Village Wide Yard Sale: Yard sale customers are usually early birds. When a shopper pulled into the Village Hall parking lot, on Saturday afternoon, the maps were all gone. “Don’t worry,” she was told. “You can find sales on almost any street in the Village.”
Several residents put out merchandise on Hudson Street. And there were signs on almost every corner pointing toward other vendors. Cornwall and Cornwall-on-Hudson were busy on Oct. 17. There were five major events in the community.
Of the five, the Village Wide Yard Sale covered the widest area, and the Apple Time Fair had the distinction of being the oldest. It’s been at the Cornwall Presbyterian Church for 40 years.
Apple Time: Although the afternoon was brisk, people still ate their lunch at the tables in front of the church. The cool weather helped the sale of hot apple cider.
Downstairs, there was a steady flow of shoppers in “Grandma’s Bargain Basement.” At 1:30 p.m., Matt Keller (a middle school teacher and congregation member) entertained them with songs on his guitar. A few newcomers to the fair were disappointed to learn that apple pies have to be ordered in advance.
Costume Party: Off to the west, a group of teens prepared the Community Hall at the Bethlehem Presbyterian Church for an evening costume party. The event, in its fourth year, includes pinatas, games and prizes. It’s free and usually attracts more than 100 people.
Zombie Walk: At about the time the costume party was starting, a ghoulish-looking group was gathering in Brid’s Closet for the Zombie Walk, an activity Abi Moore created a year ago when she was in the eighth grade. Before going outside, the zombies got in the mood by watching Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” Some of the younger ones were seeing it for the first time.
This year’s walk attracted 50 people, including zombie hunters armed with imaginative weapons like cork guns. A DJ provided music on Main Street. And Elizabeth Moore used an air horn to let people know when the hunters were on the prowl. The event raised more than $250 for the Woodbury Animal Shelter.
When it was over many of the costumed people visited the Corn Estate in the Storm King Fire House.
Corn Estate: The House of Horrors opened with a big weekend; it hosted 361 guests — some of them from Dutchess County or New York City. Visitors played Halloween Jeopardy while waiting to see the spooks. The Storm King Ladies Auxiliary provided free refreshments. And scavenger hunt winner Barbara Hermbree sold Corn Estate T-shirts.
The event, which raises money for the fire company, uses volunteers for actors and for behind-the-scenes support. Unlike the other activities, it will continue for two more weekends.
By the numbers: Margaret Quinn provided some interesting statistics for the Corn Estate.
-60 volunteers from the community worked on the event.
-25 actors provided scares
-15 people provided behind the scenes support
-13 middle school kids offered zombie flash mob entertainment
-10 SKE Auxiliary members provided free refreshments
-20 zombies and zombie hunters showed up on Oct. 17