The Hottest January Happenings in the Hudson Valley

Candlelight tours in New City, an immersive Italian food experience in New Paltz, and more make the month unforgettable.

Bach at New Year’s: A Very Baroque Celebration — Troy

January 1, 3 p.m.

On New Year’s Day, head to the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall for an afternoon of Baroque music presented by the Berkshires Bach Society. Grammy award-winning director Eugene Drucker will lead the ensemble in performances of compositions by Bach, Telemann, Von Biber, and more. troymusichall.org

“First Fridays” Happy Hour — Athens

January 5, 5–7 p.m.

On the first Friday of every month, join the Athens Cultural Center for an evening of art. View the ACC’s ongoing art exhibitions and connect with other community members. Wine and a signature cocktail will be served; the events are free. athensculturalcenter.org

A Taste of Italy Featuring Kevin Zraly — New Paltz

January 5–7

Mohonk Mountain House is hosting an immersive weekend of Italian food and drink experiences. Traditional dishes will be paired with wine tastings guided by renowned vino expert Kevin Zraly of the Windows on the World Wine School. mohonk.com

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Family Weekend — Claryville

January 5–7, 12–15, 26–28

Bring the family to Frost Valley YMCA’s East Valley Ranch for a weekend of winter fun including nature hikes, visiting the farm animals, decorating cookies and making arts and crafts projects. frostvalley.org

Candlelight Tours — New City

January 7 & 14

Adorned with festive evergreens and lit only by candle and lantern, the 1832 Jacob Blauvelt farmhouse welcomes visitors to tour the property on Sunday evenings with the Historical Society of Rockland County. Prepaid reservations are required; tickets can be purchased online. rocklandhistory.org

Alash — Albany

January 11, 8–10 p.m.

This Russian trio—who have mastered the art of Tuvan throat singing—will perform at WAMC’s studio, The Linda. The group is known for infusing traditional Tuvan music with modern song forms, western instruments, and a variety of complex harmonies. thelinda.org

Alash
Johanna Kovitz, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Young Dubliners — Pawling

January 14, 7 p.m.

Irish American band Young Dubliners takes the stage at the intimate Daryl’s House Club. Listen to hits such as “The Foggy Dew,” “The Rocky Road to Dublin,” and more in their signature genre of folk meets rock. darylshouseclub.com

The Many Sides of Bob Dylan — Woodstock

January 14, 8–11 p.m.

The bands Near Dead Experience and Philosophers will perform songs at the Colony to celebrate Dylan’s impact on the Woodstock area and rock music. colonywoodstock.com

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Grace Potter.
Grace Potter. Nate Payne, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Grace Potter: Mother Road — Port Chester

January 18, 8 p.m.

Potter’s songs from her latest album “Mother Road” fuse blues, rock, country, and soul to tell the story of a recent solo trip that brought on a period of self-exploration and personal growth. thecapitoltheatre.com

Nate Bargatze: The Be Funny Tour — Poughkeepsie

January 20, 4 p.m. & 8 p.m.

Known for his clean and relatable jokes (and labeled “the nicest man in stand-up comedy” by The Atlantic), Nate Bargatze will perform two all-ages sets at the MJN Convention Center as part of The Be Funny Tour. midhudsonciviccenter.org

Snow Day Weekend — Rye

January 20 & 21, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

Visit the Westchester Children’s Museum for a “STEAM winter wonderland.” Kids can participate in an array of activities including building a museum-sized blanket fort, learning about how animals use infrared vision, creating snow-themed sculptures out of play dough, and more. discoverwcm.org

Ukulele Strumalong — Poughkeepsie

January 23, 6 p.m.

Bring your ukulele to the Boardman Road Branch library to jam with players of all abilities. The Hudson Valley Ukulele Society will project music on a big screen for everyone to follow at this free monthly event. meetup.com/hudson-valley-ukulele-society

HVBS Blues Jam — Brewster

January 24, 7–10 p.m.

On the fourth Wednesday each month, the Hudson Valley Blues Society meets for a performance by the Traveling Riverside Blues Band, followed by an open jam. Singers and instrumentalists alike will have a chance to play with the house band and with each other at the Studio Around the Corner. thehvbs.org

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Albany Chefs’ Food & Wine Festival: Wine & Dine for the Arts — Albany

January 25–27

At the Albany Capital Center, you’ll enjoy three days of food and wine events, from tastings and seminars to a slider competition and a grand reception dinner. Net proceeds will be donated to local nonprofit arts organizations. albanywinefest.com

Met HD: Carmen — Kingston and Poughkeepsie

January 27, 1 p.m.

Broadcasting live from the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City to the big screens at both the Ulster Performing Arts Center and the Bardavon, this performance of Bizet’s Carmen adapts the classic score for modern audiences. Arrive 30 minutes early for a pre-opera talk with music reviewer Leslie Gerber. bardavon.org

The Bardavon
Photo courtesy of The Bardavon

Bau Gallery Exhibitions — Beacon

Through January 30

Head to Main Street’s Bau Gallery this month to view two art shows—“Desire Lines: Phantom Geographies” and “Forged in Fire.” The first is a solo exhibition of works on paper by Linda Lauro-Lazin that explores abstraction among digital and analog painting. The second is a collection of work from four wood-fire ceramicists: Barbara Allen, Meg Beaudoin, Sarah Fox, and Eileen Sackman. baugallery.org

Foodie Pop-ups — Round Top

Ongoing

A new global cuisine pop-up is coming to the Catskills. Creative agency The Wild Honey Pie and boutique hotel Glen Falls House are presenting a chef series (dubbed “The Full House”) at Round Top’s Trotwood Restaurant this winter and spring. Chefs from New York City to Los Angeles will take over the kitchen for three-day residencies each week, cooking up apps and entrées in a diverse variety of food styles, including new American, Asian, and Caribbean. Tickets for prix-fixe dinners are available online through Resy; walk-ins are also welcome. For more information and to view the chef roster, visit thewildhoneypie.com or glenfallshouse.com. – Amy Ozols

Related: Here’s What to Do in the Hudson Valley This Week

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