Get Down and Derby

Pony rides are one of the highlights of the festival.

Spring has already blossomed and summer is on the horizon. It’s the time when adults and children get ready to uncover their pools in the backyard, pack away the heavy coats and jackets, start to think about summer camp, and prepare to spend a lot of time in the sun.

It’s also means the Kent-Delord House Museum’s annual Derby Days celebration, held on May 1st, is just around the corner.

Dr. Nancy Church, currently a marketing professor at Plattsburgh State University, started Derby Days six years ago. Since then, it has been raising funds for the Museum with lots of help from the community through the various activities Derby Days has to offer.

The day begins with a plant swap, held on the grounds of the Kent-Delord House Museum. The Garden Club, who sponsors the event, sells plants and trades with other interested gardeners.

After getting a fill of the flora and fauna, it’s time to cruise over to the Crete Civic Center for the craft show and children’s fair. This is the place where local crafters get to show off their stuff and share it with the public. All kind of arts and crafts will be up for sale, such as jewelry, woodwork, furniture, and paintings. The kiddies will enjoy the fair portion of the event, which features pony rides and demonstrations, and a Breyer Horse contest. While the available refreshments are being nibbled on, kids can play a variety of games and get their very own balloon sculpture, then swing over to the clown and magician performances.

Juggles the Clown enjoys putting smilies on the children's faces.

As the afternoon winds down, the public is invited to come down to Tabu restaurant and nightclub, located in downtown Plattsburgh, for a buffet dinner and a live auction. Bids will be put in for various art pieces and merchandise donated by local artists and establishments. Don Craig, Kent Delord museum director, says that War of 1812 history buffs will appreciate one particular piece: a painting by Ernest Haas, of South Burlington, depicting a soldier holding a musket. The soldier in the painting is a reenactor, of course, but Craig says that it “certainly speaks to the slant of history in Plattsburgh”. Besides painting, there will also be cartoons and photographs up for bidding, of which all the proceeds go to the museum fund.

To cap off the evening, attendees can watch the Kentucky Derby on television. To add to the excitement, those who want to try their luck can place bets on the winning horse. The winnings are then divided in half, one going to the winner, and the other going into the fund.

Craig says that the amount of those who come to the all-day celebration varies, depending on the weather conditions and other factors. The average turnout is usually between 500 and 1,000 people.

Though this year's Derby Day celebration has already passed, it's never too late to be part of the tradition. So next time spring rolls in, mark off your calender for a day of food and fun for a good cause.

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