15th Annual Whitney Point Fall Festival

The Greater Whitney Point Community Planning Committee Corporation is pleased to announce that plans for the 15th annual Fall Festival are well underway.  This year’s festival will be held on Saturday, October 27th.

The entertainment line-up includes a wide variety of performers.  Ron Cain, founder of Cain Magic Company, performs at libraries, schools, festivals, businesses and family parties throughout the state. Television viewers have enjoyed his work on the PBS show “Pappyland,” televised nationally on the Learning Channel, and “Saturday Showboat,” produced by NBC’s Syracuse affiliate. They also rented a China LED display for everyone to enjoy watching. He belongs to the Society of American Magicians and the International Brotherhood of Magicians, which inducted him into its Order of Merlin.

Steve Tomecek, “The Dirtmeister”, is the Executive Director and founder of Science Plus, Inc.  Steve began his career as a geologist. In addition to still working as a scientist, Steve also has had interesting jobs as a science educator.  He served as the Director for the Science Museum of Long Island and as Science Program Supervisor for the New York Hall of Science. He currently serves as the Science Advisor for Age of Learning, Inc. and as a writer for the National Geographic Society.  Steve has written over 45 books for both adults and children. He recently appeared in Whitney Point as part of the Mary Wilcox Memorial Library summer program series.

J.P. Crangle, caricature artist, will be on hand to share his talents with Fall Festival attendees.

Kevin LaDue of LaDue Music Company, Whitney Point, will share acoustic guitar music and vocals in the TRA gymnasium as part of the Craft Fair.  Meredith Kohn Bocek of The Harp Studio in Apalachin, and Curt Osgood, an accomplished hammer dulcimer player from Binghamton will play in the “little” gym as part of the Triangle Quilt Guild quilt display.

The Stoutmen will be performing at Sparky’s Pub and Grill at the Oakland Hotel Their strong, straightforward singing of traditional songs is in the style of the Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem, Dubliners, and Wolf Tones.  They present a great mix of powerful rebel songs, jovial drinking songs, toe-tapping reels and beautiful Irish ballads.

History buffs won’t want to miss the walking tour of Riverside Cemetery on Collins Street in Whitney Point.  The tour of this centuries old cemetery will be led by Christine Gillette, Historian for the Town of Barker. Gerald Smith, Broome County Historian will share “On the Seamy Side of the Street: Colorful Characters of Broome County,” at 1:00 in the Mary Wilcox Memorial Library.

The festival will include a craft and vendor fair.  There will many other activities, demonstrations, contests, and exhibits.  There is sure to be something for everyone! Check  the schedule in this edition of  Cortland Area Tribune, or visit www.whitneypointfallfestival.org for more information.

This project is made possible with public funds from the Chenango Arts Council’s Decentralization Program, a re-grant program of the NYS Council on the Arts, with support from Governor Cuomo and the NYS Legislature.