There are a lot of historic places to visit in Rhinebeck and the Hudson Valley including FDR presidential library and home, Eleanor Roosevelt's Val-Kill and one of the many Vanderbilt mansions.
Oregon Flock and Fiber (since 1997) and Black Sheep Gathering (since 1975), both in Oregon are similar events with vendors and workshops and fiber animals. In recent years they have both moved to the Linn County Expo Center in Albany, OR. BSG occurs in June and OFF is in the fall. So for west coast festivals, both are excellent choices.
Thanks great video! Just a few things as someone who lives near Rhinebeck and attends a few events there every year 1) the water bottle fillers are just outside of the bathrooms 2) the yellow line on the paved walkways lead to the nearest bathroom 3) I personally would not stay in Newburgh but New Paltz is a nice town to stay in and explore it is on the opposite side of the river but the bridge toll is only $1.75 and it’s a round trip toll (you only pay crossing into the Rhinebeck area not on the way back).
I just wanted to let you know about the 2nd annual Road to Rhinebeck event held at Pick Up Every Stitch in Mt. Kisco NY. About half way in between NYC and Rhinebeck, it's a beautiful yarn shop to visit on the way, with an astounding variety of yarns from around the world. Lots of podcasters attend so it's a great place to socialize, grab a nibble and squeeze some yarn! Camellia Fiber co will be having a trunk show on Thursday from noon to 6 and Friday from noon to 4 and her yarns are just gorgeous. Hope to see you there!
Two good fiber festivals on the west coast : Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival (OFFF) held end of September in Albany Oregon and Black Sheep Gathering held in June at the same place as OFFF.
My first Rhinebeck was 2010 and we've gone every year since other than 2012 (when DD was born) and 2017 (when DH's youngest brother got married)! We are lucky enough to have close friends who live an hour from the fairgrounds (in Beacon).
Rhinebeck reservations in advance: let me tell you a story. We had a great AirBNB last year, but when we got home I tried to book it again and it was already reserved. Boo. Then I found a Vrbo place in Kingston, so we booked it and paid in full for 2024. Last month he canceled, saying little more than "Sorry it didn't work out." (He got more money from someone else on another site, and we lost out. Steven Dock, please go take a long walk off a short pier while wearing concrete Keds.) We managed to get another place on short notice, but it's 30 minutes away in New Paltz and cost more. Even the great place we had in 2023 is already booked for 2025. But all this aside, we're going! See you there!!
I lived in New Paltz until a couple of years ago. That's awful. New Paltz has cracked down on Air BnB and I'm sure there are even fewer offerings now. I now live in Salem, Mass, and Air BnB owners do this frequently during the month of October, when our city of 45,000 people welcomes over a million visitors. It's insanity, and it's so wrong for Air BnB owners to do that. :(
@@carollundergan837 This was a Vrbo rental, and I've since heard that a) it's not unusual for Vrbo owners to do this, and b) there was no way I can warn someone else that this location was listed on multiple sites and the owner could cancel your reservation for no reason. I can't give a negative review or in any way post on the listing that the owner is unreliable. Basically Vrbo/the owner sat on our $ for a year and then refunded us; it was a 10 month interest-free loan. I won't use Vrbo again.
What about the assessbility of taking a taxi or an Uber in and away from the festival. Will the driver drop off and pick up at one of gates? Or is there a designated area for that purpose?
I lived in New Paltz (which is south of Kingston) until 2 years ago. There are a ton of wonderful things to do in that area if you don't want to stay at the festival. Downtown Rhinebeck itself is fantastic - a beautiful, small downtown full of great shops and restaurants. There are several sight-seeing venues, including the Vanderbilt Mansion and the FDR House in Hyde Park, Olana (a beautiful old mansion which belonged to artist Frederich Church) in Hudson, Storm King Arts Center in New Windsor (beautiful outdoor art space), Washington's headquarters in Newburgh, and historic Kingston, which was the capital of New York for a while during the Revolutionary War. New Paltz is also lovely - visit Huguenot Street, which has the oldest street in the U.S. with the original houses still standing. Lots and lots to do, but of course with the festival, limited time to do other stuff. :)
I started going over 20 years ago and have only missed one year due to pouring rain. Back then way back then there were like 3,000 ppl. It has exploded for sure. I will be there on Sunday this year. I map out the Veeders I want to see and which barns they are in. After that I just enjoy the day.! Have fun 🧶
Thanks for mentioning the accessibility components. I’ve never heard anyone really discuss them before. I always have major Rhinebeck FOMO. I’ve never been and I don’t know if I ever will get to come up there. I suppose I shouldn’t whine too much though since I live so close to MD Sheep and Wool. I’ve been going since 2005 and I think I only missed it one time in all those years. It’s better than Christmas, as far as I am concerned. It’s my favorite event of the year. I love watching all of the RU-vid Rhinebeck vlogs every year. I live vicariously through all y’all. Have a great time, and I can’t wait to see your recap!!
My husband and I go typically Thursday to Saturday. On Friday we try and find something to do and then he drops me off Saturday for the event and goes and off on his own for something to do. Getting dropped off is really easy too. They allow you to drive right to the front entrance. Other activities we have done are West Point, Vanderbilt House and FDR House in Hyde Park, the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome if you like old aviation (he loves history) and we go to whatever antique shops are nearby while we drive around. Also, Woodstock NY is nearby which I've visited numerous times and love. If you stay on the west side of the river, you can get delayed trying to cross the bridge especially if you leave later in the morning on Saturday. I definitely recommend bringing a snack as getting food can be awhile if you are on a time schedule and you don't have time to waste. I have yet to try any of the food bc of the lines. Maybe this will be my year🤣 Have fun to all who are going! I know weather can change but so far it's looking nice and cool.
Rhinebeck is awesome! My sister and I have gone together the past seven or eight years. I am fortunate to live about an hour north so we make it a day trip usually early on Saturday. Natalie is not joking about the crowd sizes. My best advice is go early and get in line for lunch early! It is located in a beautiful part of New York State. The Hudson Valley is lovely. There are vineyards and apple orchards, pretty little towns, great restaurants, and even historic sites to visit. Hope to see you all there this year!
I stayed in Hudson at an Airbnb last year and it was perfect. About 30-40 minutes north of the fairgrounds, amazing food and antique shopping. One of my favorite bookstores, Spotty Dog, is there as well.
We too have stayed in Hudson. Stopped for breakfast at a diner in Red Hook and then parked on the north side of the fairgrounds. Arriving about 10:30 was perfect as the initial crowds (loads of bus tours on Saturday), had dispersed. Very different vibe on Sunday as you said. More families. With knee issues, I’ve done the barns on Saturday and the buildings on Sunday to manage better. Lovely place to sit and knit is under the trees, just to the right of the hill on your map.
I will be going for my fifth visit this year. I always rent a house a year with friends a year in advance. Saturdays are crazy, just breathe and enjoy where you are and take frequent breaks. Sunday is definitely better. I live in Central Virginia, near Richmond. It's about an eight hour drive. This year four of us have decided to try the train from Richmond to Manhattan then to Rhinecliff. I'll let you know. I love Rhinebeck. I go for the yarn, of course, but also for the vibe, the energy and seeing and meeting people who love knitting and fiber arts as much as I do. It's worth it. I also recommend Maryland Sheep and Wool. It is not really smaller than Rhinebeck but it feels more laid back although the Saturday crowds can be overwhelming at times. Looking forward to next week!!
I've stayed on the west side of the river the last couple of years about 40 mins away from Rhinebeck and its truly a beautiful area. I don't mind the drive specially with all the gorgeous folliage but I definitely hit a lot of traffic on Saturday on the way in and out. This year we're staying east of the river so we'll see how it goes. 😊 I agree with Natalie about it being good to go once. This will be my third year and my husband and I really enjoy the drive to Upstate NY during the fall from MA so it's not a long trip for us and it's getting to be a fun yearly tradition but as far as the festival itself, it's so great for interacting and meeting the community but the actually shopping experience gets overwhelming with the sheer number of people that attend. There are plenty of other sheep and wool festivals in New England with a lot of the same vendors that end up being more enjoyable if you're looking to shop at a much more leisurely/calm pace. But still fun to experience Rhinebeck and meet so many other people from the community. ❤
Looking forward to going to Rhinebeck for the first time so a video like this is just what I needed. Even though I planned ahead it was still challenging to find a place to stay that was a reasonable price. So I ended up getting a hotel in Albany not far from the airport since that is where I flying in/out of.
I have been fortunate to attend several times, including on my 50th birthday. This was a wonderful bucket list trip for a knitter. A weekend with great friends, lots of fibre goodness and meeting new crafters was amazing. And lots of sheep in the barns to see too. We returned to Ontario via the mountains to see the leaves changing colours. Incredible memories.
For the West Coast questioner…In California, Lamb Town at the Dixon Fair Grounds (near Sacramento) has a similar vibe as it’s outside, has animals, sheep dog trials! vendors, etc. much smaller than the NY Sheep & Wool but still cozy and has an old-timey feel.
I’ve only been once, so I’m not the best person to do it :( I am planning to go in 2025 though! I made a vlog when we attended in 2022: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-nD6g2Qr3ftY.htmlsi=XPzS7xVFVE6FZIPc
Rhinebeck looks awesome. Great information shared. Ohio has a Wool Gathering in Yellow Springs. Hubs and I went last month. I think every fiber lover should go to a nearby festival once to see what it’s all about. Thanks for sharing all your tips. I think many were helpful for festival attendees in general. Take care and safe travels.
I would love to attend one day but it’s a long way from Australia. Luckily we have the Australian Sheep and Wool Show, nicknamed “Bendigo” after the country town it is hosted in. Like a mini Rhinebeck down under. There are lots of RU-vid videos of Bendigo so if you ever find yourself here check it out.
So happy for you Natalie to be able to go to Rhinebeck. I live in NY on border of Bronx but, don't have the funds to be able to go, or buy lots of yarn. Looking forward to see you at there. I'm happy I went on the NYC Yarn Crawl. I went to Argyle in Brooklyn on Friday the 27th and Kitty City on Saturday the 28th. They had a show of Yarn Over New York yarn. I got 4 of the artists hanks. One of these days I'll save up enough to be able to take Amtrak to go but, they don't have a shuttle bus from the train station. Way to expensive for my budget, I took 300 for they NYC Yarn Crawl. I personally think if you are coming to NYC at end of September, go on the NYC Yarn Crawls three day event. Five yarn shops in Brooklyn, and 4 in Manhattan. Best of all you can do it all on the Subway.
I am no longer in California but while there, I attended the Stitches event at the Santa Clara Convention Center. More like Flock but probably a bit larger. I don’t know if this is still happening but when I went yearly with my knitting group, it was a little of fun.
To add: also think of staying north of Rhinebeck! If you're willing to drive a bit more, the capital region (Albany, Schenectady, Troy) should have plenty of lodging available. Otherwise, there are plenty of cute towns to the north along 87, and driving from the north is pretty easy traffic-wise!
My family lives about an hour south of Rheinbeck in the Hudson Valley. That’s a I grew up. I’m attending NYSAnd W this year for the last time! I’m so excited. Thanks for your help!
I live in Southern California and we have a fiber fair in the LA County fairgrounds (Pomona, CA) in November. I haven't been yet but planning to go this year 😁
This isnt about Rhinebeck, but had to let you know... I live in Arkansas and went to Arkansas Yarn Co today. I didn't know about the shop until your tour. I was thrilled to find your color way, Knit-Tea Natty. There was 2 skeins they had recently found in the back and I nabbed one, oh joy!!!
The So Cal Fiber Fair is coming up in Pomona on November 23rd and 24th. I have never been, but it is their second year having the fair. It sounds like they have a lot of vendors and some classes. They have a hat pattern that comes with admission. If anyone has been, please let us know how it is!
I attended in 2021, which was great because it was less crowded, and I attended last year which was pretty miserable weather. I’ve been to many festivals over the years and I will say that Rheinbeck is pretty much the same every year and if it’s too much, consider Maryland sheep and Wool, which is a smaller version of the same type of festival. Rheinbeck has kind of become the see and be seen for the New York area knitting paparazzi or knitterati as I call them. Also, the pre-festival events on Friday have continued to expand and are also an additional expense. Hopefully, after last year‘s fiasco with Wool and Folk, some of that elitist stuff has been toned down. The downside of the increasingly popular knitting and fiber arts has been increased opportunities for folks to financially capitalize on that and add venues. I think it was initially a down home 4H festival and now it’s gotten a little out of control. Logistically it is difficult, especially if you take the train and don’t have a car. Taxis are very much in short supply at the train station. Do your homework with the lodging and book up to a year in advance.
It may be too late but order the yearly special merchandise ahead of time. If not, I think you might be able to get it there but it’s very limited and the line is a mile long!
I probably won't be gojng to Rhinebeck anytime soon since I'm located in Europe, but just out of interest, are there vendors that sell plant-based yarn?
Definitely! You can take Amtrak from Penn Station to Rhinecliff Station which is about 1.5-2 hours along the Hudson River. Super pretty! The issue comes with getting to and from the station in Rhinebeck. There is no Uber and hardly any Lyfts. You might be able to schedule a cab to pick you up or coordinate a ride with someone. I spent a very stressful amount of time getting rides my first year. Ended up paying a stranger at the festival to drive me to the train. 😅
You can take Metro North into Rhinecliff - from there not sure how to actually get to the festival, but I'm sure you can Uber (or Lyft) if there's no shuttle.
I’m pretty sure only Amtrak goes to Rhinecliff and Metro North goes to Poughkeepsie which is farther from Rhinebeck. You might be better off renting a car.
@@barbaram4372 Yes you're right. I should know that since I lived in the Hudson Valley for many years lol. But unbelievably I never took the train from NYC further than Poughkeepsie lol. Thanks for the correction. :)
I would suggest NOT to stay in Newburgh. It’s not the best area 😅 Beacon is a nice town though. Going further down south into Middletown gives you a lot of hotel options but it is about 50 minutes from the event. But the drive is all highway and pretty straight forward
It's tricky because they're all in different places! Indie Untangled has been around for the longest. They have a newsletter and Instagram that you can keep up with their events. CAKEpalooza has been going strong for a few years. Their info is on their website and Instagram too. Then there are two new events this year. I'm attending one, so I will report back on it!
Do NOT stay in Newburgh if you can avoid it. I am from the area and it is nothing like the other places mentioned (ie Beacon, Saugerties, or the town of Rhinebeck).
Great video! I was wondering how you traveled to the festival from the train: Uber, Bus, Taxi? Also, you are allowed to take a backpack on Sat & Sunday. I checked my photos and I had one. I believe it was Wool & Folk Festival that did not allow backpacks. Also, don’t forget the apple cider donuts! 🍩🫶🏻
