Explore the Hudson Valley

Art history in Catskill and a new place to gather beneath the Shawangunk Ridge.

Photo courtesy of the Thomas Cole National Historic Site.

See the Hudson Valley Through Thomas Cole’s Eyes

Thomas Cole National Historic Site · Catskill

Step onto the porch of Cedar Grove and the whole Hudson River School story suddenly makes sense. Thomas Cole’s home and studios preserve the place where the painter helped define an American vision of landscape, with original works, changing exhibitions, immersive installations, and the Catskill Mountain view that fueled it all.

Why we recommend it: This is history, art, and a beautiful river-town outing in one stop. If the weather turns, spend more time in the historic buildings; if it holds, continue onto the grounds or the Hudson River Skywalk.

Wednesday–Sunday, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. · Grounds open daily and free · Plan your visit

Photo courtesy of Full Circle Commons.

Come Full Circle in Gardiner

Full Circle Commons · Gardiner

Nestled beneath the Shawangunk Ridge, Full Circle Commons brings food, outdoor culture, creativity, and community together on one welcoming campus. Start with artisan breads, pastries, and coffee from Gardiner Bakehouse; settle in for locally inspired food and drinks at Benton Beer Garden; add a scoop from Daisy’s Ice Cream; or connect with Hudson Valley Trailworks before your next outdoor adventure. The Living Room anchors the cultural side with live music, storytelling, workshops, and special events.

Why we recommend it: This is more than a collection of businesses. Full Circle is designed around shared green space and the simple pleasure of spending time together—the kind of place where a quick coffee can easily become an unhurried afternoon.

297 Bruynswick Road, Gardiner · Individual business hours vary · Explore Full Circle and see upcoming events

This Weekend

A groove-forward club show, a homegrown street festival, and independent cinema on both sides of the river.

Photo by Jack Karnatz.

Neal Francis Turns Bearsville Into a Dance Floor

Bearsville Theater · Woodstock

Chicago singer, songwriter, and pianist Neal Francis brings Return To Zero to Bearsville, folding timeless rock ’n’ roll, heavy guitar riffs, classic funk, and ’70s-era dance music into a warm, groove-forward sound built without digital programming. California singer-songwriter Pearl Charles opens the night.

Why we recommend it: This is the kind of booking we love: an original artist with a rapidly growing audience in a room small enough to feel every piano run and rhythmic turn. Francis has sold out headline shows around the world and shared stages with Wilco, Black Pumas, and My Morning Jacket.

Saturday, August 8 · Doors at 7 p.m.; show at 8 p.m. · Tickets $39.65–$60.15 · Tickets and information

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  Photo by Julie O’Connor.

  Taste Summer at the Ellenville Blueberry Festival

  Canal Street and Liberty Square · Ellenville

  Downtown Ellenville turns blue for the 37th annual festival, filling the streets with food, arts-and-crafts vendors, live entertainment, a free kids’ zone, and plenty of berry-forward treats. Amateur bakers can enter the blueberry muffin contest, while younger visitors can take on the blueberry donut eating contest.

  Why we recommend it: It is the kind of homegrown street festival that shows off a town at its most welcoming. Come hungry, browse the local makers, and make a day of exploring the western edge of Ulster County.

  Saturday, August 8 · 9 a.m.–4 p.m. · Free admission · Festival details

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  Image courtesy of the Hudson Film Festival.

  Follow the Hudson Film Festival Across the River

  Hudson and Catskill

  The fourth annual Hudson Film Festival expands across both Hudson and Catskill with independent features, filmmaker spotlights, short-film showcases, parties, and repertory favorites. Friday includes Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away; Saturday moves through documentary, local filmmaking, and late-night shorts; Sunday closes with two features.

  Why we recommend it: It is a smart storm-proof option and a chance to experience several of the region’s independent cultural spaces in one weekend.

  Thursday–Sunday, August 6–9 · Multiple venues and times · Full schedule and tickets

Plan Ahead

Two late-summer experiences worth putting on the calendar now.

Photo courtesy of Sun Ra Arkestra and Storm King Art Center.

Sun Ra Arkestra Lands at Storm King

Storm King Art Center · Mountainville

Sun Ra Arkestra brings its mix of big-band swing, space-age jazz, singing, dancing, chanting, and Afro-pageantry to Storm King’s monumental outdoor landscape, with an opening set from artist, filmmaker, and DJ Ephraim Asili.

Why we recommend it: Few summer bookings match artist and setting this perfectly. The Arkestra’s colorful, cosmic spectacle should feel right at home among Storm King’s enormous sculptures and rolling fields.

Saturday, August 15 · Doors at 5 p.m.; performance at 6:45 p.m. · $50 adults; $10 youth ages 14 and under · Advance tickets required · Tickets and information

Image courtesy of Chef Maur.

The Radio Woodstock Homegrown Harvest Dinner

Taliaferro Farms · New Paltz

Join Radio Woodstock for an elevated, Spanish-inspired evening that begins with a guided farm tour and continues with a seasonal five-course farm-to-table dinner crafted by world-renowned chef Marion Maur. The experience includes curated wine pairings from Red Maple Vineyard and live music from Homegrown artist Joe Colwell.

Why we recommend it: This is Radio Woodstock’s homegrown spirit brought to the table—local agriculture, thoughtful cooking, Hudson Valley wine, and live music gathered beneath the Shawangunks for one memorable late-summer evening.

Sunday, August 30 · 6–9 p.m. · Presented by Farmer’s Choice Dispensary, with support from Red Maple Vineyard and WYLD Cannabis · Tickets and information

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