Ulster County Fair
New Paltz
July 30–August 4
Returning to the fairgrounds in New Paltz, this annual summer celebration features live music, animal shows, and lots of opportunities to snack. Check out the full event schedule and purchase tickets online.
Cruise Nite
Cairo
August 3, 4 p.m.
Missing the sights and sounds of the ‘50s and ‘60s? Stop by this free event for music, classic cars, and a night of nostalgia. Free t-shirts will be provided for all Cruise car entrants and pinstriping will be offered by Don Rooney.
Latin & Salsa Night with DJ Diego
Newburgh
August 3
Get ready to dance the night away at Newburgh Brewing Company. Feel the rhythm of the music at this 21+ event in the taproom, which takes place on the first Saturday of every month throughout the year. The cover charge is $10 and includes your first drink.
Mid-Hudson Comic Con
Poughkeepsie
August 3–4
The only comic convention in the Hudson Valley returns for a limited time this month. Dress to impress for the cosplay contest as well as the chance to meet a few of your favorite industry professionals, from actors to illustrators.
Hudson Film Festival
Hudson
August 9–11
Join the Hudson Valley Film Institute for a weekend of events honoring projects by both local and global underrepresented filmmakers. In addition to screenings, the festival will host panels and guest speakers to connect attendees with the film community. The festival line-up is available online.
35th Annual Blueberry Festival
Ellenville
August 10, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
Embrace the summer’s bounty at the Blueberry Festival in Ellenville. This all-day event celebrates the berry with live music, vendors, raffles, and, of course, blueberries. Amateur bakers are encouraged to enter the Blueberry Muffin Contest to compete for a $100 prize. Admission and parking are free.
17th Annual “Tour of the Catskills” Pro-Am Bicycle Road Race
Tannersville
August 10
One of America’s premier cycling events returns to the Catskill Mountains. The scenic backdrop of upstate New York draws over 250 racers from all over the world to this road race. Register for a 27-, 52-, or 74-mile ride through the hills of Greene County.
New York Air Show
Montgomery
August 10–11
Take your summer to new heights at this weekend extravaganza at the Orange County Airport. View exhibitions of daredevil aerobatics, parachute team jumps, formation flying, and a special performance from the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds.
Tin Barn Brewing’s Block Party
Sugar Loaf Performing Arts Center, Chester
August 10
With over 150 beers from more than 70 breweries, Tin Barn Brewing’s summer Block Party isn’t quite like the one in your neighborhood. Join Tin Barn at the Sugar Loaf Performing Arts Center on August 10 for its first-ever craft beer festival. General admission tickets start at $80 and include a souvenir tasting glass and unlimited 4-oz. pours from noon to 4 p.m. VIP ticket holders ($125) access the party one hour earlier (at 11 a.m.) and take home exclusive sips, including a limited-edition barrel-aged stout and a four-pack of specialty Block Party releases. As you embark on your taste test, be sure to check out the featured breweries from right here in the Hudson Valley, such as District 96 (New City), Equilibrium (Middletown), and Fidens (Albany). Kickin’ Nash, a country-rock band, will be performing from 12 to 3 p.m., and a variety of food trucks will be parked onsite.
Since they started brewing in 2015 (and opened their first location in Chester in 2020), the father-daughter duo behind Tin Barn—Dale and Lauren Van Pamelen—has made a name for themselves with a line of IPAs and juicy sours. At the Block Party, sample signature brews such as Queen Citra, a hazy triple IPA, and Tiki Tidal Wave, a fruited sour. For more information, visit tinbarn.com. – Tess Foley-Cox
Altamont Fair
Altamont
August 13–18
This annual fair in Albany County welcomes all to enjoy carnival rides, livestock shows, exhibits, and a variety of food vendors. Admission includes parking, attractions, music, and a show from the Royal Hanneford Circus under the big-top tent.
Something Rotten
Chatham
August 15–18, 21–25, 28–31, and September 1
The Tony-nominated musical-within-a-musical makes its debut at the Mac-Haydn Theatre this month. A mash-up of 16th-century Shakespeare and 21st-century Broadway, the performance explores the story of the first musical and the brothers who created it.
New York Renaissance Faire
Tuxedo Park
August 17–October 6
Jump back in time to Elizabethan England in Tuxedo Park at the annual New York Renaissance Faire, full of games, crafts, food, music, and dancing. Thrilling performances from acrobatic artists, comedians, dancers, magicians, and a jousting show occur all season.
2nd Annual Sunflower & Sangria Festival
Leeds
August 16–18
Enjoy food, beer, live music, and, of course, sangria, among the backdrop of a field bursting with sunflowers. Pick your own flowers (there are over 125,000 to choose from) and stop for photo ops, a farmers’ market, and games for all ages. Along with admission, your $20 ticket includes two free sunflowers to take home. Kids 5-years-old and younger get in free.
Dutchess County Fair
Rhinebeck
August 20–25
The second largest county fair in New York is back with an exciting line-up of rides, performances, agricultural displays, animals, and more. This year, the grandstand will be hosting concerts from Rick Springfield, Tracy Byrd, Kissnation, and Kameron Marlowe with Conner Smith.
Latin Festival
Albany
August 24, 11 a.m.–6 p.m.
Head to Washington Park for a free and family-friendly afternoon of music, crafts, and food vendors celebrating Latin heritage.
Columbia County Fair
Chatham
August 28–September 2
Chatham hosts the annual Columbia County Fair, providing six days of musical performances, rodeos, demolition derbies, and more for the whole family to enjoy.
Jam Session
You may think that the finest marmalade—a spread made with the juice and peel of citrus fruits—comes from the United Kingdom. After all, it’s a staple of British breakfasts and teatime. But, according to the Dalemain World Marmalade Awards, held annually in England, some of the best marmalades are created right here in the Hudson Valley. West Nyack business Birdie’s Batch brought home two bronze awards for its Cara Cara Orange and Dark & Stormy (fresh ginger, orange, and whiskey) marmalades earlier this year. Founded in 2020 by French Culinary Institute alum Sara Cann and her mother Vinnie, Birdie’s Batch crafts an array of jams, jellies, preserves, and old-fashioned baked goods from fresh, seasonal produce. To order their award-winning marmalades and other goodies, visit birdiesbatch.com. – Megan Wilson
