April 26, 2008    
Contact: Cindy Cook
 802-223-1330
 ccook@adamantaccord.com

THE SIXTH ANNUAL ADAMANT BLACKFLY FESTIVAL
“DOWNTOWN” ADAMANT
SATURDAY, MAY 16, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Alison Underhill
tel: 802 223-5886
e-mail: alisonun@sover.net

April 13, 2009

Rites of Spring at Adamant Blackfly Festival, Adamant Co-op, 10-5 on Saturday, May 16, 2009

Forget about fiddleheads, peepers, or maple sugaring. Blackflies are the real harbinger of spring in central Vermont.

And excitement is building as the residents of Adamant, Vt, a rural village near the state capital of Montpelier, prepare to host the 7th Annual Adamant Blackfly Festival. The festival will be held at the Adamant Co-op from 10am to 5pm on Sat. May 16th, 2009.

The festival has two purposes: to benefit the Adamant Co-op, which is the oldest food co-op in Vermont, and to have some serious fun celebrating the bug we love to hate. Festival organizers promise that this year's festival will be "more fun than thought humanly possible."

The festival parade, at 3pm, is one of the highlights, and open to all. The parade features eclectic costumes, impromptu music, synchronized bug zappers, a local Ferrari, and farm equipment. Past parades have been described as "campy," "a whole lot of fun," and "the Macy's Day Parade of the Insect World."

The Blackfly Pie contest (1pm) is expected to draw out the competitive spirit in local bakers. Categories include Best Tasting, Best Appearance, and Most Creative. Judges include chefs from the nearby New England Culinary Institute.

New this year are a Blackfly Fashion Show (2pm); Blackfly Jeopardy, hosted by entomologist Dr. Rob Everich (11 am); and a leisurely walk along the shores of Sodom Pond - the source of the blackflies - with local naturalist Richard Czaplinski (10 am).

Delicious prepared food will be available at the Adamant Co-op beginning at 11am. Choose from our famous vegetarian black bean cakes and vegetarian chili, salads, a variety of grilled meats, and baked goods. The co-op will sell blackfly memorabilia including mugs, t-shirts, tattoos, bug bafflers (screened hooded shirts that make it possible to be outside during blackfly season), bug salve, and great food by local chefs.

Music throughout the day will be provided by the Raging Grannies, Renaissance Dance Music, and Earthman Band, with Pitz Quatrone playing the digeridoo.

To see a video of the festival: http://7d.blogs.com/stuckinvt/2007/05/black_fly_festi.html
For more information, including details on the 40 species of blackfly in Vermont, visit http://www.blackflyfestival.org/ or contact Alison Underhill at 802 223-5886.
###