Octoberfest Kicks Off Holiday Events at Fairgrounds
After a year-long hiatus due to COVID-19, the Dutchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck, New York opened back up in August 2021 with a full schedule of events to the end of the year, much to the delight of Dutchess County residents.
“I’m so glad the Fairgrounds is back open,” Poughkeepsie local Desiree Velez said. “It opened back up at the perfect time too, right before the holidays. I cannot wait to see what events they have for the holiday season.”
The Dutchess County Fairgrounds kicked off the holiday season with its two-day Handcrafted Octoberfest festival. This festival brought together the handcrafted, artisanal, and agricultural — from wearable and laudable fine art, to the Hudson River Valley’s best brew, wine, and specialty foods. To many locals, it was the perfect festival for the start of autumn.
“The Octoberfest today was the perfect way to start off the fall and holiday seasons,” Caroline Kirsten, a resident of Rhinebeck said. “The art, the music, the food, everything showcased today all encapsulated the essence of fall.”
There were a plethora of stands showcasing all kinds of different goods and art pieces that those who attended the festival were fond of. From paintings, to handmade fountains and knitwear, to wooden rocking chairs, there was something for everyone. If you liked something well enough, you could even buy it. Upon walking into the Dutchess Fairgrounds, you were met with a number of people waiting at stands, smiling, eager to talk about their art pieces.
The Octoberfest festival at the Dutchess Fairgrounds was a family event, which meant there were even things for kids to enjoy.
As you walked further into the Fairgrounds, there was an entire spot sectioned off for children with a tent for them to make their own art pieces. The highlight of the festival for children, however, was the petting zoo. Children were able to pet rabbits, chickens, and a turtle. There were other animals for kids to look at like lemurs, baby kangaroos, and snakes. This was a great addition to the festival for parents who wanted to walk around and see everything on display.
“The kids get tired of walking around, you know,” Mary O’Handley said. “I practically had to pull my kids away from the petting zoo. It was great.”
The Octoberfest was the first of many festivals that will be held at the Dutchess Fairgrounds grounds this holiday season. With the end of the year fast approaching, there are only a few events left that you won’t want to miss. Go to the event calendar on dutchessfair.com for more information on upcoming events and festivals.
