Monday, 29 October 2012

Rhinebeck: A primer for newbies



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.


No comments:

Post a Comment