Things to do / Travel Guide
The Catskills and the Hudson Valley region features some very entertaining cultural events. Many of them are history-based and many others are based upon the culture of farming and agriculture that so permeates the countryside. Still other events in the region tie in to its more recent history as a haven for hippies and the artsy. Most of the events take place in the summer and fall.
January
During the Belleayre Mountain Winter Festival Week you can ski on 37 trails in the Catskill Mountain Forest Preserve with lift tickets for only $10 a day. The event is scheduled for the last complete week of January. During the whole week there are evening ski tournaments and rock concerts going on.
June
Head to Bar College, in Annandale-on-Hudson, for SummerScape, which begins in late June and runs until late August. The events that comprise SummerScape are in a profusion of different genres and media: There are operas and dance premiers, vintage films and art films, punk-music performances and chamber music. Also don't miss the Bard Music Festival, the dates of which fall out sometime in the summertime but change from year to year. This event showcases the talents and masterpieces of one master Classical music composer each season.
July
A major kayaking event in the region is the annual Great Hudson River Paddle (GHRP). The GHRP is a 10-day mid-month event, suitable for kayakers of all levels, held each summer to inspire the preservation of the Hudson River. It starts in Albany and ends in New York City, and every place the stars of the show - the pre-selected paddlers - stop, there are water-based festivities and food and drink. The stops are Albany's Corning Preserve, Kingston's Rondout Waterfront, Poughkeepsie's Waryas Park, and Yonkers' Downtown Waterfront.
Late July brings the Annual Bounty of the Hudson festival, a celebration of the wineries on the Shawangunk Wine Trail. The event takes place at the Whitecliff Winery in Gardiner, a few miles south of New Paltz.
The Maverick Concerts at Maverick Concert Hall in Woodstock have been going on for over 90 years every late-July through early-September. The feature is chamber-music, the best in the world, featuring the genre's best artists; and the hall is located on Maverick Road, Woodstock, off State Road 375.
August
From late-July through early-August you can visit the Ulster County Fair in New Paltz. This fair features the standard emphasis on agriculture and livestock, and there are also other events and attractions like a baby pageant, a beauty pageant, and truck and tractor pulls. Great for city-folk in need of a country fix!
In mid-August, for around four to five days, there's the Delaware County Fair in the town of Walton, on the west side of Catskill Park. Meet farmers and their animals, be a spectator in a demolition derby, and enjoy the fun live country music livening things up and keeping people happy.
September
September is the beginning of the harvest season in this most rural of regions, and the festivals that take place during this month are aptly themed. Early in the month, the Hudson Valley Wine and Food Fest in Red Hook, and later on in the month, the Hudson Valley Garlic Festival in Saugerties, are two excellent examples.
The Wine and Food Fest kicks off with a Grand Reserve tasting event, featuring the region's winery's top output. Over the remainder of the festival, there are chocolatiers and chefs of all stripes touting their best creations. The Garlic Festival is held during the last full weekend of September, and it has in the past been named one of the top 10 regional festivals. There are vendors selling garlic products, top chefs preparing and serving their tastiest dishes, and entertainment galore.
In mid- or late-September the Annual Taste of New Paltz is held; a day-long festival in which the city's residents get a chance to showcase all sorts of locally-produced foods and wares. Buy locally-made wine, sample beer from an area microbrewery, or purchase some early Christmas gifts for friends and family.
Also in mid- or late-September is the Hudson River Valley Ramble. Two September weekends are packed with events and activities, which take place along the Hudson River and include guided hiking, paddling, historical tours, and arts and crafts. All events are free to attend.
October
The Woodstock Film Festival is held mid-month for about four days. It's only been going on for just a few years, but each year the event grows and bigger and bigger names attend. Usually featured are innovative and entertaining indie fare.
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