May, 2001 issue

The festival celebrates the spring return of the fish to spawn in the river between Kingston and Albany. It is sponsored by the Westchester County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation and Riverlovers, Inc. In cooperation with the Hudson River Foundation, the Beacon Sloop Club and Ferry Sloops, Inc.

Hudson River environmentalist Christopher Letts will cook shad over hot coals and serve free samples of plank-baked, smoked, and pickled shad at 2 p.m. There will also be shad dinners available for purchase, featuring grilled shad, baked potatoes and cole slaw. Mr. Letts will discuss the natural history of shad, which adapt to salt and fresh water, along with other marine life in the river. In addition, there will be an assortment of other foods for sale including vegetarian chili, a secret recipe of the Beacon Sloop Club.

Children will have the opportunity to enjoy the antics of the Arm-of-the-Sea Theater. The troupe combines the symbolic visual language of mask and puppet theater with a musical menagerie of horns, bells, drums, shells, flutes and whistles. The show will begin at 2:30 p.m.

The Beczak Environmental Center will present games about the natural world and allow children to try their hand at catching fish during a rod and reel demonstration.

For boat lovers, a fleet of 25-foot Whitehall gigs from "Floating the Apple" will be on display. The "gig is a boat dating back to the 1700s. There will also be kayaking and other boating demonstrations. Ferry Sloops will offer free sails on the sloop Sojourner Truth.

Admission to Shadfest, which will be held rain or shine is free. Parking is $5 without a County Park Pass. Vendors may call Riverlovers at 914-656-1167. For general information call Riverlovers or the County Parks Department at 914-864-7000.