One month till MedusaFest!

I am busy getting press releases out - and fliers made - and art projects beta tested! We've got volunteers to help - and set up is in full swing!

I am posting our latest press release here, in case anyone wants to pass it on further. Remember to get your vendor forms in to the firehouse asap. I think there are still quite a few of you on my list who haven't gotten around to that yet - the sooner the better if you have specific needs, i.e. electricity access or inside setup.

Pass it on as far and wide as possible!

Contact: April Caprio Medusa General Store Phone: (518) 239 6980

6 Red Barn Lane Medusa, NY 12120 medusasmallbusinessfair.blogspot.com

MEDUSAFEST & Medusa Small Business Fair

Press Release

MedusaFest celebrates spring!

Small businesses, bands, talks, art, rummage sales and the great Firehouse chicken barbecue!

Medusa, April 5, 2014.  Can there be a better way to celebrate the return of spring than spend a day in Medusa?! This year, on May 3rd, from 9am - 4pm, MedusaFest will be hosting a small business fair, talks by local sustainability celebs, several amazing bands, and fantastic food! We’re also hosting a kid’s art lab and the Medusa Church’s giant rummage sale (one of the area’s best!). If you have been missing Medusa (or just can’t wait to brush off the last remnants of this very long winter), mark your calendars for May 3rd!

A little bit Maker movement, and a little bit TedX, in addition to showcasing some fantastic local vendors, this year’s MedusaFest is hoping to start a new tradition: we’ll be hosting talks by Justin Wexler, founder of Wild Hudson Valley, frequently seen leading hikes at the Huyck Preserve; Robert Neid, of the Center for Sustainable Rural Communities, to talk about his ongoing working nearby Schoharie County; and William Logan, Rensselaerville local and author of Dirt: the Ecstatic Skin of the Earth, and inspiration behind the recent documentary by the same name.

Adding a bit of musical flavor, several notorious local bands will be offering up their most entertaining! The Peckham Hollow will be playing their finest, as well as Medusa Moonshine, led by our own Dave Rudloff. Robert, our Medusa Troubador, as locals recognize as a summer porch feature at the Store, will be joining the Ron Torven Band for a lineup of ballads. Musical genius in your own hometown! A little of everything...

We’re also hosting a giant kid’s art lab - so bring play clothes for a hefty amount of hands on artistic (and messy!) artistic fun! From giant building blocks to frame painting to playdough (a perennial Medusa favorite!) and bigger-than-life weaving, we’ll be creating great art together!

The firehouse will be providing superb food throughout the day, including a chicken barbecue. As always, entrance is free, though donations are appreciated.

If you have any questions regarding this event, or are interested in volunteering, give April a call at the store at 518 239 6980 or drop her an email at april.roggio@gmail.com. We are active webbies, available on Facebook, as well as at medusasmallbusinessfair.blogspot.com.  Looking forward to seeing you on the 3rd!

Can you wait?!

It's coming, folks!

Just to catch you up on our line-up so far, we will be hosting several of Medusa's finest musicians! Peckham Hollow will be playing, as well as newly configured Medusa Moonshine. We'll also be hosting our own Medusa troubadour, who will be playing with accompaniment at the Pavilion, as well as jamming on the Store porch all afternoon!

We have a million vendors coming - it is so exciting to see the amazing spirit of entrepreneurship in our region! From yogis to herbalists and massage therapists to nature photography and health care products, we have had am amazing outpouring of support for this festival!
We have a full speaker's lineup, including Justin Wexler from Wild Hudson Valley, and Robert Neid, from the Ceneter for Rural Sustainable Communities. And - this just in - we'll be hosting a full fledge kid's art lab in the basketball courts, so bring your painting fingers!

Still looking for volunteers, though - so give me a shout if you are interested in helping out!

Late January updates!

Our line-up is growing! Justin Wexler has agreed to present a wildcrafting talk and demonstration - I am looking forward to being inspired to (sustainably) harvest more local plants for food and medicine. You might have come across Justin up at the Huyck, where he regularly leads informative hikes through the Preserve. You won't want to miss him!

Robert Nied is the director of the Center for Sustainable Rural Communities, located in neighboring Schoharie. He's offered to provide an upbeat look at the state of local sustainability initiatives under the shadow of the fight against hydrofracking and drilling infrastructure.

Preparing a Call for Vendors press release and poster - in the meantime, contact me if you have ideas for a workshop, demonstration or talk!

Medusa to be posted in this year's Albany Chamber guide!

We have submitted our event in May to the Albany Colonie Chamber of Commerce Guide for 2014. This year the cover is an image of our Hilltown bounty! Many thanks to the folks at the Helderberg Hilltowns group for the heads-up on this.

Lots of folks have already signed on for next year - while I don't plan to start recruiting small business folks for the festival for another month or so, please do start spreading the word - this is going to be an amazing event!

We are also planning to host some workshops. If you have an idea for a workshop, please drop me a line. We have several potential locations for both indoor and outdoor workshop spaces.

Welcome!

Like I needed another blog, right?

Consider this the home on the web of the upcoming Medusa Small Business Festival. On November 30th, for 2013's Small Business Saturday, we were able to draw a sweet crowd of folks out of the warmth of their woodstoved living rooms to chat with (and hopefully buy from!) an amazing collection of hilltop vendors.

If we can manage a small crowd in the dreary days of November, I think we could possibly bring half the county for a festival in May. So let's do it. And let's do it great - how about workshop spaces this time? Food, song and entertainment? Let's see how many people we can get to engage in a yoga practice on the lawn behind the Firehouse! (Think: yoga as public art!)

If you'd like to be a vendor (and haven't already been in touch with me), drop me a line at april.roggio@gmail.com. Or Facebook me. Or come find me at my store in Medusa. Phone is the worst, but if you are determined, 239-6980.

I cannot wait!