Bannerman Castle Trust sets annual farm-to-table dinner for Sept. 5 on Bannerman Island

Bannerman Castle Trust will host its annual Farm-to-Table Dinner on Sept. 5, 2026, on Bannerman Island in Beacon, New York, with Chef Scout Metzler leading the five-course meal. The fundraiser pairs dinner service with a ferry ride to the island and highlights ongoing restoration work at the historic site.

Why it matters: - The dinner is a fundraiser tied to Bannerman Island’s restoration efforts, including ongoing work to preserve the historic castle. - Guests will also see completed renovations on the island, including the newly restored historic Grotto. - The event blends dining, tourism and preservation at a site that still lacks electricity and running water.

What happened: - Bannerman Castle Trust scheduled its annual Bannerman Island Farm-to-Table Dinner for Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026. - The event will take place on Bannerman Island in Beacon, New York. - Chef Scout Metzler will lead the dinner with his team of chefs. - Guests will travel to the island on the RV Estuary Steward for a scenic 20-minute ferry ride from the Beacon docks near the Metro-North train stop. - The event will run about three and a half to four hours and include two seatings at 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.

The details: - The dinner menu will be a five-course meal featuring soup, salad, entree, cheese and dessert. - Metzler said the chefs are coming from across the Hudson Valley and from places including New York City and Clifton Park. - The ferry for the first seating will depart Beacon at 3:00 p.m. - The ferry for the second seating will depart the docks at 4:30 p.m. after the first group returns. - The Beacon NY docks are across from the Metro-North train station at 2 Red Flynn Drive, Beacon, NY 12508. - More information is available in the event listing or by calling (845) 831-1001. - Bannerman Castle Trust Executive Director and Founder Neil J. Caplan said the event gives attendees a chance to experience the renovations completed on the island. - Caplan said Scout Metzler is meticulous, kind and dedicated to his craft. - Caplan also said Metzler has been able to “pull off the impossible dinner time and time again.”

Between the lines: - The dinner continues a format built around the island’s logistical constraints, including the need to transport food and supplies up 70 stone steps. - Portable generators and ice are part of the setup because the island does not have electricity or running water. - The event began in 2010, when the castle suffered a collapse at the Main Tower and the dinner was created as a fundraiser to help save the site. - Noah Sheetz created the event and previously mentored Metzler for years before Metzler led his first Bannerman Island Farm-to-Table Dinner in 2025. - The trust is positioning the dinner as both a culinary experience and a progress update on the island’s restoration.

What's next: - Metzler and his team are continuing to plan the menu and the event layout for Sept. 5. - The trust is aiming to top last year’s dinner with an expanded culinary experience and the island’s newest restoration work on display.

The bottom line: - Bannerman Island’s annual dinner remains a rare mix of fundraising, preservation and destination dining, with restoration progress now part of the guest experience.