CATSKILL — Some large events will not return to Greene County this summer, but officials hope smaller community events will make a comeback.
Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival organizers announced Saturday the four-day concert will not take place again this year.
“With the rollout of vaccines and states lowering some restrictions, we’re hopeful that Grey Fox 2021 could happen in some fashion,” according to the announcement. “Unfortunately, there are too many unanswered questions, restrictions on gatherings and potential health risks to be able to move forward at this time. With great sadness, we are postponing the festival to July 14-17 2022. We feel this is the best for our fans, artists, volunteers and residents of surrounding communities.”
The Greene County Tourism Department has received no information about the TrailBlazer Festival, formerly Taste of Country, at Hunter Mountain, Department Director Heather Bagshaw said.
“We have not heard anything about that, so I would say definitely this year it is not going to happen,” Bagshaw said.
But smaller events across the county are a different story, Bagshaw said.
“We are definitely going to see our farmers markets, flea markets, music in the parks in different areas,” she said.
The Athens Summer Concert Series will return this year.
“We have the official go-ahead,” according to an announcement from the Athens Performing Arts Corporation.
The series will begin July 30 and continue every Friday until Sept. 6.
The Heart of Catskill Association hosted an abbreviated Music in the Park series in 2020 at Dutchman’s Landing, with just six weeks of shows. The series, in its 23rd year, is typically 11 weeks in length. The schedule for 2021 has not been released.
The East Durham Irish Festival will return Memorial Day weekend after missing out on its 43rd year in 2020.
The Catskills Irish Arts Week will be held in a virtual format July 12-18.
Some other events in the area include the 40th annual soccer tournament June 12-13 and summer fest June 26-27 at Riedlbauer’s Resort in Round Top.
The 14th annual Tour of the Catskills Pro-Am Bicycle race will take place Aug. 14.
“Thankfully, we will be able to have and host these events, even with the strict instructions throughout the state,” Baghsaw said.
Several attractions will be open throughout the season including ziplining and the scenic skyride at Hunter Mountain, mountain biking and the skyride at Windham Mountain, Zoom Flume Water Park and various exhibits at the Thomas Cole National Historic Site, Bagshaw said.
“We’re not out of this pandemic by any of stretch of the imagination, but our businesses are trying to open up as safely as possible within the guidelines,” she said.
The Athens Street Festival, traditionally held the second Saturday in July, is scheduled to take place Sept. 18. The Coxsackie Riverside Festival will be held Aug. 7.
The Greene County Youth Fair, in its 67th year, will take place from July 22-25. Last year, fair organizers took to the web and held a virtual Quarantine Class, where young people submitted their entries in photo and video formats for judging.
For the month of April, Hannaford in Cairo is donating to the fair $1 for every reusable bag purchased.
Fair organizers are holding a Brooks Barbecue on Thursday outside the Greenville Library to benefit the fair.