Witchy wares at Palenville's Pagan Pride Day.
Need something to do this weekend? Lucky you -- the Catskills are hosting the biggest mountain-biking event in the world this week, as well as a bunch of fairs, festivals, and exhibits. (Peruse them at your leisure in our calendar.) Here's our picks for the best of the weekend's events:
Mountain Bike World Cup Festival
That whooshing sound? Don't worry, it's just thousands of bikers converging on Greene County from around the globe. This week, Windham Mountain is hosting the 2010 Mountain Bike World Cup. The festivities kicked off yesterday, and include a slew of non-pro races, held on the same tracks the pros are using. If you're not much of a dirt demon yourself, no worries, there's plenty of fun to be had for non-bikers. Hit the block party on Friday night in downtown Windham (with roller derby!), check out Saturday's free concert with former Spin Doctors frontman Chris Barron and the Time Bandits, or join the spectators in cheering on Todd Wells, a home-grown Olympian from Ulster Park.
All day Thursday to Sunday, Windham Mountain, Windham, Greene County
You may remember a feature story we ran a few months back about a legal battle between a group of Palenville pagans and the town of Catskill. The first annual Pagan Pride Day, which was held last year, grew directly out of that conflict. Thrown by and at the Maetreum of Cybele (the once-and-former hotel that is now the epicenter of the local pagan community), the celebration is a chance for pagans to mingle with the Muggles, and vice versa. Expect master classes on witchery and something called a Dragon Ritual.
9am to 5pm, Saturday, Maetreum of Cybele, Palenville, Greene County
In a sprawling town like Shandaken, you can celebrate a different set of hamlets and villages every year and not exhaust your supply of municipalities for years. This year, this day-long festival is officially honoring the townlets of Allaben and Bushnellsville with a brawling tug-o-war between various volunteer fire departments and a tear-jerking awards ceremony.
10am to 6pm Saturday, Glenbrook Park, Shandaken, Ulster County
We got an intriguing email from Patty Cullen at Delaware County Tourism earlier today. Here's what she wrote: "Arkville is home to the Delaware & Ulster Railroad - our great train that rolls on the tracks up to Roxbury and back. This weekend seems there may be some reason for folks of a not so honest nature to be takin interest in the train. Word is they may try and rob the train." Hmm. Sounds like the plot is about to thicken. Curious? Call the DURR to find out more: 845-586-DURR (3877) or 800-225-4132. Or check out this YouTube video from last summer, which certainly does feature some unsavory characters starting around the 1:15 mark.
Saturday, Arkville, Delware County
