New England Watcher Fest 2012 Date Poll

[Cameraman Jenn]

Ok we have dates. Let's do this thing people! Commit and the more means more I can drop rates for the group down. Commit! COMMIT!

[Avatar]

The next official E-fest is still set for -- gaaah! -- 2014, I guess?

You never know...if I start saving now...

--A

[aliantha]

The next official E-fest is still set for -- gaaah! -- 2014, I guess?

You never know...if I start saving now...

--A

That would be so awesome! Do it!

[Cagliostro]

Yeah, Av. That would make that Fest a must for me.

[wayfriend]

I like that weekend because it's right when leaves are in their glory, lightening bugs are not yet hibernating and the cape and all of NE is at it's height of gorgeous PLUS, it's off season for tourists so cheaper rates for hotels.

What?!? Today is Sept 29 and as I look out my window in Andover MA there is hardly a leaf turned yet. It's not like there is a hard date, and it varies with the weather, but odds are great you will not find folliage if you come on Sept 20.

This is why I say Columbus Day. More often than not it coincides with peak season. And if it is a bit early, all you have to do is drive a few hours to NH (not as far as Sante Fe from danlo's) to see peak folliage. That would tickle Sarge pink as well (which may be worth seeing).

I bow to the will of the masses. But ... if you want to see folliage, I'd hate to see disappointed faces.

(And the first two weeks of October aren't cold, usally.)

The next official E-fest is still set for -- gaaah! -- 2014, I guess?

You never know...if I start saving now...
--A

That would be so awesome! Do it!

Av, you haven't been saving since 2007?!?!

[JazFusion]

I like that weekend because it's right when leaves are in their glory, lightening bugs are not yet hibernating and the cape and all of NE is at it's height of gorgeous PLUS, it's off season for tourists so cheaper rates for hotels.

What?!? Today is Sept 29 and as I look out my window in Andover MA there is hardly a leaf turned yet. It's not like there is a hard date, and it varies with the weather, but odds are great you will not find folliage if you come on Sept 20.

This is why I say Columbus Day. More often than not it coincides with peak season. And if it is a bit early, all you have to do is drive a few hours to NH (not as far as Sante Fe from danlo's) to see peak folliage. That would tickle Sarge pink as well (which may be worth seeing).

I bow to the will of the masses. But ... if you want to see folliage, I'd hate to see disappointed faces.

(And the first two weeks of October aren't cold, usally.)

Yeah. I'm currently in the Lakes Region in NH and the leaves are just starting to turn now. Mass' peak season usually isn't until mid-October. And this September has been especially rainy in NH.

[Menolly]

I have a gut feeling MsMary won't travel to and from a 'fest even on the intermediary days between Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur. And I do agree mid-to-late September seems early for fall foliage. But I have been away from leaves changing colors up north for a very long time.

I had already pointed out in another thread that Columbus Day weekend falls during the intermediary days of Sukkot, with the final two days, Shemini Atzeret and Simchas Torah, starting Sunday night, the 7th, and going through Tuesday, the 9th. For myself, this is not a problem, although currently I don't see me being able to commit to this 'fest. But with Shabbes being every Saturday, and the need to return home before sunset on Sunday night, I do not see that weekend being practical for any Shomer Shabbes (Torah observant) Jews, such as MsMary.

I do not mean to speak for MsMary, and I hope she chimes in before final decisions are made, as she posted she may try to make 'fest if it is held in Boston. Having already met her in person, I would say if she does make it, that would be a treat for all of you who do make it. But MsMary most likely won't be posting before Sunday, since these two days of Rosh HaShana feed directly in to Shabbes this year, so she most likely will not be on the computer any earlier than an hour after sunset Saturday night.

[wayfriend]

Menolly, is the weekend after Columbus day, October 13-14, better?

[aliantha]

How about some objective data?

www.boston.world-guides.com lists these normal daily temperature ranges for Boston (maximums first, minimums second):

September: 23°C / 73°F; 14°C / 57°F
October: 17°C / 63°F; 8°C / 46°F

Typically, September and October each have 9 days of rain, and the average monthly rain totals are about equal -- 3.1 inches in September, 3.3 inches in October.

The average seasonal snowfall for Sept-Dec in Boston is 1 inch.

Now then: I know that you have to have at least one day of overnight frost before the leaves really start to turn. So the odds that we'd see much color in September aren't good, given that the average low is nowhere near freezing.

I also found this interactive map, which is fun to play with, if nothing else.

Maybe mid-October would be better.... <sigh>

[Menolly]

Menolly, is the weekend after Columbus day, October 13-14, better?

As far as Jewish holidays go, yes. Simchas Torah is the end of the harvest festivals, I believe. No matter which weekend we hold a 'fest, Shabbes will always fall on the Saturday. But there are no other Jewish holy days/festivals after the 9th during October, 2012. Unless there is some reason I am unaware of that restricts attending a 'fest on Rosh Chodesh (the change of the Hebrew month, which falls the evening of the 17th), but as far as I am aware, there shouldn't be.

However, does the weekend before being a three day weekend (at least for federal employees, if no one else), make it a better travel weekend for others?

[wayfriend]

... I had assumed so. But, frankly, I don't have it off myself. It's not a holiday that a lot of people have off. So it may not be significant.

aliantha, October can't be measured with one average temperature. The beginning is just a few weeks after summer is over. It gets a bit cool, and then there's a warm "Indian summer" for a while, temps in the 80s. Then it gets cooler again. Sprinkle the odd cold rainy days. In other words, it's typical New England ... want the weather to change, just wait a minute. I can't promise there won't be snow that weekend!

Cool folliage map!

[Damelon]

If you get a couple of windstorms at the wrong times (I'm thinking about it because I'm in the midst of a fairly strong one now) it can knock a good portion of the leaves down before they change. Better to wing it and to so to speak, let the leaves fall when they may.

[aliantha]

WF, well I know the dangers of relying on "average" temperature charts. I was just looking for some info on whether I'd be freezing my tuchus off if we delay 'til mid-October. I mean, I grew up near Lake Michigan, so I know from cold autumns. I went trick-or-treating more than once with a winter coat on under my costume....

As for the faux holiday of Columbus Day , I don't get it off. I think it's mainly gummint workers who get the holiday. But I would take vacation days if we drove up anyway. One more vacation day is not a big deal.

[Cameraman Jenn]

I am flexible and like I said, out of NE for a long friggin time. If mid Oct. works for everyone then let's do it then. And yes, I know it's a year away but if we want to get the group rates and so forth we have to book a while in advance which usually means at least several months so I don't think picking a date now is unreasonable. I need to contact/research etc. for hotels and pricing and then more decisions need to be made and more commitments and so forth and so on. Let's argue and cement a date by the end of October.

[sgt.null]

julie b-day is 0ct 10th - i am just saying.

btw - wayfriend the kitten is adorable in your avatar.

[Avatar]

Av, you haven't been saving since 2007?!?!

Hahaha, hell no. I needed that money, since I spent the next 2 years unemployed.

But 2014 is technically the fest finale...I think I should do my best to be there.

--A

[lucimay]

But 2014 is technically the fest finale...I think I should do my best to be there.

--A

as do i, grasshoppah, as do i.

we'll all be there tameetcha when ye come son!

if you click that link, make it full screen and turn it up

[Creator]

Got it scheduled on my Calendar!

[Cameraman Jenn]

Erase it from your calendar Creator. We are still in debate.

[sgt.null]

damn it - you know it will just be harder leaving you people this next time?

you have made me an emotional sort of person.

and the emotion of leaving new england this comingtime?

i will need a few days when i get back to texas to brood and decompress.