2026 Editor’s Picks: What to Do in the Hudson Valley on Aug 21 – Aug 23

From flickering outdoor films + art-filled streets to Caribbean rhythms, cosmic mysteries, live music, makers, long-table feasts + candlelit nights in the woods, this weekend is made for wandering, soaking it all in + getting a little lost in the Hudson Valley. Hot List below…

ALL WEEKEND

🎬 Kingston, Fri + Sat. Keep It Local Film Festival at ArtYard Kingston.
Starting on Thurs, 3 nights of outdoor cinema featuring Hudson Valley + regional filmmakers, with shorts, features, filmmaker Q&As, concessions + a welcoming community vibe by ArtPort Kingston. Info HERE.

🎭 Phoenicia, Fri – Sun. Phoenicia Festival of the Arts.
Three days of visual art, live music, dance, film, performance, workshops, panels + exhibitions woven throughout the village. Info HERE.

🛍️ Cold Spring, Sat + Sun. Hops on the Hudson Modern Makers Market.
An outdoor market filled with local makers, artists, food, live music + Hudson River village vibes, free admission, parking + plenty of reasons to make a day of it. Info HERE.

🌻 Hudson Valley, ALL weekend! Your Ultimate Guide to the Hudson Valley’s Vibrant Farmers Markets: Spring to Fall.
Your go-to guide to the Hudson Valley’s vibrant Farmers Markets, spring through fall—where fresh seasonal produce, local farms and community come together. Info HERE.

FRIDAY, AUG 21

🎸 Hudson, 7pm. Modern Refuge + Dutchess at Park Theater Hudson.
Live music in one of Hudson’s intimate neighborhood venues, featuring the Hudson Valley-based band Modern Refuge. Info HERE.

🎙️ Woodstock, 8pm – 10pm. Rachael Yamagata at Maverick Concerts.
An intimate night of music in Maverick’s hand-hewn concert hall, tucked into the woods outside Woodstock. Info HERE.

SATURDAY, AUG 22

🪗 Rosendale, 11am – 7pm. 6th Annual Chant Festival at Rail Trail Cafe.
A full day of live kirtan music, communal singing + good company brings local chant leaders and musicians together for an uplifting celebration of voice, rhythm + connection. Info HERE.

🌴 Kingston, 12pm – 7pm. 7th Annual Hudson Valley Caribbean Festival at Kingston Point Beach.
Reggae, soca, steelpan, Caribbean food, dance, arts + a colorful celebration of culture and community—all free. Info HERE.

🍇 Marlboro, 1pm – 4pm. Nick Morizzo at Quartz Rock Vineyard.
Singer-songwriter Nick Morizzo brings an acoustic set of original songs to the vineyard, paired with wine, cider + an afternoon among the vines. Info HERE.

🎨 Woodstock, 1pm – 4pm. Open Studios: Artists-in-Residence Summer Session III at Byrdcliffe.
Meet artists-in-residence, step inside their studios, and see painting, sculpture, ceramics, writing, sound, and more across the historic Byrdcliffe campus. Info HERE.

🍺 Hobart, 1pm – 7pm. Sausage & Brew Festival at Hobart Town Park.
A delicious Catskills celebration of craft beer, local food, live music, artisan vendors + family fun in the Book Village of the Catskills. Info HERE.

🔭 Saugerties, 4pm – 6pm. Mysteries of Light and Color with Bob Berman at Spiral House Park.
Renowned astronomer Bob Berman explores the strange science of light, human color vision + the surprising ways color appears throughout the universe. Info HERE.

🎺 Saugerties, 4pm – 8pm. Euphonia: A Balkan + Brass Music Festival at Opus 40.
Blazing brass, Balkan rhythms, funk + plenty of dancing take over the extraordinary bluestone landscape of Opus 40. Info HERE.

🍷 New Paltz, 6pm – 9pm. Neverstill Wine Pairing Dinner at Mohonk Mountain House.
A monthly three-course farm-to-table dinner paired with Neverstill wines, preceded by a lawn reception with tastings, hors d’oeuvres + lawn games. More about Mohonk Wine Pairing Dinners HERE. Info HERE.

🍄 Woodstock, 7pm – 10pm. The Pink Floyd Project at Colony Woodstock.
A nine-piece live act brings Pink Floyd classics to life with immersive sound, iconic songs, visual effects + a spectacular light show. Info HERE.

SUNDAY, AUG 23

🎶 Poughkeepsie, 12pm – 6:30pm. Poughkeepsie PorchFest in the Academy Street Historic District.
More than 25 porches become neighborhood stages for local musicians playing everything from jazz + folk to rock, country + spoken word. Free. Info HERE.

🎤 Montgomery, 12pm. Pure Soul Presents: Mary J. Blige Tribute at City Winery Hudson Valley.
A soulful brunch celebration of the Queen of Hip Hop Soul, with powerhouse vocals, live musicians + the songs that carried a generation through heartbreak, resilience + joy. Info HERE.

🌻 Catskill, 1pm – 4pm. Summer Festival at Thomas Cole National Historic Site.
A summer afternoon of live music, art-making, a flower bouquet bar, local vendors, refreshments + historic house tours. Info HERE.

🧶 Woodstock, 2pm – 5pm. Crafternoon Delight at Hedgehog + Moss.
A laid-back Sunday afternoon of knitting, crochet, yarn crafting + community, welcoming all skill levels to bring a project, snack or beverage. Info HERE.

🎨 Saugerties, 2pm. The Secret City: “INSPIRATION” at The Local.
The Secret City Band + Singers bring an afternoon of music, visual art, poetry, storytelling + community connection, with a suggested-donation ticket and plenty of colorful outfits encouraged. Info HERE.

🌲 Mount Tremper, 5pm – 10pm. In The Wild at Foxfire Mountain House.
A candlelit Catskills evening with a tasting hour, family-style multi-course dinner in the forest, music + complimentary beer and wine beneath the trees. Info HERE.

Photo by Vicki Haberski of a Trolley at Kingston Point from the Trolley Museum of New York in Kingston NY.

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