In it’s 35th year, Hardscrabble Day “gives the residents a great day to get together and feel a community energy,” says Ed Blundell, a Red Hook village resident and chairman of the committee, as well as mayor.

“The day kind of symbolizes the end of summer, which ties in with the energy, and kind of lends itself to the seasonal change at this time of year,” says Blundell. “The day runs on it’s own energy sometimes, too.” This year, energy is, in fact, a focus, with the 10% Challenge, a movement to encourage residents to reduce their energy consumption by 10 percent, and in turn, reduce their carbon energy footprint by 10 percent.

The event “hearkens back to the old days of northern Dutchess County, and merges with the modern days,” says Blundell. He describes northern Dutchess County as having “a different feel, a little more rural, a lot of farms.”

“Overall, it’s a lot of fun. That’s the name of the game,” says Blundell, describing the day as a Red Hook institution. “We try to change it with the times so it doesn’t get stale, and make every year better than the last.”

“We’re mixing the old with the new, trying to get people to walk and bike more,” says Blundell. The event works in conjunction with Sustainable Hudson Valley on the challenge. “Overall, we’re trying to get the word out to people to get fluorescent light bulbs, better insulate their attics, make people aware of these things, so people will reduce their energy consumption, and that helps their pocketbook.”

Red Hook began their campaign to conserve energy through collaboration with Bard

College. Some students studied the energy use of the municipality and presented a pie chart showing the amounts of energy used by people in the area. “We’re trying to get people to drive a little less, make their home a little more efficient,” says Blundell.

Hardscrabble Day will have information to encourage participation in the challenge, including information on agencies that will audit household energy use, and this is done through local contractors, which benefits the community and promotes local businesses, an important concept to the area and the event.

This year’s celebration kicks off promotion for the town’s upcoming bicentennial in

2012. Throughout the coming year, Red Hook will host events and celebrations to commemorate the anniversary of the town and village.

The event gets people into Red Hook, where they see the village, and hopefully see something they like and come back later, says Blundell. The goal is to celebrate the community and bring people into the village, encouraging the “shop local” concept.

Blundell encourages people to “Walk around, put a lot of miles on your shoes.”

Blundell says the term hardscrabble “refers back to the historical days of the village of Red Hook, before it was incorporated. People built their own houses and called the area Hardscrabble. It was a little rough and tumble.” The term had a meaning for the farmers.

The event is organized by the Hardscrabble Committee, a group of volunteers that work all year to arrange it. “It’s a great group,” says Blundell. They use local businesses to promote it, as well as local artists for things such as designing the posters.

The day attracts a diverse group of people, and has many events, including live music, blown glass, booths for political parties, local artisans, a kid’s corner, vendors, sidewalk sales, revolutionary war re-enactors, and a parade at 4pm. Farmers will showcase locally grown food.

The event is set to coincide with Red Hook High School’s Homecoming weekend.

The football game is on Friday night, Sept. 23rd and Hardscrabble Day follows on

Sept. 24th.

There is also a historical building being restored, the Elmendorph Inn, which will be

hosting an ice cream social that will feature some political speakers, as well as a

farm animal and farm produce exhibit. The day is sponsored by local businesses.

All events are free.

Robert Randolph and the Family Band will be playing this year’s event. “It’s going to

be a kicking band. It’s a lot of fun for Red Hook,” says Blundell.

The event is located at the intersection of Rt. 9 and Rt. 199. Parking is available at

the high school, St. Christopher’s School, and Holy Cow ice cream. Bard College will

be providing a shuttle.

The band plays at 6pm.

The event runs from 10am to 9pm.

The web site for the 10% challenge is http://www.redhookchallenge.org