By Barbara Arnstein
This Saturday, June 18th, Randolph, NY will host their 48th Annual Arts & Crafts Festival from 10-5pm. There will be dozens of craft and food vendors all along its Main Street, and lots of fun things to do. There will be performers to see and hear, including Old Dawg Bluegrass, a band that will be playing bluegrass from 3-5pm. Recently they played “Dancing with the Angels” at the Cold Springs Old Time Music Festival in Steamburg, NY.
At 10:30am and 12:30pm there’s the humbly named “Super Hilarious Magic Show”, performed by Nick Mambretti. The charismatic performer has presented shows at numerous birthday parties, festivals and functions for years, enthralling adults and children alike and creating wonderful memories for his audiences. Along with his card tricks and other amazing feats, he performs what seem like genuine miracles. Here’s a comment about that, from a woman named Gretchen, who hired him to perform at a children’s party: “He entertained 18 children from age two to age fifteen and kept their attention for the entire show”. Seems like a miracle to me!
Sculpting is an amazing talent to have. A sculptor begins with a featureless hunk of something and shapes it into an intricate work of art. At the festival you can watch a talented sculptor at work, someone who’s sculpted pretty flowers, charming gnomes, an eagle and even an eagle’s feather…nope, not out of marble with a chisel, but out of wood using a chainsaw! He’s known as Vince the Tree Guy, as muscled as he is artistic.
There’s lots more fun: a DJ will be playing music throughout the day. There’s a Dog Show at 1:30pm sponsored by Julie’s Groom and Board, including several categories, that will surely be won by Good Boys and Good Girls (with four furry paws). All show entrants must register at the RACDC Information Booth beginning at 1pm. When you get hungry, listen for the sizzle of Italian sausage and steak sandwiches, juicy burgers and franks, accompanied by curly fries. When you get thirsty, look for the fresh-squeezed lemonade.
There’s going to be a Dunk Tank, where you can throw a ball, and if you hit the bullseye, cause someone to fall — SPLOOSH! — into a tank of water. The Randolph Central School FFA is running a “Kiss the Cow” contest. The class of 2027 will be hosting a Football Toss Booth.
I think the easiest way to keep this festival’s delights in mind is to turn them into lyrics for a lively bluegrass tune. Okay, I’ve done it. Now everyone hum along:
“Tap your toes to bluegrass tunes, buy some crafts that locals made. / Enter your dog in the Dog Show soon, then savor an Italian sausage in the shade. /Twirl some curly fries, make some dunk tank tries…until someone’s dunked in the tank! / Bite into a burger over on that bench or sit and chomp into a mustard-slathered frank. / Watch the chainsaw whirr/ as that burly guy turns/ a sturdy hunk of wood into art,/Bring your kids on over to the magic man’s show and see all the happy children taking part./ Smooching and mooing, whatever you’re doin’, /Remember Randolph is the best/When it comes to fun/Randolph is the one/so drive on over to the fest!”
For more information, go to EnjoyRandolph.org or email: racdcny@gmail.com