Coming up this July 8, you can expect the streets of Chatham to offer up that true small-town festival feel. Main Street will be closed to traffic to welcome back the annual Chatham Summer Festival, where patrons can be enticed with the smells of street food, food trucks, and the first-ever Great Chatham Bake-Off, the sounds of live music and performances, and the opportunity to shop for artisanal goods and gifts from over 45 different vendors. The street festival will run from 11am to 4pm.
For a small fair, the festival has a long history, created in 1976 by the Chatham Area Business Alliance for the purpose of “showcasing the unique characteristics of one of the most picturesque upstate Main Streets,” according to festival organizer Karen Kaczmar. “We want to establish it as a destination for the public.”
Activities and contests will be at the heart of this festival, offering something for all ages. A strolling magician can provide a quirky kind of fun for the kids, or you could keep it classic with a scavenger hunt and an explorable fire truck. The High and Mighty Therapeutic Riding Center will be offering mini horse rides and Off the Rails Makers’ Market will be hosting tie-dyeing with Erin at 25 Hudson Avenue. If you need a break midday, head over to Lea’s women’s clothing boutique at 33 Hudson Avenue for the garden walk.
For the first time, the festival will feature the Great Chatham Bake-Off—an opportunity for bakers of all ages to compete in a blue ribbon contest at noon. Also at 12pm, the debut of the pie eating contest will take place in front of Main Street Goodness, for anyone 16 and over who’s pining for some pie.
Concerts and shows can be heard all day, from the free performance of “Could You Hug a Cactus” by the Columbia County Youth Center at 11am to the 1pm free screening of Annie at the Crandell Theatre. Music options include Joe Adee and the Lugnuts from 1pm to 3pm and to end the night, The Garage at Chatham, a local arts series, will have a string performance from 6pm to 7:30pm.
Food and drink options abound, with over 15 different food truck and restaurant choices. All areas are covered, with fare from Adirondack Kettle Corn’s mini-doughnuts; Chatham Grill’s margarita tent; and Desserts by Design’s bakery treats to pizza on the patio with Napoli Pizza and Cucina and cheesy options from Bimi’s Cheese Shop.
Information regarding parking, maps, and applications to become a vendor can be found on the Chatham Summer Festival website, along with rules, regulations, and sign-ups for The Great Chatham Bake-Off and the pie eating contest.
