Write a commentCelebrate the Season! –
Head up to northern Oswego County for the 15th annual Salmon River Winter Festival Friday, Jan. 16 through Sunday, Jan. 18! Enjoy a full weekend of family fun and delicious food challenges throughout Pulaski, Richland, Sandy Creek and Altmar.
The annual event brings back the popular macaroni and cheese (MC), chili (C) and chicken wing (W) challenges! Competitions kick off on Friday from 5 to 9 p.m., with macaroni and cheese and continue over the weekend from noon to 6 p.m. both days; with chili tasting on Saturday and the wing walk on Sunday.
Tasting portions are two ounces for both macaroni and cheese and chili, and two-wing samples for the wing walk.
Ballots are $5 each for the macaroni and cheese and chili food challenges and $10 for the wing walk. They can be purchased beginning Thursday, Jan. 15 at 10 a.m. at the Half-shire Historical Society or at Designs of Elegance. Ballots can also be purchased at any participating location throughout the festival. A map is provided on the back of each ballot with a list of participating locations and addresses.
The list includes the following:
- Rural and Migrant Ministry of Oswego County, Inc. at the Half-Shire Historical Society: 1100 Co. Rte. 48, Richland; 315-298-2986(C only)
- Richland Hotel: 243 Main St., Richland; 315-298-0303
- Altmar Hotel: 6 Mill St., Altmar; 315-298-5460
- Mill House Market: 3790 NYS Rte. 13, Pulaski; 315-298-4104 (MC, C only)
- Off the Hook Tavern: 3866 Rome Rd., Pulaski; 315-298-0064
- Pulaski VFW: 4815 Salina St., Pulaski; 315-298-2660(C only)
- RiverHouse Restaurant: 4818 Salina St. Pulaski; 315-509-4281(MC, W only)
- LD’s on the River: 4838 Jefferson St., Pulaski; 315-509-4254
- End Zone/The Factory Sports Bar: 3435 Maple Ave., Pulaski; 315-298-7788
- Ma Barker’s Tavern: 5095 US Rte. 11, Pulaski; 315-298-2475 (MC, C only)
- 11 North Bar and Grill: 5233 US Rte. 11, Pulaski; 315-298-5858
- Buster’s Pit Stop 2: 6059 S. Main St., Sandy Creek; 315-387-7001
- Fairways and Dreams: 6927 NYS Rte. 3, Pulaski; 315-509-4542
- Tater Town: 7627 NYS Rte. 3, Pulaski; 315-298-0091 (MC, C only)
Participating restaurants are subject to change. For updates, follow the Salmon River Winter Festival Facebook page.
Many restaurants will also have entertainment or live music throughout the weekend. On Saturday, LD’s on the River features Damdog from 1 to 3 p.m. and Mariah McConnell performs at Off the Hook Tavern from 4 to 7 p.m.
On Sunday, 11 North Bar and Grill hosts Joe Battles from noon to 3 p.m., and The Ponytail James Band will perform at LD’s on the River on Sunday afternoon as well. Mariah McConnell performs at the Richland Hotel on Sunday from 5 to 8 p.m. and Ben Wisner will be at Off the Hook Tavern from 6 to 9 p.m. The End Zone/The Factory Sports Bar offers open jukebox throughout the day.
Also on Sunday, the Lake Ontario Broom Riders will dance to raise awareness about Erin’s Angels, “which” raises money for local children in need. The witchy group performs at the Half-Shire Historical Society at noon and at the Richland Hotel at 1 p.m.
The Half-Shire Historical Society also hosts a craft show from 4 to 9 p.m. on Friday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The Richland Fire Department, located at 30 Phillips St., will also have a craft and vendor fair on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Selkirk Shores State Park joins in on the festivities on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Visitors can enjoy wagon rides, a scavenger hunt, free snowshoe rentals, kids’ crafts, hot chocolate and snacks. The park is located at 7101 NYS Rte. 3, Pulaski.
The Salmon River Winter Festival is an annual event coordinated by the Half-Shire Historical Society. Proceeds from the food challenges benefit the Half-Shire Historical Society, Christmas in Richland, and the Emma Schroeder Scholarship, which is given each year to an exceptional graduating senior in Pulaski.
For a complete schedule of Salmon River Winter Festival activities, visit https://www.facebook.com/OswegoCountywintercarnival/ or contact Shawn Doyle at spdinpul@hotmail.com or 315-602-6388.
