Bennington has been holding a Rhubarb Festival since 2013, and this year’s edition will be Friday to Sunday, June 3 to 5, at Sawyer Park, just off Route 202.
On Friday, June 3, activities are from 5 to 8 p.m. at Bennington’s Sawyer Park off Route 202. Wendy Keith and her Alleged Band will be performing on the stage in a three-hour set. There will be a dodgeball tournament starting at 5 p.m., and residents can form teams to play. Realms, a group of live-action role-players (LARP), will be active all over the park. People can bring their dogs, as long as the dogs are on a leash.
Most of the contest drop-offs are on Friday night from 5 to 7 p.m. Categories include longest rhubarb stalk and widest rhubarb leaf. Flower arrangements will be accepted in three categories: grand rhubarb bouquet, up to 3 feet tall with 50% or more rhubarb flowers plus other greens or blossoms; small rhubarb bouquet, no taller than 8 inches and containing 50% rhubarb flowers plus other greens or blossoms; or any size bouquet of wild or cultivated flowers.
The market basket contest has three divisions: the family garden, commercial grower or child’s basket. In the first family garden and commercial grower divisions, the entrant will display a 16-inch or larger basket containing rhubarb stalks and related products produced or grown in the local area. The child’s basket is limited to children under 12 years old and must contain rhubarb stalks, a baked good, one vegetable and three other locally grown or produced items. Youth artwork, up to age 15, and adult artwork will have a rhubarb theme. Photographs of rhubarb may be entered in the youth or adult photography contest. Photos shall be framed and ready to hang. Contact Molly Flower Eppig at molly.eppig@gmail.com or Bethany Manley Craig for details.
On Saturday, June 5, the gates will open at 10 a.m. There will be craft and gift vendors open from 10 am to 3 pm. Food and beverage vendors will be going all day, and a bake sale will benefit the GEP Dodge Library. Books will also be on sale.
The Rhubarb General Store will sell jams and jellies and rhubarb stalks and rhubarb crowns and all things rhubarb. At noon, a trivia contest will test people’s knowledge of rhubarb. The “Drink Your Rhubarb” stand offers tastes of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages for tasting from noon to 2 p.m. The hollering contest is at 1 p.m. at the flag pole. The LARP group and World War II re-enacters will be present on Saturday. The children’s tent and petting zoo will be up on the hill from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and there will also be a story walk for children.
To enter a rhubarb pie in the baking contest, bring it to the field between 8:30 and 9:30 a.m. on Saturday for the 10 a.m. tasting. Judges are looking for pies made entirely of rhubarb, without any other fruit. Prize ribbons and gift cards will be awarded by the King Arthur Baking Company for the top three amateur pies. Pies must be made using King Arthur flour and the UPC code from the package needs to be shown. There is also a separate division for professional bakers. Contact Molly Flower Eppig for details.
After the craft vendors close at 3 p.m, the Antrim-Bennington Lions will hold a cornhole tournament from 5 to 8 p.m. Registration is required. Stuck In Time will perform music at the same time.
On Sunday, June 5, at 10 a.m., craft vendors will be back, along with food from 5-Cs Concessions. Attendees can play croquet, and watch the children run Rhubarb Races at 1 p.m. The festival ends at 2 p.m.
Free parking is available, but people are asked to leave their dogs at home June 4 and 5.