THE 5th INTERNATIONAL PICKLE FESTIVAL ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 24TH WAS A WHOPPING SUCCESS WITH OVER 4,000 PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE!!!!...

THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE CAME FROM FAR AND WIDE FOR THIS  PICKLE-PACKING PLACE PERFECT FOR PROMOTING A PRESENTATION OF PROMOTIONALLY PRICED PRODUCTS, PLUS A PANORAMIC POTPOURRI OF PICKLED PRODUCE....SAY THAT THREE TIMES FAST!!!

Besides pickles of every type from mouth-watering "half-sours" to the "eye-watering" full sours and dills, this Pickle Odyssey colorfully crowned with blue and white and yellow and white tents, was a showing of the greatest gathering of market finds around. From designer sweaters, hand-made jewelry, a thrift shop and herbal delights to hats, fleeces, toys, Mrs. Yamaguchi's incredible dried apple treats &more!!!

Even the meat, such as sauerbraten and corned beef and cabbage, was pickled to a delightful taste treat for the palate. The lean corned beef hero was one thing that I tried and, Jack, let me tell you, that was delish!

Here is a bit of the set-up before the hoards of people starting spilling in:

While many volunteers, such as Raymond St. Rose, Billy Liggan, Patrick McDonough and many others were ceaselessly waving the cars into parking spaces, Bill and Cathy Brooks were being interviewed by the Media:

This Festival is world-renowned and brought to you through the efforts of our own Rosendale Residents, Cathy and Bill Brooks and the Rosendale Chamber of Commerce. At times it seemed like the paparazzi would not let poor Bill alone for a minute! The colorful entrance made you realize you were in for a great treat....

Our own resident Youth Center inspired by our Youth Director, Kathy Wade and our local Boy Scouts were also on hand for tasty treats and green balloons for the kids:

As you wandered through the maze of canopied tunnels you found incredible wares such as this:

and of course PICKLES!!!

and these Shawangunk Ridge Farms Soaps whose fragrance filled the air around the entire area...

Not to forget a colorful palette of tie-dye wear that could be seen from yards away- These t-shirts, dresses and more great wearables were a real fashion time capsule!

The crowds were moving through the tents while munching on great Corned Beef, french fries, cabbage and potatoes and other incredible tantalizing treats for the taste buds. Here's Jack Gouldsberry handing me my treat of the day:

Then Mrs. Yamaguchi, from our sister city in Japan, treated me to dessert, which was her famous dried apple slices....

And our own RosendaleTown Supervisor, Phil Terpening could be seen enjoying his corned beef and cabbage with friends, Dietrich Werner and Michael Montella...

There were familiar faces, like Frank, our new Cumberland Farm Clerk and his friend and not-so-familiar faces that came from other towns and even other countries...

and....the air was filled with more than excitement...THERE WAS ENTERTAINMENT, like this duo singing their own version of the Rosendale Pickle Festival while Bill Brooks, main promoter of the event looked on----

Our Sister City in Japan brought performers who danced in traditional costumes for fan and parasol dancing...visitors could even purchase authentic Kimonos!

All in all, it was a delightful event, which seems to draw more and more people each year. The weather was kind to us and so were our hosts, Cathy and Bill Brooks. Thank you both for all the hard hours of work that you and all the volunteers put into making this a most memorable event!

Y'all come back now in 2003, ya hear!!! 

Go to Interesting Town Links on our menu and click on Pickle Festival. It will take you directly to the International Pickle Festival Site for more pictures of the 5th annual and many from the past 5 years!