RAIN UPDATE 5/5/2017 1:45pm: We are getting a lot of reader questions about rain plans. K104.7 is the producer of this event, so if we hear from them that there has been a change in plan, we will publish an article here to A Little Beacon Blog. As of this time, as far as we know, it's on! So bring your raincoats - or buy one on Main Street. We saw some at Lauren & Riley yesterday. Check our Shopping Guide of all Beacon shops to plot out which shops you want to hit up.

CUPCAKE FESTIVAL DETAILS

• WHEN: Saturday, May 6, 2017
• TIME: 1pm-5pm
• WHERE: East End of Main Street, Between Fishkill Ave. and at the Dummy Light
• JUDGING: Stage located across the street from The Chocolate Studio. Judging starts at 3pm

After years of being in Fishkill, next month the Cupcake Festival from K104.7 comes to Beacon's East End of town. On Saturday, May 6, from 1 to 5 pm, the tasty treats will take over between Rt. 52/Fishkill Avenue and the dummy light at East Main Street. The event has attracted 4,000 people to Fishkill in the past, and Beacon is getting ready for the influx of pastry-seeking visitors. Says Mayor Randy Casale about this new event in Beacon: "We believe it will bring a lot of people to our Main Street business district and because of its location, we believe it will help to promote the East End of our business district. That being said, we also know that when we have big events, it does cause some problems, such as [with] traffic patterns and parking, but overall, we believe this adds value to our community where our residents, tourists and businesses will benefit."

A business representative from the newly established East End Business District Association, Michele Williams, owner of Style Storehouse, says about the event: "The East End has been waiting a long time to host an event, and we couldn't more appreciative to The Mayor, The Beacon Chamber of Commerce, and K104 for thinking of us." 

What To Expect

On this day of sugar, cupcake makers from all over the Hudson Valley will be on Main Street displaying their wares, mixed in with other vendors. Tables and booths in years past have included chair massages, homemade dog biscuits, hot dog stands, kids crafts, a bouncy house, alternative energy resellers, and all types of businesses and organizations hoping to connect with people.

Cupcake Wars - Judging of the Cupcakes

Mid-way through the festival, at 3 pm, judging for the Cupcake Wars will commence and cupcake designers will compete for the top prize of $1,000. Anyone can enter their cupcake here. The judging stage will be located across the street from The Chocolate Studio. You will be surrounded by heaven and goodness. Look for tables of cupcake enteries, decorated and dressed up to look and taste their best.

What kind of creations will come out of the day? In a pre-judging, on-air segment in the K104.7 studios, I'm going to get a sneak peak as cupcakes are judged during the 9 o'clock hour this Friday morning, March 31, 2017. Be sure to listen from your car, computer or app (or gosh - actual radio in your home!), and I'll bring fresh coffee to go with cupcake samples! Follow A Little Beacon Blog's Instagram and Twitter for studio photos.

Vendor Opportunities

Vendors of all types can set up tables, even if you don't sell cupcakes. The vendor form can be found here. According to the Beacon Chamber of Commerce, there is a discount for Beacon businesses to have a table on the street: "We want all Beacon businesses to benefit from this event, so K104 is slashing the vendor fee in half for any Beacon business! You will receive your business name on the flyer and a 10 x 10 spot on the street." Vendor applications can be submitted here, and/or contact Sam Favata: sfavata@pamal.com.

UPDATE 5/1/17: Vendor spots are full.

You may see a table for A Little Beacon Blog, where we'll be back at it doing facepainting as a fundraiser for the elementary schools in Beacon. We already donated to the South Avenue kindergarten teacher team for their impressive use of craft supplies for so many children, and now are raising money for the other three kindergarten teams at Sargent, J.V. Forrestal, and Glenham schools. PS: We are looking for two volunteers to help face paint! If interested, please contact us. 

How To Get To The Cupcake Festival in Beacon for 2017

Getting to the festival is easy. It is on the east end of Beacon's mile long Main Street. According the iPhone map, if coming from the Beacon Train Station, It is approximately 1.3 miles. If walking, it should take you 30mins to walk. And it's a great walk! Allow extra time to stop into shops on your way down, and get coffee or snacks on your way. A Little Beacon Blog has a full Shopping Guide that lists all of the shopping options in Beacon, so definitely check it out so that you know that to find in Beacon. For food in Beacon, see our Restaurant Guide for cafe and dining ideas. From outfitter stores to men's and women's clothing boutiques to home decor and flowers to bubbles and soap, you will find something special. Then, to see what else is going on in Beacon, see our Event Guide because there are other special events going on around you.

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If driving from the train station or thereabouts, it's 7 minutes. You can find parking in a large free parking lot on that end of town, the address and pictures of which are here in A Little Beacon Blog's Free Parking Guide. This is in addition to several other parking lots, like DMV lot in the middle of Main Street There are also neighboring side streets that you can park at.

On your smartphone map, if you put in Beacon Station as the start point, and Howland Cultural Center as your destination end point, then you should get directions.

Sponsored by TEG Federal Credit Union, Poughkeepsie Galleria, Beacon's own Antalek & Moore, and the Family Dental Group, this should be a great day! Parking will get creative, but you can find all of Beacon's free municipal lots here in our Free Parking Lot Guide.