I'm currently working on an article for my knitting guild's newsletter. At last week's executive meeting I had let it slip out that I went to Rhinebeck. People's ears perked up and I was encouraged to write an article. So I decided to write a primer for anyone thinking of going to Rhinebeck for the first time. Although Rhinebeck has been over for a week, I really should stop obsessing over it. Regardless, I'll share my ideas that any Rhinebeck newbie should know.
If you are wondering about the photos, they were taken at the front gates. The first photo is of the line in front of me. The second photo is the line behind me.
Rhinebeck: A Primer for newbies
Rhinebeck, NY. It's the holy grail of
everything fibrey. Taking place on the third weekend in October, tens
of thousands fibre enthusiasts from across North America and beyond
make the pilgrimage to the New York State Sheep and Wool Festival.
Want to go, but don't know how to go
about planning your Rhinebeck adventure? Here's some tips from a
novice Rhinebeck goer. I've gone to Rhinebeck twice and here's some
pointers that may find helpful when planning your trip.
Plan well in advance
One of the main hurdles to planning
your Rhinebeck adventure is booking a hotel room. Book early. You may
want to make reservations as early as February or March to secure a
hotel room. Places to stay include Kingston, Saugerties, Fishkill
and Poughkeepsie. If you rather stay in an inexpensive hotel to direct
more money to your stash acquisition budget, you can do that. Browse
through the threads on the Ravelry Rhinebeck group where you can find
honest reviews about hotels. If you want more
information about a particular hotel, send a private message to a Raveller who has
stayed at the establishment in question. Also, visit
TripAdvisor to get more reviews. Renting a house is also a possible
option, as well as renting a campsite cabin.
Travelling as a group
Want to travel with other knitters?
It's very doable! Start putting out feelers to your knitter friends now
to see if they are interested in making the six hour trek to the
Hudson Valley area. If you've got a large group, consider renting a
vehicle that will comfortably accommodate you, your passengers and
your purchases. The key in travelling in a large group is to pack
lightly so you can accommodate everyone's stash acquisitions.
Budget
Start saving now! Putting away money
from every pay cheque will add up over time. Not only will you be
spending money on yarn, fiber and equipment, you will need to direct
money to lodgings, gas and food. You may want to divvy up your stash
acquisition money if you plan to shop on both the Saturday and
Sunday.
Take cash
Cash is the best way to pay for your
purchases. Although many vendors do take credit cards, Internet
access can be spotty at the fairgrounds. This year some vendors have
had to turn away customers because they simply can't process credit
cards. While there are ATMs at the fairgrounds, its likely best you
hit up at ATM before you arrive to the festival.
Take a class
Rhinebeck has classes that run over a
period of four days: Thursday to Sunday. From natural dying to
beginning spinning, there is a class for about everyone's tastes.
Classes are announced in the spring. Again, if you are interested in
taking a class reserve your spot early as they do fill up fairly
quickly. If you sign up early enough you will take home a gift bag.
Navigating the fairgrounds
The Dutchess County Fairgrounds open at
9 a.m. and Saturday and 10 a.m. on Sunday. To beat traffic leave your
hotel early. Traffic will be particularly heavy when the fairgrounds
close at 5 p.m. One way to beat the traffic is to leave early. Or
have dinner across the street at the Eveready Diner to wait for the
traffic to die down.
Go with a plan (or not)
If you are a planner and to visit
specific vendors at Rhinebeck, make a detailed list that includes the
vendor's name and location. Festival organizers compile an up-to-date
vendors list on the show's website. Vendors can be easily found by noting their
building and booth numbers. Going with no plan is a good strategy if it's
your first visit to Rhinebeck as you will likely be overwhelmed with
the number of vendors.
Meeting spot
Since the fairgrounds are vast and the
crowds are large you will likely get split up from your group. After
entering the fairgrounds, pick a meeting spot and time. This ensures
that if you do decide to shop alone or inadvertently lose your shopping
partner that you can reconnect before the fairgrounds close.
Pack your patience
Pack
your patience is key when at Rhinebeck. Tens of thousands of people
travel to this festival yearly, many of whom have the same goal as
you: buy fibre and yarn. Booths such as Miss Babs, The Fold,
Cephalopod Yarns, Jenny the Potter will busy and the line ups to pay
for purchases will be long. Time your visits to big name vendors
wisely. Also, food lines will be long and slow. It may be wise to
pack a snack to nibble on while waiting in line or to tide you over while you shop.
Bring your knitting
You can only shop for so long before
the yarn and booths start to meld together. Take frequent breaks.
There is adequate seating throughout the fairgrounds so take
advantage of it. To relax, take your knitting. Also, knitting in line
ups will help kill time.
Chat with others
One of the best things about Rhinebeck
is connecting with other knitters. Knitters from around the world
make the trek to the festival every year. This year at Rhinebeck I
met a woman from Virginia who came specifically for the podcasters
meetup, a sheep farmer from Michigan, an avid quilter who was saving
her money for an upcoming quilting festival in Houston, Texas, and I
even saw a couple of fellow knitters from Ottawa. Take the time to
chat with others. Everyone has a story. Keep an eye out for Ravelry
meetups, too. There are usually meetups on both festival days.
Have fun
In my opinion, having fun is the main
goal of Rhinebeck. Despite your purchases, the weather and traffic,
you will make memories that you will cherish for years.
Plan for next year
If everything has gone according to
plan you will likely start thinking about next year. It's never too
early to plan for your next visit to Rhinebeck.
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