LIVINGSTON MANOR AND CALLICOON, NY — This past weekend was a perfect example of why life is so rich in the Upper Delaware River region. In addition to endless opportunities for high quality outdoor recreation, the full slate of entertainment offerings makes it difficult to plan the day. The variety of people who visit or live here, as well as the spectrum of lifestyles and interests they represent, leads to the kind of cultural array that occurred last weekend.

On Saturday, creatively interpreted expressions of trout fishtailed down Main Street in the ninth annual Trout Parade in Livingston Manor. Giant puppets and community groups, focused on the arts, the environment and high-spirited zaniness, made for a merry scene despite early rain showers.

The next day, a festive crowd gathered to celebrate an icon of classic Americana in Callicoon as more than 250 tractors and proud owners motored their way through town during the 16th annual Tractor Parade. This year’s event included everything from riding mowers to mammoth monsters with massive wheels, driven by men, women and youth.

From Johnny Darling to John Deere, each event captured a sense of the unique communities that thrive here. Parade-goers in Livingston Manor saw the launch of the new, youth-led newspaper, Manor Ink (see page 4), while those who gathered in Callicoon observed young people assuming the time-tested traditions of agriculture. Visit www.riverreporteronline.com for more parade photos.