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Category: Agritourism

Events

7 Fun Fall Activities to Enjoy in Montgomery County

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Fall is one of the most beautiful times to explore Montgomery County, with vibrant foliage, cool breezes, and plenty of seasonal activities that celebrate the best of autumn. Whether you’re a local or a visitor, there’s no shortage of fun things to do this season. From apple picking to haunted trails, here’s your guide to the best fall activities Montgomery County has to offer!

1. Pick the Perfect Apple at Bellinger’s Orchard

Nothing says fall like a trip to the orchard, and Bellinger’s Orchard in Fultonville is the ideal spot for a classic apple-picking adventure. Wander through rows of apple trees as you fill your basket with crisp, fresh apples perfect for snacking, baking, or making cider. Make a day of it and enjoy the farm’s seasonal treats, including cider donuts and freshly pressed apple cider.

Location: 685 Argersinger Rd, Fultonville, NY 12072

2. Find the Best Pumpkin at Starlight Acres

Looking for the perfect pumpkin for your fall décor or jack-o’-lantern masterpiece? Starlight Acres in Palatine Bridge has a beautiful pumpkin patch where you can pick your own pumpkin. Whether you want a small one for baking or a giant one for carving, Starlight Acres has it all. While you’re there, don’t miss the chance to enjoy the fall farm atmosphere with hayrides and scenic views.

Location: 239 Groff Road Palatine Bridge, NY 13428

3. Cheer on Your Favorite High School Football Team

Friday night lights are a fall tradition, and there’s no better way to experience community spirit than by cheering on your local high school football team. Amsterdam High School and Canajoharie High School are just a few of the schools with exciting games happening throughout the season. Bundle up, grab some hot chocolate, and enjoy the energy of the game as you root for your team.

4. Take a Scenic Drive Through Montgomery County’s Countryside

Montgomery County’s rolling hills and scenic backroads offer some of the best fall foliage views in the region. Take a leisurely drive along Route 5 or Route 30A for stunning views of vibrant autumn colors. Be sure to stop along the way at charming small towns, historic sites like Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site, and roadside stands offering local produce and cider.

5. Sip a Pint at Schwalbacher Brewing

After a day of fall fun, relax and enjoy a local brew at Schwalbacher Brewing in Amsterdam. This family-owned brewery offers a cozy atmosphere and a rotating selection of craft beers, including seasonal varieties perfect for the fall season. Whether you’re into stouts or sours, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Pair your pint with a scenic view of the Mohawk River and settle in for a relaxing evening.

Location: 30 Main St, Amsterdam, NY 12010

6. Get Lost in the Corn Maze at Sand Flats Orchard

Challenge yourself and your friends to the ultimate fall activity: getting lost in the corn maze at Sand Flats Orchard in Fonda. This fun-filled adventure is perfect for all ages and provides a day of exploration and laughs as you navigate through the winding paths of corn stalks. Sand Flats also offers other fall favorites, like hayrides and fresh-baked goods, so plan to spend a whole afternoon here!

Location: 371 Martin Rd, Fonda, NY 12068

7. Visit the Haunted History Trail

For those who love a spooky thrill, Montgomery County is home to some of the most eerie spots on the Haunted History Trail of New York State. Start at the Old Montgomery County Courthouse, which dates back to 1772, and explore its haunted past. Then, venture out to Widow Susan Road in the town of Amsterdam where ghostly tales of unexplained sightings have been passed down through generations. Both locations offer a spine-tingling experience perfect for the Halloween season.

Location:  9 Park St., Fonda, NY 12068 and 179 Widow Susan Road, Amsterdam, NY 12010

Experience the Best of Fall in Montgomery County

Whether you’re apple picking at Bellinger’s Orchard, finding your way through the Sand Flats Orchard corn maze, or enjoying a scenic drive through the countryside, Montgomery County has an autumn adventure waiting for you. So, grab your flannel and get ready to make the most of this beautiful season in our charming corner of New York State!

The Buzz About Moses Quinby, The Man Who Revolutionized Beekeeping in the 1800s

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With so much history and boundless nature to explore in Montgomery County, you never know what you might discover. Take famed resident Moses Quinby, for instance, who made history in his natural surroundings.

Quinby was a beekeeper from the Erie Canal community of St. Johnsville, New York, who is widely regarded as the “Father of American Beekeeping.”  Born in Westchester County in 1810, he moved to Greene County in the early 1820s and settled in St. Johnsville around 1853.

Moses Quinby
The bellows smoker was one of Moses Quinby’s revolutionary beekeeping inventions. Photo credit: Margaret Reaney Memorial Library (opens in a new tab)

His inventions quickly became the standards of the practice. Quinby is credited with development of the bellows smoker, a critical tool of the trade. The bellows smoker solved a centuries-old problem for beekeepers. The non-toxic smoke calms the bees and allows their stewards to inspect and maintain the hives.

In addition, he invented one of the first honey extractors and a knife to prepare comb honey for extraction. These advances became essential as the demand for honey exploded during the Civil War, when a shortage of sugar cane hit the North because supplies had been cut off from the South.

A prolific writer, Quinby shared his elite beekeeping knowledge through numerous articles for agricultural publications and several books. His most famous book,  Mysteries of Beekeeping Explained, was published in 1853 and became the beekeeping bible.

Quinby, a devout Quaker, believed his knowledge should be shared freely. He never patented any of his inventions and lived a humble life even though he was one of the first commercial beekeepers in the country.

He died in St. Johnsville in 1875. After his death, son-in-law Lyman C. Root revised Mysteries of Beekeeping Explained and added illustrations, furthering the legacy of Quinby’s critical work that is still in print to this day.

Market on the Mohawk

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The City of Amsterdam and the Amsterdam Tourism, Marketing & Recreation Department is pleased to announce we will be adding another great event to our schedule for 2022.  Market on the Mohawk will be an open-air green market which will run Saturday mornings from 10am-2pm adjacent to Amsterdam’s Mohawk Valley Gateway Overlook.

Come visit as vendors, shoppers, family, and friends gather at the Mohawk Valley Gateway Overlook located in the heart of our city to enjoy Amsterdam’s Open-Air Market.  At the Market you will find locally sourced produce, live music, and vendors who produce everything they sell. All our vendors accept cash, and many also accept debit and credit cards. If you don’t have cash, you can purchase market tokens using credit, debit, or EBT/SNAP cards at our booth

 

For information on becoming a vendor please contact Rob Spagnola or Michele Pawlik in the City of Amsterdam Tourism, Marketing and Recreation Department at 518-841-4328 or 518-841-4307. All vendor spaces are free of charge. Space is limited.

For complete details please visit the City of Amsterdam Market on the Mohawk Facebook event page.

 

Attention Tourism Properties/Businesses. We need your help!

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The Fulton Montgomery Chamber of Commerce is seeking updated Brochures, Rack Cards, Menus etc. from all Tourism Properties/Businesses in Montgomery County.

We are currently looking for updated and new information to expand our Tourism Center and need your help.

Please email mctourism@fultonmontgomeryny.org if you have anything to provide to us. Pick-up’s can be arranged or you can drop off to our location at the Amsterdam Riverfront Center.

We look forward to hearing from you and expanding our Tourism Center. Thank you!

 

 

 

Fall Foliage Report: September 30 – October 6

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I LOVE NY starts the “New York Fall Foliage Report” on September 11 and will continue until the end of the foliage season, around the first or second week in November.  Montgomery County has started its own annual report this year as well.

Reporting station:  Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site, Fort Hunter

Percent of trees predicted to have changed by the coming weekend: 25%

Brilliance: Average

Predominating colors: Oranges and Yellows emerging, sumac reds starting to shine

Rating: We’re nearing midpoint but the colors are already beautiful along the Mohawk Valley

The leaves are continuing to change in Montgomery County.  While green is still predominant, Oranges and Yellows emerging, sumac reds starting to shine.

The weather has been beautiful, so get out while you can and enjoy all of the gorgeous views.

Explore our countryside, enjoy our events, and take in the autumn season!

Call for Travel Guides and Specialty Maps!

1.800.743.7337

Fall Foliage Report: September 23-29

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I LOVE NY starts the “New York Fall Foliage Report” on September 11 and will continue until the end of the foliage season, around the first or second week in November.  Montgomery County has started its own annual report this year as well.

Reporting station:  Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site, Fort Hunter

Percent of trees predicted to have changed by the coming weekend: 10%

Brilliance: Dull

Predominating colors: Green with touches of dull yellows and oranges starting to emerge

Rating: Just beginning

The leaves are just beginning to change in Montgomery County.  While green is still predominant, there are touches of yellow and orange starting to emerge.

This weekend looks to be shaping up to be a gorgeous one. If you haven’t already, visit one of the local Orchard’s in the County. Sandflat’s Orchard and Conbeer’s in Fonda are both great options to take the family out on a nice fall day. Get out and enjoy the crisp air and spectacular views!

On Saturday, the Amsterdam Farmer’s Market will be hosting their Fall Festival from 10am-4pm at the Sanford Stud Farm with PrimoMobile DJs, food, vendors, fall décor, cider donuts and cider, yoga classes at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. and the harvest princesses will be there between noon and 2:00 p.m. to take pictures with the children. Great family friendly event!

Explore our countryside, enjoy our events, and take in the autumn season!

Call for Travel Guides and Specialty Maps!

1.800.743.7337

History of Beer in New York State

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History of Beer in New York State

On August 27 at 6:30 pm Historian Craig Gravina will be speaking at Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site about the history of beer brewing in New York State.  The talk will take place in the Enders House adjacent to the Schoharie Crossing Visitor Center at 129 Schoharie Street. The Friends of Schoharie Crossing will have a very brief meeting before the talk, and refreshments will be served following the presentation.  All are welcome to attend.

As Craig Gravina says he is a ‘”world class beer drinker, so infatuated with the stuff that he took to researching and writing about over the last ten years”. He will talk about the history of the brewing industry in the Hudson Valley and include its close connection with the Mohawk Valley including the Erie Canal and grain production in the valley and as well as other interesting personalities and events.  He will also be doing a book signing of his book Upper Hudson Valley Beer.

For more information about these events and more, please call the Visitor Center at (518) 829-7516, email: SchoharieCrossing@parks.ny.gov, or visit our Facebook page Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site.

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees more than 250 individual state parks, historic sites, golf courses, boat launches and recreational trails, which are visited by 71 million people annually.  For more information on any of these recreation areas, call 518-474-0456 or visit www.nysparks.com, connect on Facebook, or follow on Twitter.

 

 

AMERICAN PICKERS to Film in New York!

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AMERICAN PICKERS to Film in New York!
Mike Wolfe, Frank Fritz, and their team are excited to return to New York! They plan to film episodes of the hit
series AMERICAN PICKERS throughout the region in May 2019!
AMERICAN PICKERS is a documentary series that explores the fascinating world of antique “picking” on History.
The hit show follows Mike and Frank, two of the most skilled pickers in the business, as they hunt for America’s
most valuable antiques. They are always excited to find sizeable, unique collections and learn the interesting
stories behind them.
As they hit the back roads from coast to coast, Mike and Frank are on a mission to recycle and rescue forgotten
relics. Along the way, the Pickers want to meet characters with remarkable and exceptional items. The pair
hopes to give historically significant objects a new lease on life, while learning a thing or two about America’s
past along the way.
Mike and Frank have seen a lot of rusty gold over the years and are always looking to discover something they’ve
never seen before. They are ready to find extraordinary items and hear fascinating tales about them. AMERICAN
PICKERS is looking for leads and would love to explore your hidden treasure. If you or someone you know has a
large, private collection or accumulation of antiques that the Pickers can spend the better part of the day looking
through, send us your name, phone number, location and description of the collection with photos to:
americanpickers@cineflix.com or call 855-OLD-RUST.
facebook: @GotAPick
AMERICAN PICKERS is produced by Cineflix Productions for History. New episodes air Mondays at 9pm EST on History.

Quilt Barn Trail

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The Fulton Montgomery Quilt Barn Trail (opens in a new tab) continues to grow with 150 squares along the trail.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lTkTIPUXCY&feature=youtu.be

Fall Foliage Report: September 26 – October 2

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I LOVE NY starts the “New York Fall Foliage Report (opens in a new tab) ” on September 12 and will continue until the end of the foliage season, around the first or second week in November.  Montgomery County has started its own annual report this year as well.

Reporting station: Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site (opens in a new tab) , Fort Hunter 

Percent of trees predicted to have changed by the coming weekend:  11%

Brilliance: Average

Predominating colors: Mostly green hints of Orange

Rating: beginning stages

The leaves are beginning to change in Montgomery County.  While green is still predominant, there are touches orange, yellow and red.

pic

The calendar is full of events including live music, historic celebrations, and agricultural events.  The Ames Museum (opens in a new tab) is celebrating the end of summer and the 1747 Nellis Tavern (opens in a new tab) is open for tours through September.

On Saturday, September 29th Fort Klock Historic Restoration’s 18th century Revolutionary war living history event will be happening! Interrupted Harvest 1778 the raids begin, 10:00 AM – 04:00 PM.

Also, the Schoharie River  Center in Esperance, will be hosting the Square and Contradance, a lively evening of dancing! Catskills caller, Peter Blue, will call this square and contra dance in the SRC Cultural Center. Live music by Erik House, Kathy Shimberg, and Ira McIntosh.

The 2nd Annual OktoberFest Block Party will be held on Saturday, October 6th on Amsterdam’s Southside! Food, German music, and of course beer! Fall treats and goodies for sale, games all day, food and craft vendors, and more.

Explore our countryside, enjoy our events (opens in a new tab) , and take in the autumn season!

Call for Travel Guides and Specialty Maps!

1.800.743.7337