Flower festival accompanies Putnam Cycling Classic
The Cold Spring Area Chamber of Commerce announces that it will host Pedal Into Spring, a two-day spring festival, sponsored by Putnam County Tourism and Philipstown.info/The Paper, held throughout the historic village of Cold Spring.
The event, which is set for Saturday, May 4, and Sunday, May 5, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., will celebrate the arrival of spring with a flower festival, numerous local vendors, entertainers and live music. The entire event is free and open to the public and specials will be offered village-wide at shops, restaurants and cafes.
Sunday, May 5, marks the “pedal” part of the two-day festival with the Ridge Hill Putnam Cycling Classic (putnamcycling.com), sponsored by the Putnam County News and Recorder, which begins and ends in Cold Spring. Activities and events include a bicycle-decorating contest and parade for children, and an antique bicycle display by Go-Go Pops.
“It has been the Cold Spring Area Chamber of Commerce’s mission in 2013 to bring our community together. We again will showcase all that makes our village an incredible place to visit and live,” said Vincent Tamagna, president of the Chamber of Commerce.
Main Street will be buzzing for two days with activities including a petting zoo, sun salutations by SkyBaby Yoga, visits from the Mad Hatter, featuring renowned storyteller Jonathan Kruk, and face painting. A Taste of the Secret Garden is set for Saturday, May 4, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will feature a self-guided walking tour to cottage gardens in the village. There will be a diverse group of musicians both days from noon until 5 p.m. and educational seminars provided by Stonecrop Gardens, Glynwood, Therapeutic Equestrian Center, and the Cornell Cooperative Extention on Saturday.
Additional activities, including vendors, entertainers and events are still being finalized and will be updated on the website, pedalintospring.com.
Again, how can this “bring our community together?” And is there any other comment regarding the cancellation of the Summer Sunday Concerts, which really do bring our community together, in favor of funding this event for outsiders?
I share your concerns about this event and also the fact that Cold Spring is losing the music series which was one of the nicest things about summer in the Village. As far as the bike race, I find it bizarre that a lower Westchester shopping center, Ridge Hill, was brought in to sponsor the event which is also receiving funding from our County Tourism Agency. I wonder too how much the promoter is being paid this time around — another $25,000 perhaps?
The Main Street business owners and shopkeepers have just gone through a pretty tough winter. I think we are all keeping our fingers crossed and hoping that all the problems are worked out and that this weekend is successful for all concerned. It’s about time the tourist season began in earnest.
Sara, I’m not sure what criteria you are referring to in either instance to ascertain what “brings our community together.” I am not an outsider and I will be riding in the event, along with at least a dozen others I know who live in this community. Many people, both within the Village government and from amongst its residents, have been working extremely hard for many months to make this a success, and as inclusive as possible. Sure, this may not be everyone’s cup of tea. I am supportive of many different types of events in the village, some of which may not always be my chosen taste, but we have a resource that all groups, if they are willing to put in the effort, are entitled to make a case for sharing. I would say this event has advocated well and made a strong case for that.
It’s one day out of 104 weekend-days in the year. If you check online there are currently 290 riders registered. There will be more. I think they deserve their shot at making this a success. I think a healthy embrace of the positive, and tolerance for difference, is what really brings our community together. Thanks.