brooks & Dunn all in one place? At the Taste of Country Music Festival at Hunter Mountain, June 7-9! One of the Catskill’s premier summer festivals, country music fans flock to this three-day event each year. Camp out for the complete experience and you’ll be rewarded with special concerts, great food, and craft beer from a wide variety of amazing vendors.

If you prefer banjos and stand-up basses, the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival is for you. Held at Walsh Farm from July 18-21, Grey Fox’s who’s who of bluegrass line-up boasts 40 bands playing on six outdoor stages over four days. It’s non-stop, family-friendly, toe-tapping fun. Combine your bluegrass experience with a visit to the Annual Catskills Irish Arts Week, held concurrently from July 14-20 in East Durham. It’s a week-long celebration of Irish culture that includes live music, traditional Irish dancers, workshops, lectures, art, and more.

A festival on two wheels, the 12th Annual Tour of the Catskills Pro-Am Bicycle Road Race will be held in Tannersville on August 3. One of the nation’s top cycling events, this Pro-Am race draws over 250 racers each year from throughout the world. Considered one of the toughest cycling courses in the country for amateurs and professionals alike, racers will give their all just to get through the ‘Devil’s Kitchen Climb,’ a grueling uphill portion of the course. Cheer the athletes on, or register and see if you have what it takes!

Rev up the fun and watch daring riders kick up the dirt and reach serious speeds at Diamondback Motocross of East Durham. With three Sunday race days this summer – June 16, July 7, and July 28 – there’s no excuse for missing this thrilling event. Landing big-air jumps and racing around tight corners, it’s an adrenaline junkie’s dream come true for riders, and a heartpounding spectacle for those on the sidelines!

The Catskill Region has long been a place where poets, painters, writers, and photographers have found artistic inspiration. The stunning natural surroundings and ample opportunities for reflective solitude make it a haven for creative minds. As a result, it also holds incredible appeal for those who appreciate the fine arts.

There is no better place to begin your Catskills arts and culture exploration than at the Thomas Cole National Historic Site. There, the former home and studio of Hudson River School of Art founder Thomas Cole still stands, now serving as a museum of Catskills art history and a working gallery and studio.

Exchange traditional for contemporary when you visit the LUMBERYARD Center for Film and Performing Arts. This modern-day studio and performance center is a wonderful place for audiences to enjoy unique theater, dance, and film productions, and a place for budding artists to hone their craft and blaze their own artistic path. Browse their upcoming events or learn more about their leading-edge artist-in-residence programs.

With so many incredible performance spaces and galleries to choose from, it’s easy to make the arts part of any visit to the Great Northern Catskills. Check the performance schedules of the Bridge Street Theatre in Catskill and the Orpheum Film and Performing Arts Center in Tannersville to find world class concerts, theater productions, and one-of-a-kind shows, or stop by a local art gallery to see breathtaking works by talented local artists.

What is it about the Great Northern Catskills that is so inspiring to artistic minds? Take a walk along the new Hudson River Skywalk to see for yourself! Hundreds of feet in the air, the mile-long Skywalk connects the homes of two famed Hudson River School painters, Thomas Cole and Frederic Church. Spanning a picturesque portion of the Hudson River, several outlooks along the path provide panoramic views of the water below and the surrounding mountains. It is a view that has inspired countless photographs, paintings, and written works, including the famous fable of Rip Van Winkle. While pets are not allowed, sketch books, cameras, and easels are encouraged!

Greene County Tourism, 800-355-CATS, 518-943-3223, www.greatnortherncatskills.com..

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4th Annual Salem Main Streets Salem Arts Festival to be Held June 1-3

A painting depicting early Salem, in the Essex Peabody Museum. The 4th annual Salem Main Streets Salem Arts Festival will be held June 1 – 3 © 2012 Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com.

The 4^th annual Salem Main Streets Salem Arts Festival will be held June 1^st – 3^rd. The popular and ever- growing event will feature over 80 artists including local bands, painters, photographers, poets, belly dancers, to name a few. The Festival is a family friendly event with free performances, free art making activities and a fantastic range of art on display.

“People love the Salem Arts Festival because it makes art accessible. The festival is completely free from the incredible dance and music to the Juried Art Show in Old Town Hall. We include work ranging from renowned professionals to a 3^rd grade boy.” says Jennifer Bell, Manager of Salem Main Streets (SMS), a community non-profit organization which started the Festival. “This year for the first time art patrons will have an opportunity to buy art from the Juried Art Show as well as from a Juried Street Fair,” Bell adds.

Run by a team of volunteers, including representatives from Salem State University, the Peabody Essex Museum and the Salem Arts Association, the Salem Arts Festival is a free event for residents and visitors. The goal of the festival is to promote all the arts in Salem and to provide the entire North Shore arts community an opportunity to showcase their talents.

The Festival is spread out at a variety of venues in downtown Salem, anchored at the Essex Street Walking Mall. A Juried Art Show will be held in Old Town Hall. This year live performances and demonstrations will be held outside, at the Museum Place Mall Fountain (weather permitting). Last year Festival attendance numbers were over 4,000 people and we expect an even larger crowd this year. Rain location for the performances is upstairs Old Town Hall.

The festival kicks off with an opening reception in Old Town Hall Friday, June 1 at 5 p.m. Enjoy beautiful art work and be entertained by Brian Rolland and the Paul Madore Chorale. Saturday and Sunday starting at 11 a.m. there will be live music and dance at the East India Fountain on Essex Street and a Juried Art Show for viewing in Old Town Hall. This year’s festival includes acting improve, a reciting of a chapter from the Odyssey, belly dancing and abstract art making and lots of local favorites playing like Machine 475 and the Heather Maloney Band.

Festival patrons can also enjoy the City of Salem’s Beautification Committee “Lady Of Salem” project, a summer long celebration of Salem’s rich maritime history featuring colorful, creative and whimsical ship figureheads painted by local artist. This exhibit will debut during the Salem Arts Festival and be on display downtown starting June 1. The “Ladies” remain in Port for all to enjoy June-October.

The Salem Arts Festival is offered free to all.

Visitors interested in attending the Salem Arts Festival can find easy access to the downtown by public transportation or parking at one of the many downtown lots in the City. For more information, visit www.salemartsfestival.com.

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