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Visit the Finger Lakes Village of Phelps & learn about-Sauerkraut !

posted by Teresa Farrell at 2022-05-06 18:39:00

This spring, take a visit to the small Finger Lakes village of Phelps. This charming town has history as an agricultural hub for the production of a particular product: sauerkraut. Thanks to the farms surrounding this rural community, and the factories and canning facilities that it housed during its earlier days, Phelps was once the largest producer of sauerkraut in the world, creating it every step of the way, from cabbage to can. Today, the factories are gone, but local farms still produce plenty of cabbage, as well as other key crops and products like fruits, grains, flowers and dairy.


Located just north of the Finger Lakes themselves, between Geneva and Canandaigua, and a bit to the southeast of Rochester, the village of Phelps today is a beautiful place to explore. Its tree-lined streets that feature some of the most unique architecture in the area, including historic cobblestone homes. Walkable and picturesque, Phelps boasts a historic downtown district with plenty of shops and restaurants to explore, as well as plenty of places to taste the local wines and beers that the region is known for. History can be found throughout downtown, as well as at the Phelps Community Historical Society, which houses the Howe House Museum and the Country Lawyer’s office, offering programs, exhibits and events throughout the year.


It’s all centered around a beautiful Main Street with views of two creeks: Flint Creek and Canandaigua Outlet. In a region that’s known for its waterfalls, Phelps is no exception; Flint Creek Falls is located right on Main Street, offering a gorgeous backdrop for an afternoon stroll through the village. Though the village is small, it’s filled with outdoor community spaces, including three different parks (Redfield Park, Methodist Memorial Park, and Crooked Bridge Park) which, between the three of them, offer picnic areas, playgrounds, and the chance to take a dip in the creek. If you’d like to explore a little further, you’re in luck: Ontario Pathways, a hiking and biking trail that connects the village of Phelps with nearby Canandaigua, runs right through the village, on Route 96.


Of course, Phelps is a great place to visit during the summer too. The spirit of the village’s early days is commemorated during the first weekend of August each year, when the village comes together for the annual Phelps Sauerkraut Weekend. A four-day-long event, the festival includes a packed schedule, with activities for all: live entertainment, a parade, a 5k, a recipe contest, food vendors, rides and activities for kids, and more. And everyone that attends gets a free slice of sauerkraut cake—which, though it may sound unconventional, brings out the chocolate flavor and adds a texture and moistness to the cake that many bakers swear by, so don’t hesitate to grab a taste of this local favorite if you stop by in August!


PHOTO CREDITS
Phelps sign with sauerkraut festival photo credit Town of Phelps NY
Museum photo credit Phelps Chamber of Commerce
Waterfall photo credit Phelps Chamber of Commerce
Phelps town hall photo credit Town of Phelps NY
 

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