2026 Editor’s Picks: What to Do in the Hudson Valley on Aug 7 – Aug 9

The Hudson Valley soundtrack is HOT this weekend! From indie film + outdoor festivals to riverfront performances, farm fields + unforgettable live shows, the only question is: Where will the music take you? Hot List below…

ALL WEEKEND

🎬 Hudson, Fri – Sun. Hudson Film Festival.
Four days of independent films, filmmaker Q&As, parties, family screenings + a free youth workshop. Festival begins Thur, Aug 6. Info HERE.

🎭 Chatham, Fri + Sat, 7:30pm. Walid Raad: Two Drops per Heartbeat at PS21 Pavilion Theater.
Experience a US premiere blending performance, video + storytelling as the artist explores strange artifacts and the histories hidden within them. Info HERE.

🎪 New Paltz, Fri – Sun. Ulster County Fair.
Six days of livestock, carnival rides, fair food, live entertainment—including Chubby Checker—and classic country fair fun. Opens Tues, Aug 4. Info HERE.

🍷 Marlboro, Sat + Sun. August Sangria Festival at Benmarl Winery.
Sip summer sangria, enjoy local wine, food + live entertainment during a festive weekend at one of the Hudson Valley’s oldest wineries. Info HERE.

🍎 Marlboro, Sat + Sun. Garden Party Weekend at Weed Orchards & Winery.
Enjoy live music, farm-to-table bites, orchard views + a relaxed summer weekend of food, wine and good vibes. 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 7

🖼️ Catskill, 11:30am. Curator’s Tour: Circles of Influence at Thomas Cole National Historic Site.
Explore Thomas Cole’s legacy and the American Landscape Movement during a guided exhibition tour with curator insights and access to the historic grounds. Info HERE.

🌿 Millbrook, 2pm. Innisfree Explorers: Nature-Inspired Art at Innisfree Garden.
Kids can create nature-inspired crafts using leaves, bark, seeds + other natural materials during this hands-on afternoon of creativity. Info HERE.

🍻 Kerhonkson, 6pm. Carmen Costello featuring Just for Now at Rough Cut Brewing.
Enjoy an evening of live music on the backyard stage with local brews, good vibes + a family-friendly atmosphere. Info HERE.

🎻 Woodstock, 7pm. Fruition: Something More Tour at Colony Woodstock.
Blending Americana, folk, rock, soul + soaring harmonies, Fruition brings their heartfelt songwriting to the stage with special guest Lydia Loveless. Info HERE.

🎶 Athens, 7pm. Conehead Buddha at Athens Riverfront Park.
Get ready for a genre-blending jam session mixing salsa rhythms, trance grooves, ska + high-energy rock. Info HERE.

🎸 Marlboro, 8pm. Dylan Doyle Band Album Release at The Falcon.
Hudson Valley’s rising guitar talent blends roots rock, jam funk + southern soul into a uniquely American sound during this special album release party. Info HERE.

SATURDAY, AUG 8

🐦 Saugerties, 8am. Morning Bird Walk with Kyle Bardwell at Spiral House Park.
Join local bird enthusiast Kyle Bardwell for a guided early-morning walk through gardens and woodland trails, identifying birds by sight + sound while exploring the seasonal rhythms of resident and migrating species. Info HERE.

🫐 Ellenville, 9am. 37th Annual Blueberry Festival.
A beloved summer tradition featuring local vendors, crafts, food, live entertainment + plenty of blueberry-filled fun. Info HERE.

🔧 Rhinebeck, 10am. Rhinebeck Repair Café.
Bring broken household items and work alongside skilled volunteers to repair, reuse + keep them out of the landfill. Info HERE.

🍱 Beacon, 11am. Beacon Second Saturdays.
Second Saturday is a lively day-into-night celebration of Beacon’s galleries, restaurants + other businesses! on the second Saturday of each month. Info HERE. 

🎉 Kingston, 12pm. 8th Annual African American Festival at Kingston Point Beach.
Celebrate African American culture with live music, food, local vendors, family activities + a joyful day of community by the waterfront. Info HERE.

🇯🇲 Woodstock, 6pm. Reggae in the Garden Fest at Colony Woodstock.
Celebrate Jamaica’s independence with a night of roots reggae, Jamaican food, craft vendors, firepits + late-night dancing. Info HERE.

⛵ Hudson, 7:30pm. Handel Sets Sail featuring Fiona Gillespie aboard Schooner Apollonia.
Enjoy a sunset sail on the Hudson River with folk + classical music inspired by the sea, featuring Handel, Celtic traditions and onboard refreshments. Info HERE.

🎤 Kingston, 8pm. Joan Osborne Sings the Songs of Bob Dylan at Assembly.
The Grammy-nominated vocalist reimagines Dylan’s timeless songs with her signature soulful style, featuring special guest Storey Littleton. Info HERE.

SUNDAY, AUG 9

🥁 Kingston, 5pm. Celebrating Jack DeJohnette: Sound Travels at Ulster Performing Arts Center.
Honor one of jazz’s most influential drummers and composers during a special evening celebrating his extraordinary musical legacy. Info HERE.

Photo by Spiral House Park in Saugerties NY – For four decades, artist Tom Gottsleben and his wife Patty Livingston transformed an abandoned bluestone quarry into a magical 45-acre park filled with gardens, fields, sculpture, woodland trails, and stunning Catskill Mountain views, opening to the public in 2025.

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