Tour a grand Gilded Age estate, discover free art in New Paltz, celebrate Jerry Garcia in Woodstock, and spend a summer afternoon among the orchards.
After Wednesday's extraordinary rain and flooding, many of us are ready for a weekend that feels a little more normal. We took another look at this week's recommendations, updated the lineup, and focused on places and experiences that celebrate everything we love about the Hudson Valley.
Whether you're looking for live music, local flavors, art, history, or simply an excuse to get out and explore, we hope this week's guide helps you reconnect with the places that make this region so special.
Explore the Hudson Valley
A free art escape and one of the Hudson Valley's grandest under-the-radar historic estates.
Find a Free Art Escape at The Dorsky
SUNY New Paltz
The Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art is one of the region's most rewarding under-the-radar cultural stops. Its current exhibition, In Our Time: R. B. Kitaj and Books, explores the artist's lifelong relationship with literature, history, and the visual power of the printed page.
Why we recommend it: It is free, easy to pair with lunch or a walk through New Paltz, and substantial enough to feel like a true Hudson Valley discovery.
Open Wednesday–Sunday, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. · Free admission · Plan your visit
Step Inside One of the Hudson Valley's Grandest Hidden Estates
Staatsburgh State Historic Site · Hyde Park
While many visitors head to nearby Vanderbilt or the Roosevelt estate, Staatsburgh remains one of the Hudson Valley's best-kept secrets. This beautifully preserved 79-room Gilded Age mansion was once the country home of Ruth and Ogden Mills. Today, guided tours lead visitors through grand staircases, elegant ballrooms, original furnishings, and breathtaking Hudson River views.
Why we recommend it: It feels like stepping into another era without the crowds. If you've never toured Staatsburgh, this is the perfect weekend to discover one of the Hudson Valley's most spectacular historic homes.
Mansion tours Thursday–Sunday by reservation · Grounds open daily · Plan your visit
This Weekend
Our favorite things happening around the Hudson Valley this weekend.
Jerry Garcia's Birthday with The Garcia Project
Bearsville Theater · Woodstock
The Garcia Project returns with a full evening devoted to the classic Jerry Garcia Band sound, faithfully recreating the arrangements, feel, and era-specific details that made those shows so beloved.
Why we recommend it: This one feels close to home: a Woodstock venue and a deeply knowledgeable band. Whether you're a lifelong Deadhead or discovering the music for the first time, there's no better place to celebrate Jerry Garcia's legacy than Woodstock.
Saturday, August 1 · Doors 7 p.m.; show 8 p.m. · Tickets and information
Three New Exhibitions Open at ASK
Arts Society of Kingston · Rondout
ASK opens three new exhibitions in one night: Natalya Khorover's Reclaimed Light, Mended Worlds, Ken Wenger's The Space Between Seeing and Feeling, and the member exhibition Essence of Abstraction.
The opening is free, local, and genuinely easy to make part of a Friday night on the Rondout. It is also a chance to see several distinct bodies of work without committing to a formal museum visit.
Opening reception Friday, July 31, 6–8 p.m. · Free · Exhibitions continue through August 30 · Event details
Summer Cider Party at Fishkill Farms
Fishkill Farms · Hopewell Junction
Celebrate the first weekend of August among the orchards with handcrafted Treasury Cider made from fruit grown, pressed, and fermented right on the farm. The weekend includes tasting flights, seasonal cider cocktails, farm views, and live music.
There's something quintessentially Hudson Valley about spending an afternoon at an orchard with local cider, live music, and mountain views. Check the farm's event page before traveling in case weather affects any programming.
Saturday, August 1 and Sunday, August 2, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. · Event details
Plan Ahead
A scenic multi-day ride and a major fall celebration of Hudson Valley food and drink.
Cycle the Hudson Valley
Empire State Trail through the Hudson Valley
This fully supported, multi-day bicycle tour follows the Empire State Trail through scenic river communities, historic landscapes, and some of the region's most memorable stretches of trail.
Why we recommend it: It is an immersive way to experience the Hudson Valley rather than simply drive through it. Registration includes campsites, meals, rest stops, route guidance, gear transport, and support vehicles.
August 3–8 · Registration is open · Tour details and registration
Hudson Valley Wine & Food Festival
Dutchess County Fairgrounds · Rhinebeck
The festival returns for a full weekend of regional wine, cider, spirits, craft beverages, artisan foods, demonstrations, shopping, and live entertainment.
Why we recommend it: It is a broad celebration of the growers, producers, makers, and flavors that define the Hudson Valley. Planning ahead gives you time to choose the right ticket and make a full Rhinebeck weekend of it.
September 12–13 · Tickets and festival information
On Our Radar
Curated each week by the Radio Woodstock team. We will be back next Thursday with more places to explore, concerts to catch, restaurants to try, and hidden gems from across the Hudson Valley.
—The Radio Woodstock Team