Friday, October 12, 2012
Contact: Ashley Herriman
aherriman@nyrainc.com
NEW YORK SHOWCASE DAY KICKS OFF FALL FESTIVAL ON FINAL TWO WEEKENDS OF BELMONT MEET
ELMONT, N.Y. – Belmont Park will host a fall festival featuring a farmers' market with local, autumn produce, hayrides, and a pumpkin patch on the final two weekends of the fall meet, Saturday and Sunday, October 20-21 and October 27-28.
The fun kicks off on October 20, New York Showcase Day, which features seven stakes races for New York-breds worth more than $1 million. The farmers' market will be located in the backyard festival tent offering apples and pears from local farms for sale, along with chestnuts, pumpkins, assorted squash, cider, caramel apples and other items. In addition to the market, New York crafters and food purveyors will sell locally made products in the grandstand.
Both marketplaces will be open on Sunday, October 21.
Also on Showcase Day, family activities abound in Belmont's bucolic backyard, with hayrides, a children's pumpkin patch and decorating station, face painting, a scarecrow hunt, carnival games, inflatables, and more. The Electrix, a Grateful Dead tribute band, are slated to play the backyard stage on Saturday. In the event of rain, activities will move to the west end of the first floor Grandstand.
Four handmade scarecrows wearing Belmont Park sweatshirts and hats will be raffled off – one each day on both weekends – to a quartet of lucky winners on track. Entry into the drawing is free, with entry forms available at guest services, the reception area at the Garden Terrace restaurant, and also in the Post Parade program. Winners will be announced each day after the sixth race.
Family fun activities and the farmers' market return on Saturday, October 27, and the market will remain open on the meet's closing day, Sunday, October 28. On all days, hours for the various special activities are noon – 4 p.m.
In keeping with the autumnal theme, Belmont's Paddock Terrace bar will be transformed into a beer garden with craft beers on tap priced at $6. Select restaurants and concession stands throughout the facility will offer special food options such as perogies with stout dip and beer-braised brats and sauerkraut sandwiches.
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