With the first official day of spring not far in the distance, planning activities for those first warm days of lilacs and daffodils can help stave off winter weariness. Warmer weather and more daylight call for ways to delight in a new season. The Sullivan Catskills, settled in the Catskill Mountains’ Upper Delaware Valley, is home to an abundance of activities to explore, eat, and sip in the spring season.
1. Hudson Valley Restaurant Week, March 31-April 13
Hudson Valley Restaurant Week is one of the region’s longest-running culinary events and offers a delicious opportunity for diners to try the region’s top restaurants with prix-fixe menus. So far, participating restaurants in the Sullivan Catskills include Lotus, Cellaio, Toast, The Homestead, the 1907 at Roscoe Mountain Club, Seminary Hill Orchard and Cidery, and Yasgur’s Farm Cafe.
2. The Official Start of Trout Season, April 1
April 1 marks the opening day of trout season in New York—trout are the state’s official fish. Home to the iconic fishing destinations Beaverkill and Willowemoc creeks, and Roscoe, AKA Trout Town USA, Livingston Manor will host the 3rd Annual Trout About Town scavenger hunt on April 5. On the same day, Catskill Brewery will hold the Fly Fishing Opening Day Ceremony, featuring expert-led casting lessons, fly-tying lessons, live music, local craft beverages, and the spirited company of fellow fly fishing enthusiasts.
3. The Second Annual Catskills BBQ Competition, June 7
No food-related gatherings announce spring and summer quite like barbeques. The Catskills Barbeque Festival features smoked and delectable meats, live music, kids’ activities, beer, and a variety of vendors (selling wares including artisanal sauces and rubs) so that visitors can leave well-equipped to be grill masters. Held at the Grahamsville Fairgrounds, this free event will feature a people’s choice contest where attendees and barbecue connoisseurs can select the most mouthwatering food.
4. Embark on a Geocaching Adventure
Geocaching is a self-guided outdoor treasure hunt, where people can interactively discover history and geography while traversing the storied region. The Sullivan Catskills Dove Trail leads adventurers on a geo tour across the Sullivan Catskills. As a tribute to the 1969 Woodstock Festival, the trail reveals countless artful and imaginative doves. At the trail’s end, explorers will find a code to open the final treasure box, revealing a surprise coin. The expedition keeps wanderers engaged: to access the treasure chest, explorers need a code, found at select locations inside their respective geocache boxes. Collecting the numbers enables adventurers to crack the code and get a coin. Whether through geocaching or attending an event with local chefs or experts, there are plenty of ways to celebrate the season of new beginnings in the Sullivan Catskills.
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