Returning to Rhinebeck OR Fall Excursions in New York (the State)

Last year, my wife and I had only recently arrived east of the Mississippi. This put us in road-tripping distance of the New York State Sheep and Wool Festival in Rhinebeck, NY, known by knitters simply as "Rhinebeck." So we went. (Day 1 and Day 2 from last year.)

This year we went again. Because it's awesome, that's why!

Simon the Sheep is using all of his zen process to contain himself.

Before we begin, I'm gonna conduct a brief poll:

Who thinks of knitting as a polite, quiet, and generally sedate activity?

Without even tallying the results, I'm going to laugh heartily at you. Because no matter how quiet and reserved knitters might be normally, when you get them in a group they become a force with which to reckon.

Witness: The line to enter the fairgrounds on Sunday morning. Before the fair even opened.

Outside the fence...

…Inside the fence.

They let the first hundred or so people with pre-paid tickets inside the fence. They waited, calmly and peacefully watching the arms of the tiny volunteer standing in their way.

Then the arms lifted and the girl stepped aside.

Unleash the kraken!

These knitters ran, yes ran, to get to the booths with their favorite yarn. And this was on Sunday, when the crowd was half as large. (For those of you keeping track at home, the Saturday crowd was something like 47,000 people. Just on Saturday.)

And why not be excited? Rhinebeck has hundreds of vendors of yarn, accessories, and wool-related items. Not to mention the food building.

All of those green buildings are vendors.
The orange ones are for sheep and things.

Three of these are open air "buildings".

Packed to the canvas-covered rafters with wooly wares.

The one "normal" building was filled with gourmet food vendors for foods like honey, cheese, maple products, biscotti, sauces, and other things that are just making me hungry.

There were enough samples that wandering through was almost a meal by itself.

Then there were the "barns," which are actual barns set up for booths for vendors.

Yes, that is a second story up there.
Oddly enough, you can only reach it by going up the hill outside.

The rest of the barns were much more rustic.

And there aren't just a few barns.

A rare moment of peace between the barns.
(Everyone was lined up at the myriad of food stands.)

Speaking of food, there is, of course, more than merely yarn here. The whole place is a splendid celebration of fall and general rural awesomeness with a classy twist.

For example, food booths like the Flammkuchen trailer. (Flammkuchen is a German flatbread that's like a pizza crossed with awesomeness.)

This was the only time the line was less than 30 minutes long.
…but they are so worth it.

Then there's the maple syrup from local growers. And their maple cotton candy, which is the best cotton candy in existence. I particularly enjoy the tasting stations where you can try the various grades of the season.

I treasure maple syrup like others treasure fine wine.

I was tempted by the First Edition maple syrup (the lightest and most flavorful), but opted to walk away with just the Light maple syrup. (I told you I treasure it!)

Then it was off to the demonstrations, such as the top coat sheering they do before the sheep are judged.

Simon knows he looks good. You don't have to tell him.

The sheep and the shearer do not gossip about the barnyard during this process.
Proving that sheep have better manners than most salon patrons.

And finally, a fascinating display of what sheep herding actually looks like. (And no, there was no pig involved.)

"I say, this is a nice little pasture. We certainly have nothing to worry about…"

**JAWS theme plays**

Overall, I loved the second year as much as the first. And will strive as much as possible to make it a yearly occurrence.