Shared Experiences

By Rachel Dutil • Photos Provided

Bridge Barn

When a 2,400-square-foot tavern opened in rural Altona in the early 1990s, owners Jane and Peck Sample were optimistic it would be successful even though it was off the beaten path. They named it The Rainbow in the hope it would be the quintessential pot of gold.

But by 1995, the Samples decided to abandon the tavern and utilize the space for weddings and private parties. From there, the business took off. Rainbow Banquet Hall now encompasses not only the original space — the Blue Room — but an expansion in 2005 added the White Room. The Gold Room was added in 2007 and in 2019 the Brookside Barn was built. The Rainbow now has four separate spaces for parties and during the busy wedding season, all four often host parties at the same time.

Brannoin Sample

Brannoin Sample now runs the business his parents started when he was a child. Growing up in the business and doing every job at one point or another has given him a unique understanding and a deep appreciation for each member of his team.

Ring in the New Year

For many of its 30 years in business, The Rainbow Banquet Hall has hosted a New Year’s Eve party. It is a great opportunity for the North Country to come together and celebrate as the calendar turns to a new year.

New Year’s parties at The Rainbow typically sell out at 500 people and each year has a theme. “We try to alternate between formal and fun and quirky,” Sample said. To ring in 2025, the theme was a glow party. Plans for 2026 are for a Kentucky Derby theme.

The party is held in the Gold Room and features an All You Can Eat Buffet, open bar, door prizes, and live music. “It’s a full spread for the evening,” Sample said, adding that he strives to provide value and great service to customers. “Dad always said, ‘I don’t mind paying for something, but give me something.’ It’s important that people feel value for the money that they are spending with us. We truly appreciate their business.”

One popular perk of parties at the Rainbow is a free ride home. “We do a free shuttle service at the end of the night,” Sample said. “We rent about 10 vans from Enterprise and also use the five vans we own. We get everyone where they need to go.”

People come from across Clinton County and some from Franklin County to ring in the New Year at the Rainbow. Many people make the Rainbow party an annual tradition, Sample said. “It’s definitely a hyper-local party where everyone seems to know everyone.”

Lasting Legacy

Jane Sample was diagnosed with stomach cancer in 2016. Her medical journey was the inspiration for the creation of Jane’s Fight Fund in 2017. The toll of cancer treatment, both financially and emotionally, was heavy and Jane wanted to ease that financial burden for North Country residents battling cancer.

“We collect money through our own fundraisers and other people sometimes host fundraisers. We give money away three times a year to local cancer patients,” Sample explained. Money is distributed through the CVPH Foundation. Residents from Clinton, Essex and Franklin Counties who are undergoing cancer treatment can apply online through the Foundation. Giveaways happen on February 28, June 30, and October 30 annually. “Since 2017, we have given away $206,000,” Sample noted.

Jane passed away in July of 2019, but her spirit of kindness and generosity live on not only through her fund, but also through the philosophy that she embedded in the culture at the Rainbow. “Always make everybody feel like somebody,” she would say. The quote truly captures Jane’s essence and is inscribed on a bench outside the White Room.

“We tell our staff that you don’t need to know everything, but you need to care. People are paying good money to walk through the doors. We need to provide them with good service,” Sample said. “I joke that we get paid to go to a party every weekend, but it is a lot of hard work. I am proud that we make it look easy when it’s not.”

Sample praised his Rainbow team. “We have a great staff.” Because of his incredible team, Sample was able to realize his dream of bringing an outdoor concert to the Rainbow in August. He poured his energy into turning the vision he had during the pandemic of transforming his vast back parking area into a concert venue, making his dream a reality and his staff was fully supportive. “Who doesn’t love music? They loved it. They were really fired up about the idea,” Sample said. The August concert featured Chris Stapleton and Zac Brown tribute bands and drew a crowd of 500 people.

“We love bringing people together. Plus, parties are just fun,” Sample joked. “The goal is to have as big a party as we can in a safe, professional way that’s organized and done right.” Sample is planning a two-day outdoor concert in February and another in June. “When people leave here, I want them to say, ‘That was awesome.’ Although music is a big part of it, I don’t want people to come just for the music, I want them to come for the experience. I want people to be blown away by coming together with the community.”

Although he hopes to continue to grow the concert aspect of the business, Sample said that weddings will continue to be the biggest part of their focus. “That’s what we are really good at.” Sample’s parents didn’t have a big wedding, just a simple courthouse ceremony with the sheriff as their witness. “It always made my mom feel good to share those big wedding experiences with people,” Sample concluded.

Rainbow Banquet Hall

47 Woods Falls Road

Altona, NY 12910

(518) 236-5030

www.rainbowbanquethall.com