The Kiwanis Club of Saugerties reimbursed the town $19,575.76 on Wednesday, Nov. 4, for its work at this year’s Hudson Valley Garlic Festival.

Richard “Doc” Kappler, chair of the club’s festival planning committee, presented the annual check to Supervisor Fred Costello and the town board. The payment covers the Parks and Recreation Department’s preparation, staffing, support, and cleanup costs, Kappler said.

Kappler said rain and wind reduced turnout at the Sept. 26 and 27 festival. The nor’easter also damaged tents and cut into vendors’ sales.

“This year, like every other year, a lot of planning goes into it,” Kappler said. “Everything was ready to go, and the weather didn’t cooperate.”

Attendance was strong early Saturday before dwindling in the rain and wind, he said.

“And then on Sunday, because of the forecasts, everybody made other plans. We just didn’t have much of a turnout,” he said.

Costello said he was “disheartened” by the lower turnout and was optimistic about next year.

“Once in a while, we’re going to get beat by the weather. It’s only happened a couple of times in all the years we’ve done it, so I think let’s be optimistic that next year it’ll be back to normal,” he said.

Festival proceeds support local food pantries, student scholarships, the Boys and Girls Club, and the Saugerties Animal Shelter.

“There’s so many organizations that rely on the success of the Garlic Festival,” Costello said. “We’re happy to play a small part of it and offer you guys whatever support we can.”

Isabella Schoonover is a staff reporter for The Overlook covering Woodstock, Saugerties, Hurley, and surrounding Ulster County communities. Send correspondence to isabella@theoverlooknews.com.