The end of summer is near, but that doesn’t mean the fun has to end. Take a day trip to one of these great Hudson Valley events to cool down.
17th Annual Hooley On The Hudson Irish Festival
September 2, 11:30 a.m. – 9 p.m.
It doesn’t have to be St. Patrick’s Day for you to get in touch with your Irish side. Come on out to Gallo Park in Kingston to enjoy a day on the waterfront that is fun for the whole family. You can listen to live music, watch Irish step dancing, and enjoy numerous food and craft vendors. As a bonus, the event is completely free to the public.
Hudson Valley Wine and Food Festival
September 8-9; Saturday 11 a.m. – 6 p.m,. Sunday 11 a.m.- 5 pm
Dutchess County Fairgrounds, Rhinebeck
Tasting ticket: $40
General Admission ticket: $15
Come out to the Dutchess County Fairgrounds to enjoy a day filled with wine, food and fun! Vendors include wineries and specialty food trucks, but also distilleries, cideries, and market vendors as well. You can beat the heat with a wine frappé from Nectar of the Vine or homemade ice cream from Nancy’s of Woodstock.
Barrely Awake Tour: Angry Orchard
Saturdays and Sundays through November, 10:45 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Angry Orchard, 2241 Albany Post Rd, Walden
Due to popular demand for more Angry Orchard tours, the Walden location is introducing a mid-morning tour. The “Barrely Awake Tour” launches September 1 but is sold out until Saturday September 15. Tickets are $20 and run every Saturday and Sunday until November 25. Spots are limited so book tickets ASAP to ensure a spot.
Day trip to Greene County
Trailhead address: Peekamoose Rd, Grahamsville
Take a trip to Peekamoose Blue Hole where you can take a hike to a pool of crystal-clear water. You can take a relaxing dip after the hike or, if you are more adventurous, jump off some of the rock ledges into water that gets as deep as 10 ft. After your hike, stop at Marty’s Mercantile where you can get a quick and casual bite to eat. The menu features breakfast items, specialty sandwiches, local coffee, tea and, most importantly, ice cream. In addition to the café, Marty’s also has a market where it sells goods made by locals.
Columbia County Fair
August 29 – September 3
Columbia County Fairgrounds, 182 Hudson Ave, Chatham
General admission $10 each day except Sunday; $15 on Sunday
Fair season hasn’t ended! On Wednesday and Thursday you can sit back and watch metal on metal collisions at the demolition derby. Wednesday’s show includes four cylinders, mini vans, mini pick-ups, and SUVs, while Thursday night’s show has six and eight cylinders, full-size pick-ups, and vans.
On Labor Day, you can catch the Painted Pony Rodeo, a popular event for fairgoers. At the show you can watch professional cowboys compete in events that include team and calf roping, steer wrestling, and ladies barrel racing.
