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September is full of things to do in the Hudson Valley, with top picks ranging from a hot air balloon fest to an arts and crafts fair.
Unveiled: Wedding Wear in 19th Century New York — Albany
Through September
Featuring the outfits of select New Yorkers, this exhibition at the New York State Museum will explore altar fashion throughout the 1800s.
nysm.nysed.gov
Nocturnal Medicine Harvest Festival — Saugerties
September 2, 5:30 p.m.
Design studio Nocturnal Medicine believes there’s a rift between humans and nature. This ceremony connects the audience with rhythms of the season and environmental realities.
opus40.org
Courtesy of Hudson Valley Hot Air Balloon Festival
Hudson Valley Hot Air Balloon Festival — Union Vale
September 2–4, 5:30–9 a.m. and 2:30–8:30 p.m.
Watch dozens of brightly colored hot air balloons take flight as the sun comes up over Tymor Park, then return at night for fireworks, illuminated balloon shows, and live music.
dcrcoc.org
Capital District Scottish Games — Altamont
September 3
This festival returns to the Altamont Fairgrounds for a day packed with competitions, vendors, and Scottish pride. Immerse yourself in culture by watching a pipe band perform, a stone-throwing challenge, a dog show featuring Scottish breeds, and more.
scotgames.com
Courtesy Woodstock-New Paltz Arts & Crafts Fair
Woodstock-New Paltz Arts & Crafts Fair — New Paltz
September 3–5, 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m.; Monday until 4 p.m.
One of the top arts and craft shows in the region, this fair features over 100 makers’ creations from ceramics and glass to fiber and leather. Plus there’s a full food court, with everything from Jamaican jerk chicken to sweet crêpes. Parking is free, and tickets are available here.
Dance on the Deck — West Park
September 4, 4–10 p.m.
Presented by Out Loud Hudson Valley, join the LGBTQ+-owned collective on the Hudson House and Distillery’s deck overlooking the river for their monthly tea dance—an afternoon of meeting new people and dancing to DJ-provided tunes.
outloudhudsonvalley.com
Cornwall-on-Hudson Bandstand Concert Series — Cornwall-on-Hudson
Tuesdays in September, 6–7:30 p.m.
Bring your own lawn chair or picnic blanket to these free Tuesday night concerts in Village Square—there’s a different genre every week! The Tonebenders—a sextet—will start off the first concert on September 6 with classic and current hits.
cornwall-on-hudson.org
How About Them NY Apples — Hudson
September 10, 4–5 p.m.
A collaboration between Nine Pin Cider Works and Samascott Orchards, this tour of Olana State Historic Site’s orchard will teach you about growing apples, making cider, and the impact of sourcing local.
olana.org
Courtesy of The Bardavon
Henry Rollins: Good to See You 2022 — Poughkeepsie
September 17, 8 p.m.
Punk rock icon, spoken word poet, author; Henry Rollins is many things, but for this tour, he is a storyteller. Coming to The Bardavon for one night only, the former frontman of punk rock band Black Flag recounts tales of his life since 2020 in a way that is equal parts comedic, political, and motivational.
bardavon.org
PKX Art Festival — Poughkeepsie
September 15–17
As part of the 10-year plan to establish a youth arts district on Main Street, art activities, local food vendors, and a juried show all about sensory excess (titled “Wonderland”) will take place in and around the Trolley Barn Gallery.
thearteffect.org
Phoenix Festival — Nyack Weekends starting
September 16
Don’t miss this celebration of outdoor arts and culture spanning across three venues and the crossroads of Main Street and Broadway. Performances include children’s Shakespeare, short films, and the Rockland Symphony Orchestra.
nyackartsfestival.com
Albany Book Festival — Albany
September 17, 10:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
Calling all reading enthusiasts: the NYS Writers Institute presents a day full of writing and publishing workshops, plus talks from local and world-renowned authors. Hosted at University at Albany.
albanybookfestival.com
Hudson Valley Rodeo — Amenia
September 17
Enjoy a day on the ranch right here in the HV. Following their first sold-out year, the Hudson Valley Rodeo is back in the saddle on Saturday, September 17, at Silo Ridge Field Club in Amenia. Bring the family to watch barrel racing, roping, and of course, bull riding. There will be plenty of food trucks, vendors, face painters, and more fun on the range. Stick around after the rodeo for a concert by multi-Platinum country artist Brett Young. The festivities start at high noon—all proceeds will benefit the Amenia-Wassaic Community Organization and its programs. For tickets and more info visit hudsonvalleyrodeo.com. – Megan Ashcroft
The Flavors of Haverstraw Food Crawl — Haverstraw
September 18, 1–5 p.m.
Celebrate the diverse cuisine of the area by walking the streets of downtown and sampling tapas-style, small plate tastings from over 15 participating restaurants. Live music will be ongoing. Plus: if you live across the river, the ferry from Ossining to Haverstraw will be running for the entirety of the festival.
haverstrawriverwidearts.org
Taylor Tomlinson: New Ideas Summer Tour — West Nyack
September 23–24
Look forward to tight joke writing and laugh-out-loud acting from this breakout comedian. After a long theater tour (and the release of her latest hilarious Netflix special “Look at You”), her return to comedy clubs is highly anticipated!
levitylive.com
Related: An Insider’s Guide to September Events in the Hudson Valley