The Catskill Chronicle

Story and photos by Leni Santoro

LIVINGSTON MANOR, NY – Coinciding with the Trout Parade, this year’s  Johnny Darling Frolic and Festival will took place on Saturday, June 12 at Water  Wheel Junction at the corner of Main Street and Rock Avenue in Livingston Manor, thanks to the generosity of Shirley and George Fulton, owners of the Wildlife Gift Shop.

Johnny Darling was a story teller in the 1800s and used to love telling tall tales to anyone who would listen. Legend has it that Paul Bunyan (a strictly fictional character) was based on Johnny Darling. He vanished into the local woods and people still continue to report sightings of the little man with the big imagination.

Mia Koerner, a major Johnny Darling fan, has been researching Johnny Darling for years and has always felt their should be a statue in town dedicated to Darling.

In 1990, local artist Diane Atkins published a coloring book based on M.Jagendorf’s book, “The Marvelous Adventures of Johnny Darling” as a fundraiser for the fitness court at the Livingston Manor Central School. At the Frolic this year, Mia Koerner, Sharon Jones and Leni Santoro (all on the 1990 fundraising PTSA fundraising committee, had an opportunity to get together and pose for a group photo.

Bigger and better than ever the Frolic drew young and old alike to the main tent to watch the entertainment and to the vendor tents to partake of everything homemade – quilts, preserves and art works, as well as the tents of vendors from afar with more modern wares.

It was hard to tell who was having a better time the grown-ups or the  children, for there was something for everyone at the Frolic.

For the music lover there was The Little Sparrow Band from Sullivan County, Dangerous Curves Female Barbershop Quartet from Washingtonville, Kurpil Family Fiddlers of Liberty and Jeffersonville. For those who enjoy a tall tall storytellers Steve Dill of Debruce (founder of Labor Day parade in Debruce) and Lawrence Hall McAvoy regaled the crowd with Johnny Darling stories. Mike Vreeland was also on hand singing songs for the kids and the kid at heart. And everyone agreed that Iris Gillingham’s Irish High Step dancing was one of the high points of the day.

All in all a good old-fashioned frolicking good time was had by all.

To view more photos or to purchase prints from the Johnny Darling Frolic 2010 visit the Chronicle on Zenfolio.