Looking for something fun to do next weekend? Look no further than the Salmon River Winter Festival, held Jan. 16-18 throughout northern Oswego County! The weekend’s biggest draw is its annual food challenge, during which visitors will try delicious offerings from local businesses and vote for their favorite.
How does the food challenge work?
Each night of the winter festival has a different food challenge. Numerous local businesses sign up to participate, and visitors will purchase ballots and then cast their vote for their favorite. The event kicks off on Friday from 5 to 9 p.m. with macaroni and cheese. Saturday’s chili challenge is held from noon to 6 p.m., and the chicken wing walk challenge is on Sunday from noon to 6 p.m.
A wing sample at Mill House Market from a previous Salmon River Winter Festival.
How much food do we sample?
Attendees can travel to as many or as few participating locations as they would like to sample food and enter their votes. Sample sizes are two ounces for macaroni and cheese, two wings for the chicken wings, and two ounces for chili.
What is the cost?
Beginning on Thursday, Jan. 15, pre-sale ballots can be purchased at the Half-Shire Historical Society (1100 Co. Rte. 48, Richland, N.Y.) or at Designs of Elegance (3891 Rome Rd., Pulaski, N.Y.). Starting on Friday, Jan. 16, single-day ballots will be sold at each participating location. The ballots are $5 each for the macaroni and cheese and chili challenges and $10 for the chicken wing walk. Maps are provided on the back of each ballot listing participating locations and addresses.
A Chili sample from a previous Salmon River Winter Festival.
What businesses are participating in the food challenge?
The list below shows all the participating restaurants. If an establishment is not participating in all three challenges, it is noted in parentheses. (MC-macaroni and cheese, W-chicken wings, C-chili)
- 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/Factory Sports Bar: 3435 Maple Ave, Pulaski; 315-298-7788
- Ma Barker’s Tavern: 5095 US Rte. 11, Pulaski; 315-298-2475
- 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)
- The Huckleberry: 1 Park Ave., Lacona; 315-387-7085 (MC, C only)
Will restaurants be doing anything special during the food challenge?
Multiple establishments will host live music throughout the weekend! Enjoy delectable samples and hear performances by popular artists in Oswego County’s music scene.
The Lake Ontario Broom Riders with the Salmon River Winter Festival bear at a previous event.
On Saturday, Damdog will perform at LD’s on the River from 1 to 3 p.m., and Mariah McConnell will be at Off the Hook Tavern from 4 to 7 p.m.
On Sunday afternoon, The Ponytail James Band will perform at LD’s on the River, and 11 North Bar and Grill will host Joe Battles from noon to 3 p.m. Mariah McConnell will perform at the Richland Hotel on Sunday evening from 5 to 8 p.m., and Ben Wisner will be at Off the Hook Tavern from 6 to 9 p.m. Enjoy open jukebox throughout the day at Endzone/Factory Sports Bar, or catch a performance by Mad Heard at Kallet Theater from 5 to 8 p.m.
There will also be performances by the Lake Ontario Broom Riders at noon on Sunday at the Half-Shire Historical Society and at the Richland Hotel at 1 p.m.
What else is there to do besides the food challenge?
Enjoy the “winter” in the Salmon River Winter Festival by heading to Selkirk Shores State Park (7101 NYS Rte. 3, Pulaski, N.Y.) for some outdoor fun! While renovations to the park limit where visitors can access, activities are still offered on Saturday. From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., go on a scavenger hunt, enjoy wagon rides, rent snowshoes for free, and warm up with free hot chocolate and snacks.
For those wanting to stay indoors, the Half-Shire Historical Society will host a craft show with free coffee, tea and hot cocoa from 4 to 9 p.m. on Friday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The family fun continues at Half-Shire on Monday from noon to 5 p.m. with the kids’ craft day! The event includes a light lunch, crafts, games and other activities.
What if I have questions?
Details on the event will continue to be posted on the Salmon River Winter Festival Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/OswegoCountywintercarnival. If you still need assistance, feel free to call the Oswego County Tourism office at 315-349-8322.
For more information on events in Oswego County, visit our events calendar at https://visitoswegocounty.com/events/.