Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer – long days, warm nights and even a beachside ride on an iconic 97-year-old wooden rollercoaster.

On Saturday, May 23, Playland, a designated National Historic Landmark in Rye, will officially re-open for the season with a roar: the re-opening of the revamped Dragon Coaster after being shuttered last year for some much-needed structural upgrades, including new wood rails and bolts.

“Westchester County invested close to $150 million into capital projects to restore the historic beauty of the park,” County executive Ken Jenkins said. “For generations, Playland has been a place where families come together, where childhood memories are made, and where traditions are passed down year after year. This investment is about more than restoring rides and infrastructure, it’s about protecting the history, the character and the spirit that make Playland so special.”

Two accomplished women in their own right, who grew up just steps away from each other in the City of Poughkeepsie, will be officially honored with historical markers this week.

Lee Miller, the noted photographer who posed in Hitler’s bathtub, and Dr. S. Josephine Baker, who helped capture Typhoid Mary, both spent their childhoods living on South Clinton Street in the City of Poughkeepsie.

Sara Josephine Baker was born in Poughkeepsie on November 15, 1873, and lived at 31 South Clinton Street until she was sixteen years old. She planned on attending Vassar College, but couldn’t afford the enrollment following the untimely deaths of her father and brother. She instead took the funds she had and enrolled in a women’s medical college in New York City focusing on women’s health and reducing childhood mortality rates. Her studies eventually led her to a career as a medical inspector with the New York State Department of Health, where she investigated and helped forcibly quarantine Mary Mallon, the woman infamously known as Typhoid Mary. Dr. Baker was also active in the women’s suffrage movement, arguing that “countries which have allowed women the legal power of voting have seen a decrease in their infant mortality, due to women having a say over the conditions of their cities which affect them,” according to a report in a 1915 edition of the Poughkeepsie Eagle.

Elizabeth “Lee” Miller was born in Poughkeepsie on April 23, 1907 and spent her childhood living at 40 South Clinton Street. In 1926, she attended Vassar College for one year before leaving to study painting in New York City. In 1929, she traveled to Paris and opened a studio with the surrealist painter Man Ray, successfully working across Europe as both a photographer and model. In addition to photographing concentration camps and the first recorded use of Napalm during her time on the front lines of World War II, Miller’s most infamous shot was one of herself, taken in Hilter’s bathtub on the night he died.

To commemorate their historic work and impact, the Millbrook Historical Society will unveil two historical markers and host a brief ceremony this Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at 3:30pm at 31 South Street and 40 South Street, where Baker and Miller lived, respectively.

As temperatures rise into the 90s today, New York State officials have extended an air quality alert to include most of the Hudson Valley region.

An air quality health advisory is in effect for Monday, May 18, 2026 from 11am to 11pm for the Hudson Valley – now including Dutchess, Putnam, Orange, Rockland, Ulster, and Westchester counties – as well as the New York City metro area. The extreme heat risk is expected to continue into the day on Tuesday, which will be even warmer than Monday, according to forecasters with the National Weather Service in Albany.

Ozone pollution can cause lead to eye, nose and throat irritation, coughing, chest pain, wheezing or shortness of breath, and may trigger asthma attacks.

When pollution levels are elevated, the New York State Department of Health recommends that “individuals consider limiting strenuous outdoor physical activity to reduce the risk of adverse health effects. People who may be especially sensitive to the effects of elevated levels of pollutants include the very young and those with pre existing respiratory problems such as asthma or heart disease. Those with symptoms should consider consulting their personal physician.”

Following a risk for thunderstorms on Tuesday, temperatures are expected to shift back to spring as a cold front comes through Wednesday night into Thursday, leaving behind highs in the upper 60s and a chance of showers. According to meteorologist Ben Noll, “There could be more than a 50-degree difference between peak temperatures on Tuesday afternoon and low temperatures on Friday morning.”

Beacon Student Film Festival
Monday, May 18, 2026 at 7pm
Cost of admission: $8, $4 students
Bdeacon Theater, 445 Main Street, Beacon
Films by Beacon students in grades six through 12. Website

The Rhinebeck Pedestrian Improvement Project Open House
Wednesday, May 20, 2026 from 7-9pm
Buckley Middle School Cafeteria, 45 North Park Road in Rhinebeck
Discussion on ways to improve pedestrian safety throughout the village; Proposed improvements include upgrading sidewalks and curb ramps to ADA standards, standardizing parking along South Parsonage Street near the Lions Mini Park, and constructing a multi-use trail through the park.

Jazz at Reid Castle | Miles Davis @ 100!
Thursday, May 21, 2026 at 7pm
Cost of admission: $35
2900 Purchase Street, Purchase
Trumpeter Mark Morganelli had the good fortune to meet his musical inspiration, Miles Davis and will pay tribute to the ground-breaking artist who changed music several times over his career. This concert will focus on Miles’s 1950’s output, as reflected in the group’s For Miles CD recorded in Torino, Italy. Website

Guided Landscape Walk of Staatsburgh's Grounds: What You See and What You Don't See
Friday, May 22, 2026 at 10am
Cost of admission: Free with reservations required
Staatsburgh State Historic Site, 75 Mills Mansion Dr., Road # 1, Staatsburg
A guided walk through the estate's grounds that explores how the landscape was designed to reflect the luxurious lifestyle of Staatsburgh's owners, while deliberately hiding the turn-of-the-century technology and labor that made the estate run. Reservations required: Website

Walkway at Night
Friday, May 22, 2026 from 7:30 to 9pm
Cost of admission: $5, free for members and children under 12
Walkway Over the Hudson, Poughkeepsie and Highland
Enjoy Hudson Valley views after dark from 212 feet above the Hudson River. If the weather permits, our friends from the Mid-Hudson Astronomical Association will be in the park with telescopes to help everyone view the night sky. Continues June 26, July 25, July 31, August 21, September 25 and October 24, 2026. RSVP

Bat Bonanza
Friday, May 22, 2026 from 7:30 to 9:30pm
Cost of admission: Free
3006 Seven Lakes Drive, Bear Mountain
Bring a flashlight and join educators from Trailside Museums & Zoo at Bear Mountain State Park for a free family-friendly educational program about Bats! Learn about the fascinating nocturnal lives of local bats, use our bat detector to identify bats as they fly overhead, and have some nighttime fun with bat-themed crafts and games! Meet at the Bear Mountain Inn. Registration required: Website

Northeast Dutchess Community Day
Saturday, May 23, 2026
Cost of admission: Free for residents of northeast Dutchess County*
Innisfree Garden, Millbrook
Wander the gardens of Innisfree, take part in a springtime Qigong and watch The Great Pollinator Ramble as the garden transforms into a living pollinator landscape filled with larger-than-life puppets, roaming pollinators, and surprises for visitors of all ages. *Free admission for residents of Amenia, Clinton Corners, Dover Plains, Millbrook, Millerton, North East, Pine Plains, Pleasant Valley, Stanford, Washington, Wassaic, and Wingdale. Proof of residency is required upon arrival. Visitors from outside these communities are welcome to attend with regular garden admission: $10 for adults, $5 for seniors and children, and free for Innisfree members. Advance registration is strongly encouraged and appreciated. Website

Teatown ¡en español!
Saturday, May 23 and Saturday, June 13, 2026 from 10am to noon
Ven y aprende sobre la naturaleza que vive en Teatown, guiada completamente en español. Cada salida tendrá un tema diferente, tales como Los Anfíbios y Reptiles, Insectos, Identificación de Árboles, Los Flores de Primavera, ¡y más! Miembros: $10 por familia; No miembros: $15 por familia. Registre para el 23 de mayo aquí and el 13 de junio aquí. Registre para el 23 de mayo aquí and el 13 de junio aquí. (Teatown invites families to come learn about nature with a guided tour in Spanish. Each stop will have a different theme, such as amphibians & reptiles, insects, tree identification, spring flowers and more. Registration costs $10 per family for members and $15 per family for non-members. Registration for Saturday, May 23 here and Saturday, June 13 here.)

World War II Military Displays
May 23-24, 2026 from 10am to 4pm
Cost of admission: Free
FDR Library Great Lawn, Hyde Park
Period military vehicles of all sizes and soldiers in battle dress will be on hand to share their love of World War II history. Website

Historic Toys and Games at Staatsburgh
Saturday, May 23, 2026 from 11am to 3pm
Cost of admission: Free
Staatsburgh State Historic Site, 75 Mills Mansion Dr., Road # 1, Staatsburg
Providing a delightful experience of bygone times, Dawn Elliot's historic toys and games have been a highlight of events at many historic sites and museums. Everyone is invited to experience a variety of lawn games, board games, or simply play with toys. Reservations recommended: RSVP.

Distant Lands at Ligenza Moore Gallery and Sculpture Gardens
Saturday, May 23, 2026 - Sunday, July 26, 2026 from noon to 5pm
Cost of admission: Free
78 Trout Brook Rd, Cold Spring
Ligenza Moore Gallery and Sculpture Gardens opens its second season with Distant Lands, a group exhibition. Bringing together works by 20 artists including James Biederman, Katherine Bradford, Judy Pfaff, Chris Martin, Grace Knowlton, and Stephen Westfall, the exhibition explores the idea of “distant lands” as internal landscapes shaped by memory, experience, and imagination. The gallery is open Saturdays and Sundays from 12-5pm. Website

Guided Hike: History Hidden in the Woods
Sunday, May 24, 2026 at 10am
Cost of admission: Free
Staatsburgh State Historic Site, 75 Mills Mansion Dr., Road # 1, Staatsburg
Have you ever wondered what some of the ruins within Mills-Norrie State Park might be? The beautiful park land was once the setting for grand Hudson Riverfront estates. This 90-minute guided hike will lead visitors through the park, exploring the history of three estates: from Staatsburgh's founding as a gentleman's farm in the 1700s to the development of The Point and Stonehurst estates in the 19th century. The hike is approximately 1.5 miles of uneven terrain, requiring sturdy footwear. Reservations required: RSVP

American Ballet Theatre Studio Company
Sunday, May 24, 2026 at 2pm
Cost of admission: $25 and up
Kaatsbaan Cultural Park, Tivoli
A dynamic program featuring the next generation of ballet stars with both classical and contemporary works. Tickets

Honor our fallen armed forces with parades and ceremonies throughout the region.

Lilacs are blooming around the region, and at Clermont State Historic Site in Germantown, most of the magnolia collection has finished blooming, but lennei magnolia is still in full bloom. Umbrella magnolias are budding and will be blooming in the next couple of weeks. While some of Clermont’s earliest blooming lilacs are just beginning to fade, most are still in full bloom and the later blooming lilacs such as the littleleaf lilac have just started to open their buds. Additionally, Clermont's extensive iris and peonies collections are just starting to bloom. See for yourself with upcoming events including Digging Deeper: Alice Livingston and the Making of Clermont’s Historic Gardens, on May 23.

Capture spring around the Hudson Valley and submit your (1) best photo to photos@hvny.info. Original photographs from 2026 only. Please limit any filters/retouching, and include your full name + location, if it’s a public place.