By David Paulsen
Poughkeepsie Journal

ROSENDALE — Santa Claus was rolling away on a hay ride when the Evergreen Chorus of Sweet Adelines arrived in the center of the hamlet for an afternoon of Christmas singing.

The chill in the air was the perfect accompaniment to the third annual Frozendale Holiday Festival. The 18 women in the chorus were accompanied only by each other as they harmonized through "Walking in a Winter Wonderland."

The almost-winter wonderland of this community eight miles north of New Paltz had yet to collect any snow, but holiday cheer was available Saturday to visitors who checked out the shops or stopped by Bill Brooks' barber shop.

Brooks was behind the wheel of the hay ride.

After finishing a pass around town with Santa, he dropped off the jolly old fellow down the road and pulled into the parking spot in front of his barber shop.

A six-piece brass band hopped off the hay-filled trailer.

"We're just a bunch of amateurs. We're not professionals," the trumpet player, Red Zimmerman, said. "We're just trying to bring some Christmas cheer."

Group from Rifton

The group is from Rifton and calls itself Woodcrest Brass, Zimmerman explained. The hay ride was kind of bumpy, he said, but it didn't break their spirit.

"Christmas is the best time of the year for brass music," Zimmerman said. "It carries well in the clear, frosty air."

Brooks, 62, said he had put in a few hours at the barber shop that morning, but took the afternoon off to pilot the hay rides. This year, they had to settle for a pickup truck.

"Usually we have a tractor, but the tractor was reluctant today," Brooks said.

Rosendale's Pickle Festival, held the weekend before Thanksgiving, draws more people — at least 6,000 this year, Brooks said — but residents look to the Frozendale festival to fill the lull between holidays.

And it isn't every day that a visitor can get to see the village from atop a hay bale.

"Load 'em up, here we go," Brooks said as another round of riders boarded the trailer. He pulled into traffic and headed down the road.

"All right, you guys," hollered a man from Kingston who was riding with his children. "Everybody has to sing."

He led the group of about 20 passengers in "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" and "Jingle Bells" as Brooks crossed over Rondout Creek and up a hill overlooking the business district.

Despite the cold, the ride had warmed the hearts of the riders by the time Brooks pulled back up to the barber shop.

It took hot dogs and hot chocolate from a nearby vendor to warm their bellies.

David Paulsen can be reached at dpaulsen@poughkeepsiejournal.com