The Ultimate Travel Guide to Footy Fest Weekend in The Catskills
Your top list of road side must-sees, restaurants with a view and weekend activities guaranteed to make your upstate adventure memorable, whether or not you'll also be playing some footy.
The hype is real: Footy Fest Weekend is the main event the NYC Footy community looks forward to the most. If you're still unsure about attending our one-of-a-kind tournament this year, just know going out on a limb and signing up means you'll be leaving upstate New York with brand new friends (and possibly new teammates for your next NYC Footy league adventure).
The Footy Fest origin story is a tale for the ages
This is unlike any other tournament you'll ever be a part of, so to make sure all the details you might be worrying about are put to rest, we're dropping this handy tournament and travel guide. Personal fan clubs, sports agents, Uber drivers, and drifters you might pick up around the Woodstock exit are welcome to attend the tournament as spectators even if they aren't registered to play (but sadly, they can't sub if you're down one).
Below, you'll find our recommendations broken down by each day's activities. We've highlighted our favorite restaurants, cideries, hiking trails, and the ever so popular miscellaneous activities.
Travel Tips: Know Before You Go
We're ready to welcome you with open arms, but before you hit the road, remember...
Wifi is spotty, so if you're coming from out of town, load up those directions early. A strong wifi and cell phone connection can be an issue no matter who your carrier is because Catskills magic plays tricks on technology, so be prepared to lose service, get it back, and repeat this cycle throughout the weekend.
WFTR (Work from the Road) Friday and leave early. If you try to dip 2pm or later, you're guaranteed to add 30 min to an hour to your drive. If you leave late and expect to find food after 9pm you may be SOL.
When you're not dressed to play, you'll want to layer up. You probably already know the mountains are cool place come fall, so be prepared to pack plenty of sweats (or pick up some on sale at The Footy Store).
Friday: Where To Stop On the Road to Delhi
Carpooling works up the appetite; here's a few spots that make for an awesome break
The Phoenicia Diner: the most famous pit stop on Rt. 28 (Photo: Phoenicia Diner)
To Eat
The Kaatskeller (Friday: 5PM-9PM) - Off Rt.17
Footy CEO's #1 recommendation for a pitstop en route to the Fest is Livingston Manor's Kaatskeller. If you're taking route 17, get off at the Livingston Manor exit and grab east at this gem of an upstate pizza biergarten.
Phoenicia Diner (Friday: 8 AM - 6PM) Off Rt. 28
Perhaps the most well known spot to grab a bite in the Catskills, this diner dates back to 1962 but its modern menu caters to every dietary need.
Oakley's Wood Fired Pizza & Grill (Arkville) (Friday: 12 PM -10 PM) Orr Rt. 28
The move here is to split a pizza on the outdoor patio under heat lamps at this road side pit stop with epic views.
Bread Alone Cafe (Boiceville) (Friday: 7 AM - 5 PM) Off Rt. 28
After stopping in this roadside cafe from the Bread Alone, don't leave without picking up some pastries and fresh loaves for the road.
80 Main (Delhi) (Friday: 5 PM - 9PM)
Chef Will Johnson founded the Catskills Pasta Company before turning his attention to opening his own spot in Delhi. It tends to get crowded so making a reservation is advised - as well as the IDGAF tasting menu because why not let the chef make decisions on what you should eat after a long road trip.
To Drink
The Print House (Fleischmanns) (Friday: 3 PM-11 PM)
A dimly lit cocktail bar with a decent record collection, The Print House might be the place you wind up pulling over if you're in need of elevated bar fare like wings and flatbread pizzas near Belleayre Mountain. Though there isn't a schedule posted well in advance, they often have llve music on Friday and Saturday nights.
Wayside Cider (Andes) (Friday: 5 PM - 10 PM)
Who doesn't want to loosen up with late night ping pong and a charcuterie board comprised of locally sourced cheeses? Wayside's relaxed setting and selection of games is the perfect place to unwind if youre not entirely ready to unpack the car.
To Stretch Your Legs
Ashokan Rail Trail (Boiceville) (Friday: 6 AM - 8 PM)
A beautiful, easy to walk trail with views of the Ashokan Reservoir, you might be tempted to stay here to watch the sunset but just know you'll still have a ways to go.
Brunel Park (Boiceville) (Friday: 1 PM -5 PM)
Who doesn't love a self-guided walking tour filled with artfully placed sculptures? The Catskills is a great plae to explore your artistic side on the field, so why not get some inspiration on the road?
Saturday: The Tournament and After Party
Footy Fest is all about befriending someone you can build a human wall with
The Tournament
The reason you signed up. We're here to escape our daily grind with a blend of footy you might not be familiar with: the incredibly elusive "I don't know what my teammate is capable of because I just met my teammate." So while you won't know all of your teammates as of this reading, you will most definitely be playing with a few familiar faces.
Here's quick overview of what to expect along with a few FAQs:
You can play with up to three friends on your team. The rest will be handled by NYC Footy.
Did you come with a group filled with players of different skill levels? Not to worry captains: our team here will do the work of dividing up your friends for you based on their individual division preferences.
Each team will play five 20-minute 7v7 games. The top two teams in each group move to divisional playoffs (Semi-final & Final)
The tournament will take place from 9 AM to 5 PM so please plan your travel to the American Legion Fields accordingly.
1. What kind of footwear should I bring?
We recommend non-metal cleats. But you can wear turf shoes or sneakers as well.
2. What happens if I need medical attention during the tournament?
Local EMT's will be on hand to help with any medical requests or emergency situations such as injuries.
3. How many jerseys will my team get for Footy Fest?
Since rosters are composed of 10 players each, that means you'll be getting 10 jerseys. including a keeper jersey. If you're looking for additional Footy merchandise to commemorate Footy Fest 2024, we'll have our merchandise table set up and ready to go through the duration of the tournament.
Memories are great but also invisible. Footy Fest champ swag is real.
The After Party (And After After Party)
There is no better feeling than Catskills tavern vibes after a long day of soccer.
1. The Shire Pub (Delhi) (5:30PM-8:30PM)
NYC Footy has teamed up once again with The Shire Pub in Delhi to host our post tournament after party, which will include dinner and an open bar. We'll be sending a ticket link to every registered player within the next week so that you can purchase an official after party entrance ticket.
Though there's only so much space indoors, this year we're bringing tents and space heaters to The Shire's patio, which means we can fit even more
The Footy Fest Favorites List
Our favorite Catskills spots for the things we love most are listed below
The taproom at Wayside Cider is our pick for the best Catskills vibe.
The Best Tasting Menu: Brushland Eating House (Bovina Center)
The destination restaurant with really big portions that you don't want to pass up. We checked what's happening on Footy Fest Weekend and while they're closed Saturday and Sunday, there's availability for their one nightly 7pm seating on Thursday October 10 and Friday October 11, both of which you can book via Resy.
The Best Catskills Vibe: Wayside Cider (Andes)
Don't be surprised if an old time mountain band is playing when you walk in. The coziest spot for local cider and an interesting locally sourced menu (smoked trout croquettes anyone?), Wayside hits all the notes on what you need to experience when escaping NYC.
The Best Breakfast Taco: Hollow's chorizo and egg taco (Delhi)
Don't overthink the power of chorizo or the force that lies within the tiny space known as Hollow. Grab a breakfast taco here and grab one of their lunch sandwiches to go just to be safe.
Eating Oda Wine Garden's Balkan platter is a true team effort .Photo: Shaaj Vijay)
The Best Shared Plate: The Balkan Platter at Oda Wine Garden(Margaretville)
This Georgian spot just expanded its Margaretville dining room while celebrating its one year anniversary. We think its Balkan platter had something to do with it. A changing assortment of cured meats, cheeses, pickled veggies, and specialties like Burek make this indoor spot with a patio a must.
The Best Pie: Magpies on Pink Street (Andes)
You'll want to get on Maggie McDowell's email list and order one or all of her seasonal pies online fa few days before driving to Delhi. A fixture at the Delhi Farmer's Market, her pies can currently be picked up on Main Street at the Andes General Store on Saturday mornings from 9 am to 12pm (but since that's tournament time you may want to recruit a friend to come up with you to specifically assist you in securing this pie)
The Best Sandwich Stop Before Heading Home: Rosie's (Kingston)
You're only option to visit this place is going to be Sunday from 9am-4pm (note: the kitchen closes at 3pm) but if you plan on hitting the road early and need a spot right before hitting 1-87, Rosie's is a worthwhile excursion.
The Best General Store Selection: Doolitttles (Fleischmanns)
This colorful cafe offers coffee and pastries, but the real reason to visit is to stock up on those fancy ingredients like spaghetti dust and cherry pepper mayo that will make your weekend dinner party epic.
The Best General Store for Chefs: First Bloom Corner Store (Bloomsville)
Food journalist and chef Alison Roman's tiny general store is guarded by a cat named Lentil and features seasonal goodies like ramp butter (though that will likely not be available because it's not ramp season). It's pretty much the perfect place to pick up ingredients if you feel like making a team dinner but just keep in mind they're only open from 10 AM to 4 PM.
The Best Breakfast Sandwich: Tiny's at Hamden General (Hamden)
The new home of the best egg sandwich in the Catskills (seriously, there's a video dedicated to it), this general store and it's pop up sandwich operation Tiny's is full of outstanding cheeses, breads, and anything else you might need to make one heck of a charcuterie board.
The Best Shopping Experience: Catskill Outpost (Stamford)
Don't leave without leveling up your mountain fashion at this Footy Founder favorite. Catskill Outpost sits alongside one helluva coffee shop (Stamford Coffee) and offers a wide assortment of killer apparel, soaps, scents, artwork, survival supplies and more.
Leisure Activities
Putt Putt Van Winkle is a must visit for any mini golf fan Photo: Venus Zhang/Google
Mini Golf at Putt Putt Van Winkle (10AM-6PM)
Is mini golf the best way to bond with your teammates? While we don't know the answer to that, what we do know is that Putt Putt Van Winkle is a one of kind course/art installation that epitomizes the quirky, laid back vibe of the Catskills.
Golf at The College Golf Course at Delhi (7:30AM-7PM)
Sticking with thanyone is up for a little Sunday golfing at one New York Stae's premier courses? Let us know and we'll book a group tee time or just head on out to the driving range.
Hiking Trails
We're partial to the Palmer Hill Trail in Andes for its incredible views, but depending on what you want out of a hike, the Great Western Catskills has everything from easy to walk rail trails to tmore advanced mountain climbs.
"The hottest club in Delhi is The Farm. This place has got everything" - Stephon, SNL
OTHER EVENTS
Friday Oct. 11 through Sunday October 13 (10AM-6PM)
Field & Supply Fall Market (Kingston)
This annual market featuring 275+ vendors is taking over Hutton Brickyards the same weekend Footy Fest descends upon. Delhi. This is worth checking out if you're looking to bring a taste of the Catskills back home.
Sunday Oct. 13
Food
Sunday Brunch at the Farm (Delhi)
As is Footy Fest tradition, G and T will be hosting brunch at the farm. Come out to cure your hangover with an assortment of breakfast standbys, possibly from a familiar face you may recognize from a previous Footy tournament.
Drink
Apple Pressing @ Wayside Cider (Andes)
At 1pm and 2pm, the taproom at Wayside Cider is hosting an apple pressing demonstration where you can keep your weekend workout routine going by pedaling away on the apple grinding bike machine while learning how to make cider from scratch. The juice you press will be turned into cider and aged in a barrel for the winter. If you want to come back in March/April for their amateur cider making contest, you'll be able to be on hand when they tap the barrel to taste your hard work.
Want to register for Footy Fest Weekend as a player or team captain? Sign up here.