Things to do, places to eat, shows to see, places to stay in Madison County, NY      

The rain has arrived, but that is actually good news on a Wednesday in June.  It just means the selection at the farmer's markets this weekend will be more robust.   So on a rainy day, we've spotlighted some light reading for you about things going on in Madison County.  Enjoy!
Buy Local Week Kicks off with Fresh Gala (Madison County Courier) This event is quickly becoming one of the best summertime events in all of Madison County.  It highlights farms all week long and celebrates the foods available from our neighbors.

Owera Vineyards is bottling their first crush (Owera Vineyards Facebook Page) Everyone at Madison County Tourism is excited that our first vineyard and winery will have product to sell within weeks.

The Central New York Community Foundation Awards Grants (Oneida Daily Dispatch) The Stone Quarry Hill Art Park receives $15,000 and Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum receives $5,000.

Cazenovia Installs Boulders Along the Lake (Syracuse.com)The battle to keep invasive species out of the lake took another turn as the town limits access at the south shore parking area for boaters and fishermen.

Young Composers Take Part in Cazenovia Counterpoint (Syracuse.com) Many people know about Skaneatales's Chamber Music Festival, but Cazenovia Counterpoint is another great summer arts festival.

And now a new daily feature.  We will also comb the vast resources of You Tube to bring you images of Madison County too:

A great day for golf here in Madison County.  Weather today looks like it is headed for the low to mid 80's.  Summertime is such a nice reward for our sometimes brutal winters.  There are a few links and stories out there this morning to share with you, so without further ado, here we go:

A good story and some nice video of the Peterboro Civil War Weekend (Oneida Daily Dispatch)
The Madison County Courier is celebrating local business this week (Madison County Courier)
The Barnwell County, SC paper has a blurb about local residents who attended Oz-Stravaganza! in Chittenango (The People Sentinel)
I Love NY wants to know what your summer vacation plans are (I Love NY Facebook Page)
The Chittenango Rotary will be hosting a Brazilian Dinner (Madison County Courier)
Boxing Hall of Famer Larry Holmes will get his diploma (The Morning Call)
Plans continue for 40th annual antique show (Auction Central News)
The Red House will be performing Shakespeare in the park Sunday in Cazenovia. (syracuse.com)

It's Thursday and that means all eyes are on the weekend.  What a weekend of events coming here in Madison County.  The Fiber Fair, the Boxing Hall of Fame Induction and Peterboro Civil War Weekend are all on tap.  Here are some links of interest for you on this busy summer Thursday.
What is Mike Tyson's True Legacy? (ESPN)
The Fighter hasn't changed Micky Ward (Oneida Dispatch)
ESPN to be at Boxing Hall of Fame (Boxing News 24.com)
4th of July will be great in Hamilton (Utica OD)
Antique Week to Continue (Mid York Weekly)
Eating and Biking the Erie Canal (Unchained Restaurants)
Oh yeah!  Lobster Mac and Cheese (syracuse.com)
Lorenzo Hosts Gala Garden Party (Madison County Courier)

The Nice N Easy Grocery Shoppes Madison Bouckville Antique Week will continue with its 40th  year.  This year’s show week will be   August 15-21, 2011.   Madison Bouckville Promotion was formed in November 2010 when it was announced that the original promoter of the Madison Bouckville Antique Show, Jock Hengst, was retiring and had sold is show field to a local farmer.  The future of the New York State’s largest outdoor antique festival was in jeopardy and in need of new leadership and a community wide effort.  Over the 40 years ago the original show promoter and a handful of others started the show in a small airfield on Rt. 20 center in the towns of Madison and Bouckville. During these four decades the show grew from that small field to what today is the largest outdoor antique event in New York State.   Today Madison Bouckville Promotions is proud and pleased to announce that this year’s show will continue in 2011 and for years to come.  Over the last 7 months the organization held monthly meetings, worked with local governmental leaders and sought new sponsorship for the events continuation.  We are excited to announce that Nice N Easy Grocery Shoppes have come on board as the official Title Sponsor.  The association members are greatly appreciative that Nice N Easy President and CEO John MacDougall agreed to come on board.  We are extremely pleased that Nice N Easy, a Madison County based business with 80 stores across New York State.  This is an important partnership as

The Nice N Easy Madison Bouckville Antique Week’s economic impact for Madison County and the entire region brings over 45,000 visitors to the county each August.  This economic impact brings benefits to local retailers, hotels, restaurants and business from Utica & Rome to Syracuse and Central New York.  In addition both Madison County and New York State benefit through the sales tax revenues generated by our over 2100 vendors on site at our over 35 antique show fields. 

The Madison Bouckville Antique Week will continue with its 40th year.  This year’s show week will be   August 15-21, 2011.

Madison Bouckville Promotions, the newly formed community wide organization whose purpose is to promote tourism and travel in the Madison County Region will be holding a press event on Thursday June 2, 2011 in Madison / Bouckville, NY at 2:30 pm to unveil the new format and continuation of the historic annual Madison Bouckville Antique Week festival held the third week of August the last 39 years. 

Antique Week organizers, working with local businesses, the Madison County Tourism Office and local government leaders will discuss the shows growth to over 2100 vendors and dealers, and the expanded days the event will run.  The Madison Bouckville Antique Week is New York State’s largest outdoor antique event.

Assemblyman Bill Magee, Association President John Mancino and a special guest will review this year’s event and the economic impact that the weeklong show brings to the region.

Press Event

Location- 7698 Rt. 20, Bouckville, NY 13310 (Look for TEXACO sign)

Time- 2:30 pm

Contact- Jim Walter- Madison County Tourism                                                 800-684-7320

    Dennis Brogan- Madison Bouckville Antique Week   315-382-4437

    John Mancino- Madison Bouckville Antique Week     315-427-5094

On Saturday and Sunday, June 11th and 12th, a new family festival will be coming to Bouckville in Madison County!   The event has something for everyone in a peaceful rural setting at Butternut Hill Campground, along scenic Route 20.   Whether you enjoy admiring fine artwork, like to learn new things, enjoy getting up close and personal with all sorts of animals, want to help your children understand where their clothing comes from, enjoy shopping for unique gifts or raw materials for a project, or just relish the thought of a picnic under the trees, the CNY Fiber Artists & Producers’ Showcase will have what you seek.

For dog lovers, there will be a chance to visit an exhibit on dog breeds and talk to young dog owners about their animals.  On Sunday afternoon, the Oneida County 4-H club will put on a dog show.   Anyone raising sheep or goats understands the importance of herding dogs, and the young 4-H competitors will be demonstrating the obedience skills they and their dogs have learned – one of the first steps in training a herding dog.   Herding dogs and guardian dogs will be for sale in one of the vendor tents as well – just two of the special items related to fiber animals and fleece that will be available.

Bouckville has long been a haven for antique lovers, and history buffs will have a chance to see historical crafts in action as members of spinning and weaving guilds from surrounding counties demonstrate crafts that were once practiced in every home.  Come to watch and ask questions, or sign up for one of the workshops available in beginning spinning, rug braiding, basket weaving, or wet felting.  Students will leave the classes with a new drop spindle or an article they’ve made themselves: a historical fruit basket made from locally grown willow, a coaster braided from wool roving, or a beautiful scarf made from wool felted through silk.    Even if you have never tried to make anything, the instructors are sure to bring out the artist hidden within you!