Festivals

Soft and Sweet

Rosehaven Alpaca Festival, Sept 4

Part of the Bethel Woods Harvest Festival, this celebration of a funny, furry animal is not to be missed. Raised in the Catskills at the Rosehaven Farm, these creatures provide some of the softest fleece around. Festival-goers have the opportunity to get the know them, and ask their owners questions about them. Products made from the alpacas’ coats are available for sale, as are goods from other local vendors at a crafts village. Live music and a farmers’ market go on throughout the day as well. 

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11 am-4 pm, Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, 200 Hurd Rd, Bethel; 866.781.2922 

Time Travelers

New York Renaissance Faire, Aug 6-Oct 2

Visitors step back in time to the days of yore when knights slew dragons in order to win the hands of fair maidens. Guests stroll through shops hawking everything from handmade knives and candles to period-appropriate clothing and hand-blown glass. Expert performers engage in Shakespeare recitations as well as daring feats like fire-eating and live jousting. One of the most fun aspects are weekends designated for specific cosplay themes, where guests are encouraged to come dressed in their best costume. The first autumn weekend (Sept 3-5) calls for dragons, fairies, and even barbarians, while, on the following weekend (Sept 10-11), looks for pirates (there’s even a pirate parade). And we’d be remiss not to mention Oktoberfest weekend on October 1-2, when the Faire honors — and offers selections from — some of the finest local breweries.

10 am-7 pm, 600 Rte 17A, Tuxedo Park; 845.351.5171

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Area Adventures

Hudson River Valley Ramble, Weekends in Sept

Every year, about 55,000 people partake in the Ramble for dozens of events, from music festivals and museum tours to hikes and stand-up paddle-boarding, which happen on each riverbank and span all 10 counties. One of the Ramble’s unique events is the Lighthouse to Lighthouse Challenge (Sept 24), which is open to anyone with a human-powered, water-worthy vessel. Rowers go first to the Rondout Lighthouse and then the Esopus Meadows Lighthouse for walking tours. There’s also a traditional outdoor tea ceremony at Inisfree Garden (Sept 10) and a tour of a Victorian-style print shop and letterpress (Sept 17).

518.473.3835

Made With Love

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Fall Crafts at Lyndhurst, Sept 16-18

This popular semi-annual event gathers some 300 artists, designers, and craftspeople. Festival-goers can hobnob with emerging and established artists while strolling the 67 acres of the Lyndhurst historic property. They can also dance to live music, create their own Shibumi silk scarves, watch and participate in pottery and wood-turning demonstrations, and enjoy delicious foods, some of which are vegetarian- and vegan-friendly as well as gluten-free. 

Sat, 10 am-6 pm; Fri, Sun, 10 am-5 pm, 635 S Broadway, Tarrytown; 845.331.7900 

Wine and Spirits and Food, Oh My!

Hudson Valley Wine and Food Fest, Sept 10-11

More than 60 wineries come from all over the Valley and New York State with samples for tasting and, of course, bottles for sale. Beer, cider, and spirits aren’t to be left out as three breweries, five cideries, and 10 distilleries have good representation, too. In addition, some of the area’s finest food trucks serve up scrumptious snacks. When not sampling something delicious, visitors can shop at vendor stalls, listen to live music, or watch cooking demonstrations.

Sat, 11 am-6 pm; Sun, 11 am-5 pm, Dutchess County Fairgrounds, 6550 Spring Brook Ave, Rhinebeck; 845.658.7181

Apples, Apples All Around

Warwick Valley Applefest, Oct 2

This one-day event, which started small in 1989, is now Orange County’s largest festival, regularly drawing more than 30,000 apple enthusiasts. With more than 200 vendors, there is plenty to get visitors’ mouths watering. Guests can also do a little shopping in the Village of Warwick in between bites. Kids (and adults, too—who are we kidding?) love the carnival and live entertainment, as well as the perennial favorite apple-pie-baking contest. 

2 Bank St, Warwick


 

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