What A Hoot! Coxsackie, NY. A cartoonish owl perched on a branch.

What a Hoot! 2023 Raffle Owls

It's a Mini-Festival for 2023!




After the very successful auction of our 2020 owls in the fall of 2021 due to a Covid19 delay, What a Hoot! took a year off. This year, the Hoot of the Owl Committee got together and decided to do a smaller carry-over festival until more volunteers can be rounded up for a new committee for 2024. If you are interested in volunteering, please let Mayor Mark Evans know! We will need a robust team of dedicated volunteers to make another What a Hoot! Festival possible.

This year, we have five owls for your viewing pleasure, and the raffle winners will be notified at the end of September! You can purchase raffle tickets for your favorite owl(s) all summer long at the Coxsackie Village Offices, and every other week at the Coxsackie Farmer's Market starting May 31, 2023, and from some of the artists. Please use our Contact page or visit us on Facebook if you need further information. We would like to send a big shout-out to our five sponsors this year, and to the five talented artists for their time and talents. Thank you ALL for your support! (See the "Sponsors" and "Artists" tabs above) There will be brochures available in front of the Coxsackie Village Offices near the owls on their perches! Click on the "Photos" tab above to see individual photos of this year's raffle owls!



We also have miniature owls for you to order and decorate for yourselves! A part of the proceeds from the sale of these owls goes to the What a Hoot! committee to be used toward expenses for the festival. The miniature owls are approximately 7" tall, by about 4" wide at the base. We've shown a sample here with Ellen De Lucia's owl "Liberty" from 2018. They are $39 each plus shipping. Order mini owl here!

Our winner for 2019's raffle owl The Owl and the Chickadee by artist Sharon Lalor Askew was Joseph B. Ellis. He was awarded the owl at Coxsackie's Christmas by the River on Sunday, December 1, 2019, when his winning ticket was pulled. Sadly we lost our dear friend, committee member, and Village Trustee Joe (J.B.) Ellis in July of 2020. He is dearly missed by all who had the pleasure to know him.

Please keep visiting this website and our Facebook page for updates for 2023, including all pertinent dates and info!

Raffle Drawing

The 2023 Raffle winners will be pulled at the Coxsackie Riverside Festival on September 16 at a time in the afternoon TBA. Winners need not be present to win, but you can take your owl home right then and there if you're a winner!

What is What A Hoot!?

What a Hoot! is a public art installation, sponsored by the Village of Coxsackie, and organized by the Hoot of the Owl Committee. Our goal is to raise money for various local charities. After the tremendous reception to our inaugural year, which also coincided with the Village of Coxsackie's 150th anniversary, the Hoot of the Owl Committee took the owl by the horns and did it again in 2018. In 2019, the committee decided that a gap year would be a good thing, so one raffle owl was created to keep interest going for the following year's festival in 2020.

Who created it?

The Hoot of the Owl Committee, chaired in 2017 by Joe Ellis, and sponsored by the Village of Coxsackie. Our 2020 chairperson is Donna Gianola.

Who are the sponsors?

See the list of 2020 sponsors. All 2020 Sponsors have been selected.

Who are the artists?

See the list of 2020 artists (See downloads page for Artist Packet)

Why owls?

It is believed that the word Coxsackie is a Native American word that translates to "hoot of the owl," and therefore, the owl is the symbol of the Village of Coxsackie.

Timeline

2023-10-01

Artist and Sponsor Packets Available

See the downloads tab.

2023-11-01

Sponsor Packet and Payment Deadline

All individuals and businesses interested in being an owl sponsor must return packets and payment by November 1st.

2024-01-10

Artist Sketch Deadline

The deadline for artists to submit an owl sketch with all accompanying paperwork.

2024-01-26

Selection Reception date TBA for 2024

Sponsors will choose their owl/artists at this reception open to artists and sponsors only.

2024-02-05

Notification of Artists Selected Date TBA

Artists will be notified that they have been selected by a sponsor, and will pick up their owl to begin work. This date is approximate.

2024-04-05

Completed Owls Deadline

This is the firm deadline for artists to return their finished owls. They will then be sent for clear-coating.

2024-05-24

2024 Owls Out on Perches

We hope to get all owls on their perches by Memorial Day Weekend.

2024-09-25

Gala and Auction Date TBA

Our auction will take place at a venue to be determined.

Artists

Our artists hail from right here in Coxsackie, to neighboring towns in the Capital Region. Keep an eye out in 2024 when we'll be looking for artists to submit their sketches!

Download 2024 Artist Packet

Sponsors

Our sponsors donate $500 each for the honor of sponsoring one of our beautiful owls. With that tax-deductible donation comes credit on the owl's name plaque. The money covers the cost of a primed owl, its mounting brackets, shipping, weather protection, artists supply fee, and promotion of the festival. Our owls wouldn't be possible without our very generous sponsors!

Download 2024 Sponsor Packet

Supporters

The Hoot of the Owl Committee is inviting you to be part of the celebration, too. Won’t you please become a What a Hoot! Supporter? Your donation will help Coxsackie’s festival soar by providing much needed funding for promotion, thereby ensuring success. While promoting What a Hoot!, the committee will also give you and your business recognition through social media and extensive advertising. We do hope that you will join us.

 

Village of Coxsackie
119 Mansion Street
Coxsackie, New York 12051
(518) 731-2718

Contact us

  • Please use a REAL email address so that we can get back to you.