Above: New Kingston during the 1971 Whoop-De-Doo. Photo courtsey of Shirley Davis.
In 1969, the local Presbyterian church in New Kingston founded a festival to showcase traditional folkways and crafts of the Catskills. They called it the "Whoop-De-Doo," and it was successful beyond their wildest dreams. In 1976, the last year it was held, the festival spanned three days and was attended by 4,000 people.
Shirley Davis, a Margaretville historian, sent us some photos of the 1971 Whoop-De-Do, and it looks like a blast, complete with parades and antique costumes and throngs on Main Street.
Above: Floats in the 1971 New Kingston Whoop-De-Doo. Photos courtsey of Shirley Davis.
Full disclosure: The Watershed Post's offices have been located in New Kingston for two years, and we cannot fathom thousands of people walking our quiet sidewalks. When three of our neighbors walk by together on a morning stroll, that's rush hour.
This weekend, the Blue Deer Center, a retreat center in New Kingston, will resurrect the long-dead Whoop-De-Doo on its campus on Rte. 6, just a few miles from the town center that was the site of the original festival. The Blue Deer's version of the Whoop-De-Do is going to be a single day crammed with traditional crafts and activities. Just like the old Whoop-De-Doo, there will be a chicken barbecue, square dancing, and demonstrations of traditional crafts.
Above: Marvin Hosier and Bridget & Barbara Hewitt (in the cart) at the 1971 Whoop-De-Doo. Photo courtsey of Shirely Davis.
Above: An early mission statement for the New Kingston Whoop-De-Doo. Courtsey of Shirley Davis.
There will also be some new touches to the program: Mexican food will be offered alongside the chicken, and there will be a demonstration of Huichol Art from the collection of the Blue Deer Center, which specializes in "plant spirit medicine" healing techniques inspired by the Huichols. Other modern touches are a drum circle and a slate of musicians that includes the Catskill Mountain Boys, Pamela West, Marcel Smith and Story Laurie.
As for the leather-working, stone-carving, candle-making, and felting demonstrations, all of them would have been right at home at the 1970s Whoop-De-Doo. Some things never change.
The New Kingston Whoop-De-Doo. “A Day of Food, Fun, and Folkways.” The Blue Deer Center. Sunday, September 1, 12:30 - 7pm. 1155 Rte. 6, Middletown. $10, $5 teens; children and seniors free. Register online to reserve chicken barbecue.
For the full schedule of events, see the press release below:
Whoop-de-doo Family Celebration – “A Day of Food, Fun, and Folkways”
There is a genuine excitement swirling in the New Kingston Valley air regarding the announcement of the return of the Whoop-de-doo, Sunday September 1, 2013 at Blue Deer Center in Margaretville, NY (Just down the road from the original New Kingston location) The New Kingston Whoop-De-Doo was a very popular local festival that ran from 1969-1976. The original event was described as “a celebration of food, fun & folkways”. At that time, it was a three day festival featuring Friday night square dancing in the street, Saturday street fair and Sunday musical/theatrical performances. In its biggest year, 1976, it drew 4,000 people! Since this is the first year of the return of the Whoop-De-Doo, the event has been condensed into a one day, Sunday, Sept 1, Family Celebration. Performance schedule as follows:
12:30 - Whoop-de-doo history- Dr. William Birns
1:00 - Pamela West (Ms. Pam’s Jamboree 91.3 WIOX Radio & Unicorn Crossing)
2:45 - Master Drummer Marcel Smith performing “Landscapes of the Bardo”
3:30 - Family Drum Circle – bring a drum
4:15 – Story Laurie (Neighbor to Neighbor Project & Grown’ in the Garden)
6:00 – Catskill Mt. Boys (Bluegrass Performance & Square Dancing)
There will also be a Golden Eagle Project slide show presented by Peg and Mike DiBenedetto throughout the day www.appalachianeagles.org.
endors will consist of a Seed Exchange, Face Painting, Huichol Art, Local Crafts & Food (Natural Chicken BBQ 3-6pm & Street Food Latin Bistro).
The Whoop-de-doo tradition of Folkways Presenters (folkways: plural of folk·ways Noun The traditional behavior or way of life of a particular community or group) will continue at the event by featuring the following:
Leather Working, Water Dowsing, Stone Knapping, Yogurt, Candle & Soap Making, Stone Carving, Alpaca yarn spinning, mushroom wild crafting & wool felting.
There will be a train ride, art table and music for children.
Admission is free for children and seniors, $5.00 for teens & $10.00 for adults. The event is sponsored, in part, by a grant from the O’Connor Foundation and will be held on the Blue Deer Center property at 1155 County Rt. 6, Margaretville, NY 12455. Please call for more information at ph. # 845-586-3225 and see the Center’s website at www.bluedeer.org.
Come on out to experience this Catskill Mountain Family Celebration and enjoy “A Day of Food, Fun and Folkways”.
