2026 Editor’s Picks: What to Do in the Hudson Valley on Jan 2 – 4

The 2026 “Upstate Weekend Plans” for Jan 2nd – 4th is a highlight-filled weekend of winter adventure, creative workshops, wellness, culture + family-friendly fun across the Hudson Valley. From hitting the slopes to setting intentions, celebrating history, or gathering under the full moon—there’s something for everyone. Take your pick below…

🗓️ Whole Weekend

🏂 Highmount, Fri Jan 2nd – Sun Jan 4th, Winter Sports at Belleayre.
Cross country + downhill skiing, snowshoeing or Snowboarding—you name it… They got it! Embrace the season. Info HERE.

🎿 Hillsdale, Fri Jan 2nd – Sun Jan 4th, Winter Sports at Catamount Mountain Resort.
Tubing, skiing, snowboarding, live music + more! Info HERE.

👩‍🌾 Explore the Bounty of Winter at Hudson Valley Farmers Markets + CSAs
These cozy seasonal pop-ups turn cold-weather weekends into lively celebrations of local food, makers and culture! Info HERE.

🗓️ Friday, Jan 2nd

🍶 Hyde Park, 11am – 7pm. New Year’s Amazake Tasting at Dassai Blue.
FREE! Welcome 2026 with a cozy tasting of “Amazake,” a traditional Japanese New Year’s drink. No tickets required—simply join and celebrate the season together. Info HERE.

📝 Poughkeepsie, 2pm – 4pm. Poetry Workshop with Poet Gold at the Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum.
In “DREAM Out Loud,” kids ages 8+ explore poetry using acrostics + quatrains to write about dreams and new beginnings while building confidence, creativity and the power of their voice. Info HERE.

🎞️ Athens, 5pm – 7pm. First Friday Receptions: “Esperanza, Hope: Portraits of Migration + Change” at Athens Cultural Center.
Explores the migrations that shaped Athens, NY, through portraiture, landscape, and archival imagery, with photographer Thierry Casias honoring the diverse communities that form the town’s cultural fabric. Info HERE.

💗 Stone Ridge, 6pm – 7:30pm. Inhabit the Heart Workshop at Whole Sky Yoga.
Welcome the new year with a heart-centered yogic workshop featuring gentle movement, guided meditation, and devotional chanting to open, restore, and attune the heart. Learn more about Whole Sky Yoga. Info HERE.

🗓️ Saturday, Jan 3rd

❄️ Prattsville, 9am – 4:30pm. Winter Sports + Live Music with Bobby Curious at Bearpen Mountain.
Spend the day cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, fat biking, tubing or ice skating—then warm up and unwind with live acoustic guitar and ukulele. Info HERE.

🌕 Saugerties, 10am – 11:30am. FULL MOON Kundalini Yoga, Meditation + Gong Immersion at White Feather Farm.
Blending breathwork, movement, mantra, meditation, and gong relaxation to recharge + restore mind + body. All are welcome. Info HERE.

💃 Woodstock, 11:30am – 1pm. Guinea West African Dance Workshop at Mountainview Studio.
Mouminatou “Moumi” Camara—principal dancer for the world-renowned Les Ballets Africains Dance Co—will be teaching a special New Year’s celebration dance called “Doundounba.” Learn more about African Drum + Dance Classes. Info HERE.

🐐 Napanoch, 12pm – 2pm. Adventure Hike with the Herd at Frederick Farm Goat Rescue & Sanctuary.
Everything’s better with goats. Hike scenic Catskills trails alongside a friendly herd of rescued goats—nature, movement and animal joy combined. Info HERE.

⛵️ Hyde Park, 2pm – 5pm. Celebrate Whiff’s 150th Birthday at FDR Presidential Library + Museum.
Once hailed as “the finest ice yacht in the world,” with a storied legacy and restoration showcased at the Henry A. Wallace Center (ticketed event). Additionally, view historic ice yachts WHIFF + ZIP on display at the FDR Library + Museum till Jan 4th (Free!). Info HERE.

🌝 Wappinger Falls, 3pm – 12am. Full Moon Gathering at Chapel of Sacred Mirrors (CoSM).
Ceremony led by Alex Grey + Allyson Grey, featuring music, live painting, interactive art, and more. Food + beverages available in the Grey House Moon Lounge + Mushroom Cafe. Info HERE.

🇺🇦 Kerhonkson, 5pm – 8pm. Shedriy Vechir at Soyuzivka Heritage Center.
Celebrate a traditional Ukrainian 12-course dinner and festive cheer! Bring your family and friends for an unforgettable cultural experience. Info HERE.

⚔️ Woodstock, 7pm – 11:55pm. Kill Bill: “The Whole Bloody Affair” at Tinker Street Cinema.
A second screening (5 hours) featuring an introduction by Thurman, this film unites Volume 1 and Volume 2 into a single, unrated epic—presented exactly as Tarantino intended, complete with a new, never-before-seen anime sequence. Info HERE.

🌕 Wurtsboro, 8pm – 9pm. Full Moon Drum Circle at Divine Shakti Arts.
A unique, multifaceted drum circle featuring global percussion and electronic exploration. Guests are welcome to bring their own instruments. Chai and light refreshments will be served. Info HERE.

🗓️ Sunday, Jan 4th

🧘 Mt Tremper, 9am – 12pm. Beginning Instruction at Zen Mountain Monastery.
The morning includes chanting, gentle instruction in zazen and walking meditation, and a talk by a teacher or senior student. Guests are warmly invited to stay for the full program and enjoy a community lunch afterward. Learn more about the Zen Mountain Monastery. Info HERE.

🎨 Beacon, 2pm – 4pm. Vision Board Workshop: 2026 Out with the Old; In with the New at That Creative Space.
Start the new year with intention at this guided vision board workshop where you’ll reflect, release and create a visual roadmap for the year ahead. No experience needed, all materials provided. Info HERE.

Photo by Belleayre Mountain

👉 Know of more cool events happening in the Hudson Valley/Catskills area?
Leave them in the comments below.

Have a wonderful weekend from Inside+Out Upstate NY!