On Saturday, May 9th, Gardiner had its first annual Cupcake Festival. We closed Main Street in the center of the Hamlet and had donkey rides, a bouncy house, wine tasting, vendors, a cupcake baking contest and wonderful live music. We had a huge turnout, and the atmosphere was fun and friendly. For those of you who didn’t make it, please look for the 2nd annual festival in May next year. I asked two of our locals to write a bit about their experiences at the Cupcake Festival.
From Jodi Whitehead of Uptown Attic: What a wonderful day! I’ve always dreamed of having a shop in an area where people take pride in their community, are close knit, friendly and welcoming. This is exactly what I have found in Gardiner. Helping to organize the Cupcake Festival was a fun and exciting experience, but for me, seeing Main Street come alive with great music, proud local business owners and vendors, smiling children carrying balloons and enjoying a donkey ride, was picture perfect! And, let’s not forget the cupcakes —WOW! There were over a thousand of them and they were beautiul and delicious (not to mention gone by mid-festival). We all enjoyed a cupcake or two and I especially enjoyed seeing my new shop, Uptown Attic, fill to the brim with shoppers galore who waited patiently both for dressing rooms and their turn at the register. It was more than I could have imagined! What a huge success this was, more than we all imagined. I eagerly look forward to next year’s festival. Thank you Gardiner!
From Janet Kern, Town Board Member: I’ve never seen so many, so happy. I mean, what’s not to like: cupcakes, cup-cakes everywhere. Kids with vari-hued icings on lips and clothing. Adults… ditto. Dogs in tow—tails wagging, eyes watchful (crumbs gotta fall, right?). Great music. No rain. No worries. Serving on the Town Board is challenging, but then I was asked to serve as a cupcake judge. It was our public obligation to sample all seventeen entries: coconut lime, tiramasu, and cupcakes in the form of beagles, to name a few. We served nobly, voted honorably, and managed to remain conscious, if a bit giddy. Y’know what? Gardiner’s got it all—-our ridge, our valley, and our true community of neighbors who know how to have a good time, and ingest prodigious amounts of sugar.
And, from the entire Cupcake Festival Committee: Thanks to everyone who helped make the Cupcake Festival a great success. It was a delicious day!