This year’s cocktail party features top regional chefs who will create hors d’oeuvres inspired by the Rip Van Winkle theme, paired with wine, craft beers, and signature cocktails. The celebration will be along Olana’s Ridge Road, with spectacular views of the Hudson River, the Rip Van Winkle Bridge, and the fabled Catskill Mountains.

This year marks the 200th anniversary of Washington Irving’s Rip Van Winkle, a short story that has inspired generations of artists and travelers, and in 1935, it informed the name of the bridge which spans the Hudson River at the foot of Olana, connecting the homes and studios of Frederic Church and his mentor, Thomas Cole. Starting this year, this bridge and its historic views will beat the heart of the Hudson River Skywalk experience, which will continue to inspire future generations of travelers from around the world.