Roxbury's July 5 Sidewalk Fest also offers old-time Railride fun
Step back in time and shop, shop, shop: all with "No gas mileage"fun
Saturday, July 5 will offer the best in Roxbury's summer bounty and fun, when "Railride into Yesteryear" meets Roxbury's annual community street fair, Sidewalk Fest. Come to Roxbury via the Delaware & Ulster Railroad or drive in for the day and enjoy all the agreeable pursuits of 1898, from food and vintage base ball to Roxbury Brass fanfares and damsels in bustles. Roxbury's shady Main Street will also be bustling, with vendors, music, children's activities, craftsmen, cloggers and food galore. You and your family will have the best time of TWO centuries.
Among the traditional crafts this year is a hands-on basket weaving demonstration by master weaver Martha Bremer. A spirited community parade steps off at 10 a.m. (your group is welcome to participate, contact parade coordinator Jen Schumann at 607.428.0374). There will be ice cream, chicken BBQ, and plenty of other treats to go with the musical sounds of the day: the Tisch Family Trio, Henry Hermann's mountain fiddle, Skip Parson's ever popular Dixieland Jazz at Kirkside Retirement Home and the foot-stomping good time of the Schoharie Valley Cloggers. In the Roxbury Central School lawn, you can enjoy browsing student activities and projects.
Come to Roxbury in 19th century style via "Railride into Yesteryear," which will carry your family from the train station in Arkville through glorious summer Catskills scenery to the authentic Roxbury Depot (with its own rail museum). You can take a historic guided tour of Roxbury on foot, or let the majestic Belgian drafts and elegant hotel coach ferry you to Main Street's shopping galore. As you stroll down Main Street, visit The East Branch Cafe and Pizzeria for a unique Turn of The Century treat--authentic 1898 pizza! What's that, you ask? Stop in and they'll explain it all. They also offer their renowned 1/2 pound burgers, paninis, creative specialty sandwiches, terrific salads, ice cold beer, and wine. And you can eat outside under their pergola and enjoy views of the day's activities.
The old-fashioned ball game between gentlemanly rivals, the Roxbury Nine and Elizabeth Athletics begins at noon with ball park fare available, and you can chill out at the Public Lounge's Summer BBQ and Beer Garden on Bridge Street in the afternoon, with beer specials, local sausage, homemade peppers and onions, and Argentinian skirt steak.
The combination of "Railride" and Sidewalk Fest makes the ideal family destination because there's something for everyone in the family: mom can shop and stroll in the shade, or enjoy the hamlet's showcase of Victorian architecture on a hamlet walking tour. Kids will have plenty of supervised hands-on fun. For dad, there's base ball and lots of food! Or even better: do everything together!
The Sidewalk Fest opens at 10 a.m. and the train departs from Arkville at 11 a.m. for Railride passengers and returns to Arkville at approximately 4:30 p.m. Named a Preserve America community by the White House for its dedication and excellence in creating vibrant heritage tourism, Roxbury captures the unspoiled folkways and fun of rural mountain life for you and your family to experience firsthand. Visit this web site or call 607 326-3722 to learn more about summertime delights in Roxbury.