This Weekend: The Central Catskills Great Outdoor Experience Festival

Above: A photo by Diana Misner Watters, submitted to our Catskills Great Outdoor Experience photo contest. To see all the entrants, click here. The winner will be revealed at the festival on Saturday.

It's finally here: the Central Catskills Great Outdoor Experience Festival begins on Friday at 7:30pm with stargazing and fireside tales in Arkville, and then takes over the village of Margaretville on Saturday with scores of outdoorsy activities like kayaking and rock-climbing. Then on Sunday, guided hikes, paddles and ropes courses are happening in locations throughout the Catskills.

The Watershed Post is a partner with the festival, and I'll be onhand on Friday and Saturday handing out copies of our brand-spanking-new PRINT Catskills Outdoor Guide.

I'll also be revealing the winners of our awesome Catskills Great Outdoor Experience Photo Contest, sponsored by Peekamoose Restaurant & Tap Room. (That's one of the many entries above.)

If you're good, I'll also tell you what a "canookie" is. (Hint: it's delicious.)

For the full schedule, see the festival's listing in our calendar, or its website.

Central Catskills Great Outdoor Experience Festival, 7:30pm Friday, August 24 in Arkville, all day Saturday, August 25 in the village of Margaretville, and at locations around the Catskills on Sunday, August 26.

Below: "Can it get any better than this!?" Paddling the Schoharie Reservoir, Gilboa, NY. Photo by Patti Auerbach Morrow, submitted to our Catskills Great Outdoor Experience photo contest.