FESTIVAL PREVIEW 2016

Festival Preview Guide

Festivities of a bygone era

Truckin’ through the summer

FESTIVALS, PAGE 4

HISTORY, PAGE 10

DINING, PAGE 14

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SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

[ INTRODUCTION ]

BY JAKE CLAPP

Almost like a starting gun, the Lilac Festival is the first in a flood of festivals that will fill the Rochester late-spring and summer. Virtually every weekend finds a new event bringing out crowds of people into the warm weather for food, music, and arts.

From Erie Canal celebrations and local heritage commemorations to art competitions and music showcases, Rochester is a community of festivals. Of course, there’s the big, downtown festivals, the Rochester International Jazz Festival in June, and September’s Rochester Fringe Festival, but there’s plenty going on outside of the center city to get you out and about each week.

Inside this Festival Preview Guide, you’ll find dates, prices, and details of the region’s festivals, a story about three historyfocused events, and an examination of what it takes to run a popular food truck during the summer season.

Also check out this guide online at rochestercitynewspaper. com, where you’ll find more information on each of the festivals listed, and new festivals added as dates and details become available.

CITY NEWSPAPER 2016 FESTIVAL PREVIEW PAGE 4 - SUN’S OUT City Newspaper’s 2016 Festival Preview Guide

PAGE 10 - HISTORICALLY SPEAKING Three festivals that take atendees to different eras

PAGE 14 - A (FESTIVAL) DAY IN THE LIFE OF It takes some grit to run a food truck during the summer season On the cover: Illustration by Ryan Williamson Publishers: William and Mary Anna Towler Editorial department themail@rochester-citynews.com Arts & Entertainment editor: Jake Clapp Contributing writers: Chris Lindstrom, Scott Pukos, Rebecca Rafferty Art department artdept@rochester-citynews.com Art director/production manager: Ryan Williamson Designers: Aubrey Berardini, Mark Chamberlin Advertising department ads@rochester-citynews.com New sales development: Betsy Matthews Sales representatives: Christine Kubarycz, Sarah McHugh, Tracey Mykins, David White, William Towler Operations/Circulation kstathis@rochester-citynews.com Circulation manager: Katherine Stathis Distribution: Andy DiCiaccio, David Riccioni, Northstar Delivery, Wolfe News

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2016

SUN’S OUT

[ GUIDE ] BY SCOTT PUKOS

Rochester Lilac Festival Friday, May 6 - Sunday, May 15

The Lilac Festival kicks off the season on May 6, and the annual Highland Park event crushes it in terms of beauty: more than 1200 lilac plants, consisting of about 500 varieties, adorn the land. There’s a parade, lots of food, art, seminars, and lots of music – including headliners The Sheepdogs (May 7), Los Straightjackets (May 8), Gaelic Storm (May 9), Matisyahu (May 10), and fan favorite Rusted Root (May 12). Full schedule: rochesterevents.com/lilac-festival.

Dachshund Parade Saturday, May 7

Canine parade, dog health info, and handcrafted dachshund-themed items for sale. 10 a.m.-noon, Washington Square Park (181 S. Clinton Ave., downtown Rochester).

Admission: $1 for each dachshund (other 4 2016 FESTIVAL PREVIEW

This is the wonderful time of year when Rochester trades in its scarves for sunscreen. It’s when festivals kick into overdrive —in Rochester, Monroe County, and surrounding counties.

Here’s a quick guide to the season’s wealth of celebrations. You can find more extensive information on them on our website, rochestercitynewspaper.com. And if we missed a festival, or if you have more information about an upcoming event, leave us a comment.

breeds should not be brought). Info: Dachshundparade.com.

Rochester Greek Festival

Low Bridge, High Water

Annual festival at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 962 East Ave., with a Greek marketplace, traditional music and dancing, and plenty of food. 11 a.m.-11 p.m. daily.

Admission free. Info: Rochestergreekfestival. org; 585-244-3377.

Thursday, May 12 - Saturday, May 14

Village of Brockport festivities celebrating the season’s opening of the Erie Canal, with music, kids’ activities, a beer tasting, and a 5K run. Free admission. Info: facebook.com/ LowBridgeHighWater. May 14 Barge Charge 5K sign-up: brockportny.org.

Roc City Ribfest Friday, May 27 - Monday, May 30

Rib cook-off and a Food Truck Throwdown (May 27). Genesee Valley Park, 5-9 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; 11 a.m.- 7 p.m. Monday. Admission: $5, benefitting the Golisano Children’s Hospital and the Ronald McDonald House. Info: roccityribfest.org.

Thursday, June 2 - Sunday, June 5

Sulphur Springs Festival Friday, June 3 - Saturday, June 4

Check out our story on the Sulphur Springs Festival on page 12. Info: sulphurspringsfestival.com.

Fairport Canal Days Friday, June 3 - Sunday, June 5

This 40-year-old event includes barbeque, jazz musicians, art and crafts, and wine, chocolate, and cheese tastings. The festival

begins with a chicken BBQ Friday, 4:30-9 p.m., and continues Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Info: fairportcanaldays.com.

19th Ward Square Fair Saturday, June 4

Popular neighborhood festival celebrating community with a parade, pancake breakfast, kids’ activities, local arts vendors, book sale, and music. Aberdeen Square (330 Post Ave., Rochester). Free admission. Info: 19wca.org; 328-6571.

The Fast & the Furriest Saturday, June 4

9th annual festivities include 5K and 10K races, dog walk, pet contests, a food truck rodeo, live music, discounted pet adoptions, and more. Proceeds help reunite lost pets with their owners, create incentives for adopting shelter pets, and support pet retention. 7 a.m.-2 p.m., Rochester Animal Services, 184 Verona St. Info: VSAS.org.

Show on Monroe Saturday, June 4

Rochester’s Monroe Avenue between the Inner Loop and 490 fills with buskers, business specials, scavenger hunt, mobile video game, and a Spokes & Ink Festival. Free admission; Scavenue Hunt participation, $10.

Info: showonmonroe.com.

Finger Lakes Plein Air Festival Tuesday, June 7 - Sunday, June 12

Celebrating artwork created “en plein air,” or “in the open air,” 43 artists will be at work in and around Canandaigua, followed by a sale of the paintings. Full list of events and locations: fingerlakespleinair.com.

Rochester Real Beer Week Friday, June 10 - Sunday, June 19

Events hosted at dozens of bars and venues around the region, anchored by craft beer tasting at the Real Beer Expo June 11.

Details for the week’s events, which benefit South Wedge community projects, available closer to the event: rochesterrealbeer.com.

A complete guide will be inserted in City Newspaper May 25. continues on page 6 ROCHESTERCITYNEWSPAPER.COM 5

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Adirondack Mountain Club’s Outdoor Expo Saturday, June 11

Demonstrations and workshops for hiking, canoeing, kayaking, backpacking, camping, bicycling, and other outdoor activities presented by local organizations, with music by the Golden Link Folk Singing Society. 9 a.m.-4 p.m., beach area, Mendon Ponds Park.

Free admission. gvc-adk.org/expo.

Keuka Arts Festival Saturday, June 11 - Sunday, July 12

Art and crafts by regional artists, music, food from local restaurants, and Finger Lakes wines. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily along the Keuka Lake Outlet Trail, Penn Yan. Free admission. keukaartsfestival.com.

Finger Lakes Chamber Music Festival Saturday, June 11 - Saturday, July 30

A summer of weekend (mostly classical) concerts in vineyards and other around the Finger Lakes. Tickets for most events: $25 for adults, free for students. Full schedule: fingerlakes-music.org.

Festival on the Green Friday, June 17 - Sunday, June 19

Friday, June 3 & Saturday, June 4 Friday • 5-8pm Beer & Wine Stroll • 7-10 pm Flint Creek Band

Saturday • Vendors • Noon-5pm Music Festival • Noon-5pm Children’s Entertainment • 6pm largest parade in Ontario County

www.sulphurspringsfestival.com

Honeoye Falls’ festival of local music, art, crafts, and family-friendly activities on the Fireman’s Field (321 Monroe St.) on Friday, and Harry Allen Park (21 N. Main St.) Saturday and Sunday. Info: festivalonthegreen.us.

Maplewood Rose Festival Saturday, June 18

A day of activities in Maplewood Park’s Rose Garden, home to more than 3,000 rose bushes. 10 a.m.-7:30 p.m., corner of Lake and Driving Park Aves., Rochester. maplewood. org/rose-festival.

Rochester International Jazz Festival Friday, June 24 - Saturday, July 2

This 15th edition includes more than 235 6 2016 FESTIVAL PREVIEW

Club Pass concerts, six headliner shows, and 99 free gigs spread over much of downtown Rochester’s east side. Schedule, tickets, and venue info: rochesterjazz.com. And check out City Newspaper’s Jazz Fest guide, available June 15.

Sterling Renaissance Festival Saturday, July 2 - Sunday, August 14

Story on page 10. sterlingfestival.com.

Day of Remembrance Sunday, July 3

This 18th annual observance, hosted by the Maafa Celebration Committee, honors and reflects on the lives lost in the Middle Passage of the slave trade. 6-8 p.m., Durand Eastman Park, Rochester. (Look for the red, black, and green flags). Free and open to the public.

Attendees are asked to wear white, take a lawn chair or blanket to sit on, and flowers for the libation ceremony. Information, e-mail themaafajuly3rd@gmail.com.

Corn Hill Arts Festival

FRIDAY-SUNDAY JUNE 17-19 Lots of local talent and family fun!

Fri night: Annual 5K Friday, followed by music, food, and fireworks display at Fireman’s Field Sat & Sun: At Harry Allen Park. Craft vendors, food, and music.

Yearly frog jumping contest, pie-eating contest and children’s games.

SPONSORED BY THE Honeoye

Falls Historical Society

Saturday, July 9 - Sunday, July 10

Music, food, and a huge variety of art and crafts in the 48th edition of this huge festival in a historic Rochester neighborhood. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.

Sunday. Free. cornhillartsfestival.com.

Rochester Pride 2016 Sunday, July 10 - Sunday, July 17

The Gay Alliance’s weeklong event promoting an inclusive environment for people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and expressions. Highlights include a parade (July 16) and festival (July 16 and July 17). Festival tickets and info available through the Gay Alliance website: gayalliance.org.

Canandaigua Art and Music Festival Friday, July 15 - Sunday, July 17

Music, art, and food trucks, with more than 100 artists and vendors exhibiting in downtown Canandaigua. Noon-7 p.m.

Friday; 10-5 Saturday and Sunday. Free admission. Info: canandaiguaartfestival.com. continues on page 8

A JURIED

Show & Sale of Fine Art and Crafts

OF OVER ONE HUNDRED ARTISTS!

The Finger Lakes Region Premier Fine Art Event

Sat. & Sun. August 20 & 21, 10am-5pm • Free parking and access to the historic and beautiful Sonnenberg Mansion and 9 themed gardens • Local wines & microbrews in the Wine & Beer Garden • Live music, dance and performance art • Sculpture Garden • Raffles featuring work from exhibiting artists Admission $6 (Children under 12 are free)

Sonnenberg Gardens and Mansion 151 Charlotte St-Canandaigua NY

Free parking

SPONSORED BY

www.artsatthegardens.org ROCHESTERCITYNEWSPAPER.COM 7

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Finger Lakes Wine Festival Friday, July 15 - Sunday, July 17

More than 80 wineries and many food vendors, Watkins Glen International Speedway (2790 County Rte. 16). One-day pass $45-$50; two-day pass $50-$55; one-day designated-driver pass $25 (must be 18 or older). Info: flwinefest.com.

Canandaigua Lake Music Festival Friday, July 15, through Sunday, July 24

Four concerts and a special event, with performers including pianists Jon Nakamatsu and Audrey Andrist. Finger Lakes Community College. $28 per concert; $100 for all four. lakemusicfestival.org.

Macedonian Festival Friday, July 22 - Sunday, July 24

St. Dimitria Macedonian Orthodox Church’s annual celebration of Macedonian culture and heritage, with music, dancing, children’s activities, and food. 5 p.m. to midnight Friday; noon to 1 a.m. Saturday; noon to 11 p.m.

Sunday. 235 Telephone Rd., West Henrietta.

Free admission. macedonianfest.com.

Native American Dance and Music Festival Saturday, July 23 - Sunday, July 24

Annual celebration of Seneca and Haudenosaunee heritage at the Ganondagan Historic Site, 1488 State Route 444, Victor.

Guided tours of Ganondagan’s trails and barksided longhouse, traditional storytelling, a Native arts market, and raffles. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. ganondagan.org.

Canandaigua Lakefront Art Show

Village of Spencerport. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. each day.

Free admission. spencerportcanaldays.com.

Waterfront Art Festival Saturday, July 30 - Sunday, July 31

A longtime Canandaigua staple, this art and crafts show is now held in Webster’s North Ponds Park. The event also includes live music and food. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. waterfrontartfestival.com.

Lima Crossroads Blues Festival Friday, August 5 - Sunday, August 7

Three days filled with the blues, a car cruise, food, kids’ activities, and a euchre tournament around Lima. Proceeds benefit Camp Good Days. limafest.org.

Puerto Rican Festival Friday, August 5 - Sunday, August 7

An annual celebration of Puerto Rican culture and music. noon-10 p.m. Friday, noon-10 p.m.

Friday; noon-9:30 p.m. Saturday; noon-6 p.m.

Sunday, Frontier Field. prfestival.com.

Finger Lakes Riesling & Craft Beer Festival Saturday, August 6 - Sunday, August 7

Wine tastings, craft beers, food, grape stomping, music, farmers market, arts and crafts, and children’s activities. 10 a.m.- 5 p.m., New York Wine and Culinary Center (800 South Main St., Canandaigua) and the Canandaigua City Pier (Lakeshore Dr.). Entrance to the Wine Garden, $25; $10 for an “education pass,” which includes access to all festival areas festival except the wine and beer sampling. rieslingfestival.com.

Park Avenue Summer Art Festival Saturday, August 6 - Sunday, August 7

Work by regional artists and offerings by food vendors on the north shore of Canandaigua Lake. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Kershaw Park, Lakeshore Dr., Canandaigua. Free admission. clfestivalofthearts.com.

Vendors, food trucks, and visitors take over Rochester’s Park Avenue, with neighborhood businesses getting in on the act. Juried show of works by more than 350 artists and entertainment on three stages. 10 a.m.6 p.m. Saturday, 10-5 Sunday. Park Ave. between Alexander St. and Culver Rd. Free. rochesterevents.com/park-ave-festival.

Spencerport Canal Days

Pageant of Steam

Saturday, July 30 - Sunday, July 31

Saturday, July 30, and Sunday, July 31

Art and crafts, commercial booths, food vendors, and live music along the Erie Canal in the 8 2016 FESTIVAL PREVIEW

Wednesday, August 10 - Saturday, August 13

Check out our story on page 10. Info: pageantofsteam.org.

Avon Rotary Corn Festival Saturday, August 13

A Livingston County community staple, with art, crafts, and food. Proceeds benefit numerous area charitable programs. Genesee St., Village of Avon.

Free admission and parking. avonrotary.org.

Arts at the Gardens Saturday, August 20 - Sunday, August 21

Held in Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion State Historic Park, the festival is a juried show and sale of art and crafts at Sonnenberg Gardens in Canandaigua, with work by more than 100 artists plus a wine and beer garden, live music, food, a sculpture garden, and access to the Sonnenberg Mansion and gardens. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. each day. Admission $6 (free for children under 12). artsatthegardens.com.

New York State Festival of Balloons Thursday, September 1 - Monday, September 5

This annual event in Dansville has the sky filled with dozens of hot air balloons, plus, on the ground, art and crafts, food vendors, jazz, and a “hawk walk” with a bird-of-prey showcase.

Balloon launches: Friday, 6 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.; Monday, 6 a.m.

Dansville’s Municipal Airport, 176 Franklin Street, Maple Street entrance. Admission, $5; free for children under 12. Part of the profits benefit local charities. nysfob.com.

Clothesline Arts Festival Saturday, September 10 - Sunday, September 11

The Memorial Art Gallery’s 60th big festival and fundraiser, with works by more than 400 artists plus workshops, food trucks, and a sidewalk sale. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Sunday. Admission $5 ($4 for MAG members); free for children 10 and under. mag.rochester. edu/clothesline.

Rochester Fringe Festival Thursday, September 15 - Saturday, September 24

Hundreds of events featuring everything from music, dance, and theater to site-specific and interactive performances, filling downtown Rochester for 10 days. Info: rochesterfringe.com as show announcements are made. And check out City Newspaper’s Rochester Fringe Festival Preview Guide, available September 7.

ROCHESTERCITYNEWSPAPER.COM 9

The New York Steam Engine Association’s Pageant of Steam celebrates the machines of the 19th Century. SUBMITTED PHOTO

HISTORICALLY SPEAKING We look at three festivals that take attendees to different eras [ FESTIVAL FEATURE ]

BY REBECCA RAFFERTY

A celebration of cool, obsolete machinery

Western New York State is rife with fertile farmland; it’s given the region a rich agricultural history. And though farming is still a major part of life in rural areas, industrial cities grew in the late 19th century, offering new occupations in factories. So it stands to reason that this region also built machines to power the agricultural and manufacturing industries.

Remaining relics of that local history are celebrated annually at the Pageant of Steam, held each August in Canandaigua.

The pageant was founded in 1960 by the New York Steam Engine Association, which was “just a handful of guys who happened to own some obsolete steam engines,” says Richard Finley, NYSEA vice president.

Today, the association has more than 1,700 members, and the four-day pageant is the largest showcase of steam-powered machinery in New 10 2016 FESTIVAL PREVIEW

The Clifton Springs Sulphur Springs Festival celebrates the village’s Victorian origins. SUBMITTED PHOTO

York State. It features displays of vintage tractors, antique construction and industrial equipment, tractor pulls, and nightly live musical entertainment — this year by Ruby Shooz — as well as a massive craft and flea market.

The Pageant of Steam takes place Wednesday, August 10, through Saturday, August 13, at 3349 Gehan Road in Canandaigua.8 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day. Admission is $7 for adults and free to kids under age 12. For more information, call 315-677-3876, or visit pageantofsteam.org.

Interacting with the English Renaissance

The annual Sterling Renaissance Festival, held in July and August, is a truly immersive

experience of another era. The fair’s premise is that the people of a working village in the countryside of England are focused on entertaining Queen Elizabeth for the day.

Each day is a replay of that scenario, with different themed weekends, from a “Pirate Invasion Weekend” to the “Highland Fling.”

The festival was founded in 1976, but has been owned since 2008 by Doug Waterbury, whose company purchases unique entertainment businesses.

“Sterling is one of our favorites,” Waterbury says. “It’s very historic, one of the earlier festivals of its kind, and is recognized nationwide as the finest of its type, in terms of authenticity and high level of entertainment.” continues on page 12

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Historically speaking continues from page 10

Yeah, their swords are on fire. You’ll see a lot at the Renaissance Festival. PROVIDED PHOTOS

The Sterling Renaissance Festival takes place Saturdays and Sundays, July 2 through August 14, at 5385 Farden Road in Sterling.

10 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day. Early-bird ticket prices are $23.95 for adults and $12.95 for kids aged 5 to 11 (Ages 4 and under are free). Group rates, weekend passes, and season passes are also available. For more information, call 800-879-4446, or visit sterlingfestival.com.

Stinky creek is celebrated origin of historic township

The Village of Clifton Springs celebrates its Victorian origins annually with the Sulphur Springs Festival, held for two days each June. Founded in 1849 by Henry Foster, a doctor, Clifton Springs became the site for Foster’s “water cure,” as the area’s springs were thought to have therapeutic properties.

Some festival-goers help transport the town back in time by dressing up in handsewn costumes. The “Fashion through the Years” competition used to specifically feature Victorian get-ups, but has grown to embrace other eras in order to include more people, says Anne Mancilla, who has been a festival organizer for three years.

This year’s festival kicks off with a Friday night beer and wine stroll — hosted throughout the village by different shopkeepers — culminating with Flint Creek Band playing from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the gazebo at Rotary Park.

This year’s Sulphur Springs Festival takes place Friday, June 3, and Saturday, June 4, in the village of Clifton Springs. Admission is free. For a schedule of events, visit sulphurspringsfestival.com, or search for the fest on Facebook.

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Where Art and Fine Gardening Meet • Spring Clean-Up • Maintenance • Design Robert L. Wilcox • 474-6584 gardens9@rochester.rr.com

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A (FESTIVAL) DAY IN THE LIFE Food truck operators run long days in the summer heat to be out with the festival crowds [ DINING FEATURE ] BY CHRIS LINDSTROM

Since modern style food trucks started hitting Rochester streets in 2011, they have become a cornerstone of the area’s festival scene. At this point, it would be hard to imagine going to Park Ave Fest or the Jazz Festival without seeing these mobile food havens hoarded by festival goers.

As Lizzie Clapp of Le Petit Poutine, Matt Petrillo from The Meatball Truck Co., and Marty’s Meats’ Marty O’Sullivan will tell you, festival days can become marathon service sessions. For the food truck crews, the days are long during the summer. Although there is always prep work before a typical lunch service or catering event, a festival day starts well before the customer walks up to the window.

Organizers “have to close down the streets for public safety, and we need to be loaded in hours before the festival starts,” O’Sullivan says.

“That usually means truck on site with all our product by 9 a.m., which means we are at our commissary by 6:30 in the morning.”

The public safety aspect comes up twice a day for the trucks during the larger street festivals. Trucks need to not only be there early, but they can’t leave the area until it’s been fully cleared. Picture leaving your house by 5:30 a.m., working a full day, shutting down, not being able to leave for an hour or two after close, and then having to turn around the prep 14 2016 FESTIVAL PREVIEW

Matt Petrillo of The Meatball Truck Co. (left), and Ronnie McClive and Lizzie Clapp of Le Petit Poutine (right). For food truck operators, the summer is a lucrative, but demanding season.

PHOTOS BY MARK CHAMBERLIN

again for the next day. And of course the more people you have to serve, the more the prep needs to be on point.

Cooking for Le Petit Poutine is “incredibly labor heavy due to the cutting and paring of all our potatoes,” Clapp says. “We have our system pretty tuned up right now so we can cook about 300 pounds an hour. But we can easily crank through that prep in an hour when we’re flying through festival lines. Prepping and preparing throughout the week is essential.”

Talking with Petrillo, I learned that I wasn’t the only one surprised by the demand at these festivals. Petrillo launched The Meatball Truck Co. at a Food Truck Rodeo — which is a daunting task itself.

“The first year going into it, you’re almost blind except for the fact that people tell you it’s busy,” he says. “You think that you know what busy is, but you’re almost always wrong. Now when we go into Park Ave Fest, we roll 4,000 or 5,000 meatballs, even though we can only load around 1,800 on the truck. We send people out to go get more ingredients if we have to.”

During the festival grind, food vendors are just trying to keep their head above water and keep the customers happy.

“One of the things I really like about the food business is that it reminds me a lot of athletics, which I did for a majority of my life,” he says. “Shifts are like games, and you can have good or bad shifts. They can become physically and

mentally draining especially with the short turnarounds of back-to-back days. You can end up exhausted, but there is a rush and team aspect to it.”

Clapp related a story that many who’ve been sleep deprived can identify with in one way or another. She and her team were beat down from the day, and they ended up with almost no sleep before their next shift.

“We went through all of our prep — hundreds of pounds — and were so exhausted,” she says. “We got back, cleaned all the dishes, truck, and the kitchen, and started cutting again.”

That night, she and her business partner Ronnie McClive were in the kitchen until 3 a.m., got up the next morning to finish, and went right back for the festival’s second day. “We were so delirious the next day I think we had one of those crying laughing fits that hurts my stomach still to think about.”

The heat is rough and the hours are long while serving a figurative ton of food to the hungry public. But all three food truck operators overwhelmingly agreed that it was an overall positive.

“You get to be around all the other food truck owners and everyone is dealing with the same struggles for the season,” Petrillo says. “When you’re on the truck, you aren’t just working; you’re right in the middle of the action and having fun with friends and family.”

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