Please scroll through our page for all information about this year’s Carrot Festival.
Below you will find…
Carrot Festival Sponsors, Food Offerings, Entertainment, Kids’ Zone, Stuff the Bus, 2024 Vendor Information, 2024 Vendors, Carrot A-Peel and Carrot Festival History.
Hot Club of Saratoga. 11:45-12:45Hot Club of Saratoga Brief Bio Hot Club of Saratoga, Upstate New York’s premier gypsy swing ensemble, specializes in the timeless sounds of Django Reinhardt and the vibrant atmosphere of 1930’s Paris. Their music brings the magic of hot swing to life, and they are known for their captivating performances. Whether you’re a fan of gypsy jazz or simply looking to experience something unique and delightful, the Hot Club of Saratoga is sure to deliver an unforgettable musical experience. Since forming in early 2013, Hot Club of Saratoga has brought the hot swing sound to venues throughout Upstate New York as well as festivals, swing dances, weddings, corporate events, and private parties. In addition to playing numerous sold out shows at the venerable Caffe Lena, Hot Club of Saratoga played the main stage at The Annual Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz festival in 2021 and 2022. They were nominated for the Jazz Artist of The Year by the Eddies Awards (Capital Region Thomas Edison Music Awards) three times, taking the Eddies home in 2022 as well as the 2023 Listen Up Award for Favorite Jazz Artist. Hot Club’s “Musician-in-Residence” initiative has also brought guest players from around the country and Europe to join them for month long residencies, each capped by a “Hot Club Series” concert and jam in conjunction with Caffe Lena. Caffe Lena’s Director, Sarah Craig introduced us with, “I would have to count Hot Club of Saratoga as being probably about the best thing that’s happened to the local music scene in the last 5 years in Saratoga.” Click here for Additional resources. Click here for a Video Clip.
COOL UNIVERSE (formerly The Secret) 1:15-2:15
All-star band with a universally all-star song selection!
The band consists of local musicians who play with various other bands but collaborate on very special occasions! Each one has their unique style, but together, just like great bands such as Earth, Wind & Fire, when they join forces, they are a universal force to be reckoned with and certainly enjoyed!!! Ready for any event you may have, feel free to contact us for all your musical needs!
The “secret” is out! It’s time to make the universe “cool” again!
Benjamin Odom – Bass, keys, vocals, Charles Norbi – guitar, vocals, Donyasia – vocals, Azaam Hameed – keys, vocals, Jack Kelle – drums, vocals, Jeff Nania – sax, Ron Smith percussion
SIRSY 2:45-4:00
“Rock Pop Artist of the Year” + “Record of the Year” 2024 Thomas Edison Music Awards
“Eddies Music Hall of Fame Inductee” 2025
“Solo Duo Artist of the Year” 2023 Thomas Edison Music Awards
It’s hard to imagine a sound this big coming from two people. The Boston Globe calls Sirsy “The little band with the big sound.” Fans call them “the little band with a big heart.” Hailing from NY, SIRSY plays compelling singer-songwriter rock and pop with a charming intensity, a bit of sass, lots of soul, and loads of heart. They write honest, engaging songs that are instantly relatable and catchy. The Times Union says, “Sirsy’s clever, smart songs have more hooks than a tackle box”. Sirsy’s passionate and down-to-earth live shows also include storytelling and even some nerdy jokes. They can somehow make an audience sing along, dance, laugh, and cry – all at the same show.
Melanie Krahmer’s passionate and immediately arresting vocals are sultry and seductive. They can be a floaty whisper or, at times, raspy and rocking – with a little bit of a tongue-in-cheek tone, as if she’s singing with a wink. She has “one of the most powerful and flexible voices you’ll ever hear”. Mel is also the band’s drummer (and featured in Modern Drummer). She simultaneously plays bass on a keyboard with her drumstick. Live, she also plays piano, melodica, and the occasional badass flute solo too. Mel’s bandmate, co-writer, & husband/bestie is Rich Libutti. Rich masterfully plays a well-loved and road-worn Rickenbacker through a pedal board full of vintage effects. He sounds like 3 guitarists all on his own. SXSW music blog says “The guitar player is flawless and raw. Clean enough to be enjoyed, and just edgy enough to make you grin.” Rich also plays bass (and at live shows often does it on a pedal board with his feet).
These 2 multi-instrumentalists manage to sound like a full band and somehow do it all with big smiles on their faces. It’s clear they love what they do. And that love is contagious when you see them live. You can’t help smiling along with them. With song lyrics that center around empowerment and resilience, it’s no surprise that Sirsy’s fans have supported the duo through the pandemic, over a dozen records, 20+ years of touring, and Mel’s 2 bouts with cancer. Every show is like a celebration for this couple and their fans. Come celebrate life with them!
Sirsy’s warmed stages for Brandi Carlile, Maroon 5, Train, Grace Potter, Joan Jett, Cheap Trick, Collective Soul, Blues Traveler, Spindoctors, Adam Ezra Group, Lifehouse & many more. They’ve had songs on the hit TV show “Shameless”, the NFL, HBO, MTV, and PBS. Their latest single, “Stupid Little Heart” (Jan 7, 2025), debuted at #10 on the folk chart. They are regulars on NPR. In 2024, Sirsy was given the lauded ‘Thomas Edison Music Award’ for “rock/pop artist of the year” and “Record of the year” and in 2023 “solo/duo artist of the year”. Their last several records were produced by Grammy-winner Paul Q Kolderie. The SXSW Music Blog says, “Sirsy’s not just a 2 piece but a head scratching WOW!” And the Houston Music Blog says, “Sirsy makes edgy feel-good music that’s fun to watch. You must see them live!”
S I R S Y – V I D E O S
LIVE! (Like a Drum at Mile of Music Fest) https://youtu.be/wuBNTV7OJ3Q
LIVE! (Nina Simone Cover) https://youtu.be/MxrqmlNJvac
LIVE on NPR: https://livesessions.npr.org/videos/sirsy-astronauts
LIVE on NPR: https://livesessions.npr.org/videos/sirsy-like-a-drum
Official Music Videos:
Astronauts https://youtu.be/WglC18sUBX4
Cannonball https://youtu.be/gx6RJZMelds
Sweet Dreams https://youtu.be/g5piB_2_vnA
Like a Drum https://youtu.be/yBoXYvUwRDg
S I R S Y – L I N K S
Official: http://sirsy.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/sirsyband
Instagram: http://instagram.com/sirsyband
MUSIC
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4G1ItxIYGV6Zb7JjVWLxkb
AppleMusic: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sirsy/30664700
BandCamp: https://sirsy.bandcamp.com/
Youtube: http://youtube.com/sirsyvideo
In 1978, the CAA parking lot needed paving. Members Paul and Rose Westheimer, owners of The Carrot Barn at Schoharie Valley Farms, produced and packaged 1400 tons of carrots that year and suggested during a brainstorming session that a carrot-themed fundraiser might be a successful endeavor to complete the task at hand.
After more than 40 years of successful Carrot Festivals, the Westheimers were glad to see their idea become a community institution. They remembered Paul’s father, Julius, making and selling fresh carrot juice at the first festival! There were pony rides on the front lawn, along with cotton candy and taffy for kids. “It was minuscule compared to now,” Paul Westheimer said. The money raised in that first festival, mostly from selling fruit and vegetables, paid for the paving job and was the beginning of what has become one of the Capital Region’s favorite end-of-summer outings. Long after the Carrot Barn was sold, the Westheimers were active members of the Carrot Festival committee, until they relocated to Massachusetts. Sadly, we lost precious Rose z”l in early 2021. Her legacy lives on. The Carrot Festival now showcases foods and desserts, including several kinds of carrot cake. Other features include fresh produce from the Carrot Barn in Schoharie, live music and entertainment throughout the day, vendors and crafters, a community service tent, a pet adoption clinic, and plenty of activities to keep children entertained. The “star of the show” is the Signature Carrot Festival Carrot Cake: a buttery praline filling between the two cake layers, topped with a rich cream cheese frosting. In 2006, the Congregation copyrighted and published the cookbook Divine Kosher Cuisine. An entire cookbook section was devoted to Carrot Festival recipes. The cookbook contains many delicious kosher recipes and can be purchased at our Leora Judaica Gift Shop
Entertainment traditionally includes a Klezmer band, Israeli dancers, performers from Schenectady Light Opera Company’s (SLOC’s) fall shows, and much more. In addition, special afternoon concerts have featured the local bands Flame, Joe’s Boys, the McKrells, The Accents, and The Refrigerators, to name a few. In 2019, we were also honored with a performance by American Idol Third Place winner Madison VanDenburg, who lives in Cohoes.
Vendors and crafters sell jewelry, kitchen gadgets, pottery, cosmetics, floral designs, clothing, and more. The community service tent features local non-profit organizations showcasing what they do to help the community, as well as many volunteer opportunities with our new partner, The United Way of the Greater Capital Region! The children’s area is always filled with activities to keep kids of all ages busy for hours.
The Carrot Festival has become a community family tradition, and we are proud that COVID-19 did not stop us from holding a festival in 2020, even if it looked a bit different. But happily, the Westheimers’ vision carries on with volunteers hard at work planning our 2025 Carrot Festival. We welcome you to join us!
Congregation Agudat Achim office: 518-393-9211
Other Questions?
Contact Hillary at hbean5891@aol.com or 518-331-4208
Committee meeting!
