By Chuck Stewart, Jr.
Beacon - It’s that time of year. When the weather turns warm and we begin to shed our winter layers of clothing. The weekend weather is perfect and the festivals are plentiful.
Last weekend was no exception. One only had to look to the Hudson River to see the sloop Woodie Guthrie offering free rides on the Hudson. Her purpose is to promote the beauty and wonder of the Hudson River by offering free sails to the public. Following her back to land, you soon discovered it was part of the lure for Beacon Sloop Club’s annual Strawberry Festival.
Hundreds were drawn to Riverfront Park in Beacon to get their fill of tasty strawberries. The scent of fresh strawberries were everywhere. People lined up to get a bowl of strawberries from vendors who topped them off with a heaping of fresh whipped cream. Others waited in line for the strawberry shortcake. Some went for the old faithful chocolate-covered strawberries. And if you were thirsty, there were of course strawberry smoothies.
With your prized treat in hand, you could now find a patch of green grass to sit back, relax and listen to the musical entertainment. Throughout the afternoon, performers like folk legend Pete Seeger, entertained with music and stories. Folks clapped their hands, tapped their feet, and sang along to old favorites like "If I Had a Hammer."
There were also other food vendors, offering a wide variety of cuisine (if you didn’t want strawberries). In addition to food, their were informational, clothing, arts and craft, and jewelry booths to peruse.
Environmental groups such as Clearwater had plenty of information on the environment to distribute. The mid-Hudson Animal Aid had people ready to help you find that perfect companion.
For the smaller ones, there was a face painter, sand art, and the ever favorite popular bouncy.
Funds raised at the annual Strawberry Festival help with the overall expenses of the Woody Guthrie and other activities sponsored by the Sloop Club.
The next festival will be this Saturday and Sunday, at Croton Point Park, when Clearwater’s Great Hudson River Revival will take place.
