It’s fair week in Dutchess County – one of the largest county fairs in the state – but before you line up for that 4H milkshake or fried pickle (that’ll be me), make sure you have the basic fair facts from hours to admission fees (cheaper online with ride wristbands extra), to unauthorized ticket sales, a hand-stamp to return, free shows once you’re in, and more:

• The 180th Dutchess County Fair runs Tuesday, August 25 through Sunday, August 30, 2026

• Hours are Tuesday through Sunday from 10am to 10pm, and Sunday 10am to 8pm.

• Admission is $20 at the gate, $40 ride all day wristbands ($15, $30 in advance online, through 12am August 25 only). Admission is free for kids under 11.

• You either need a Ride All Day Wristband or ride tickets to go on midway rides. Ride All Day Wristbands ($40) are good for one day only during the fair. Wristbands do not include general admission fees. Riders purchasing a wristband must be at least 36” tall. Shared or broken wristbands will not be accepted on any ride. Advanced sale wristband vouchers can be redeemed at any Power’s Carnival Ticket Booth.

• Be aware of unauthorized ticket sales. Fairground officials say: Tickets provided by ETIX for the Dutchess Fair are the ONLY authorized outlet for tickets to Dutchess County Fairgrounds events and performances. Tickets purchased from any other sources, such as brokers or secondary market websites, are purchased at your own risk. We urge patrons to purchase tickets only from the Dutchess County Fairgrounds website. By purchasing from the official ticket provider, you are assured that the ticket you receive is valid and being sold to you at face value.

• Parking is free! And there is plenty in the fairgrounds lot. Just follow the signs and fair-only traffic lane on Route 9. GPS address: 6636 Springbrook Avenue, Rhinebeck.

• You can leave the fairgrounds and return – just get your hand stamped at the gate.

• Leave your pets at home! And please, do not leave them in your car either. Registered service animals only. Any dog left in a vehicle will be turned over to the local authorities/dog warden at the expense of the owner.

• There is no smoking anywhere on the facility.

• All entrances are handicap accessible. You can also rent a wheelchair or scooter onsite, available on a first come, first served basis.

• Looking for a bathroom? Look down! Yellow lines on the pavement throughout the fairgrounds will lead you to the nearest restroom.

• Lose something? All lost and found articles can be turned in or claimed at the State Police Command Center located next to the Main Restrooms and First Aid building (Map #9).

• Lost..a kid? Lost children can be found in the Safe Kid’s Place which is located next to the First Aid Station next to the main restrooms.

• Need to recharge? Cell phone charging stations are located near the main restrooms and near the food mall pavilion.

• The fair is rain or shine! Come prepared either way.

Good news for those hoping for one last mid-week dip at Lake Sophia in Kingston – despite word last week that swim hours would be cut to weekends-only, as of this morning, officials confirmed with HVNY that swimming hours will remain unchanged through the rest of the season.

“This time of year, all swimming areas have challenges finding lifeguards. Fortunately, our water safety crew did some amazing work to cover our gaps when at first we thought it wouldn’t be possible.”

The last day to swim at Lake Sophia is Labor Day, Monday, September 7. Sojourner Truth State Park, the home of Lake Sophia, is open year-round from dawn to dusk.

180th Dutchess County Fair
August 25-30, 2026
Dutchess County Fairgrounds, Rhinebeck
Midway rides, Grandstand concerts, livestock shows, fair food and more. Website

Curious Cubs Story Time
Tuesdays through August 25, 2026 from 10:30 to 11:30am
Cost of admission: Free
Trailside Museums and Zoo's Amphitheater, 3006 Seven Lakes Drive, Bear Mountain
Do you have a curious cub? Would you like to spend more time in nature? Well, then we’ve got the program for you! Join Trailside Museums and Zoo Educators at the amphitheater for a free morning story time highlighting wildlife in our area. Some story times will feature puppet appearances, a craft, and even a chance to touch real animal fur! Recommended for children 5 and under. No registration required. Website

New York Health Act Town Halls
Continues Tuesday, August 25, 2026 at 6pm
Rosendale
New York State Assemblymember Sarahana Shrestha will talk about the state legislation that would “provide universal healthcare coverage, eliminate co-pays, deductions, premiums and provider networks, as well as eliminate counties’ share of Medicaid costs.” Continues August 27 at 6pm in the Town of Esopus, August 30 at 2:30pm in Woodstock, September 1 at 6pm in New Paltz, September 3 at 6pm in Saugerties. Website

Historic Huguenot Street Tours
August 26-30, 2026
Cost of admission: Free for New Paltz residents
Historic Huguenot Street, New Paltz
Free guided tours, hands-on exhibits, and tales of local history. Registration for guided tours is available at www.huguenotstreet.org/visit; pre-registration is highly encouraged. New Paltz residents can select the “New Paltz Resident Free Tour Ticket” option for tours scheduled on August 26-30. Proof of residency, such as a driver’s license or piece of mail with the registrant’s name and address on it, must be provided at check-in. Please arrive at least five minutes before tour time; patrons who arrive after the start of their tour may lose their spot to other interested patrons.

A Virtual Trip to 19th Century Main Street
Wednesday, August 26, 2026 at 6pm
Virtual
Travel back in time to visit Poughkeepsie over 100 years ago. This presentation will give you a perspective of what life on Main Street was like during the mid-19th Century to early 20th Century. This is a continuation from part one, and will begin at 292 Main Street (C. H. Gallup Photography / the Elting Bulding). It will also feature Luckey, Platt & Co. and other various fixtures of the era. Registration required: Website

Summer Hoot
August 28-30, 2026
The Ashokan Center, Olivebridge
This all-ages festival features nationally acclaimed artists including The Milk Carton Kids, Tuba Skinny, The Mammals, Gail Ann Dorsey, Chatham County Line, and many more. Website

Inventory Opening Reception
Friday, August 28, 2026 from 6 to 8pm
Women’s Studio Workshop, 722 Binnewater Lane, Kingston
a group exhibition highlighting the work of Ruth Marks, Daniella Porras, and Heidi Tejeda Mata. In this exhibition, Marks, Porras, and Tejeda Mata consider existence during times of transition and temporary placehood. On view through September 4, 2026. Website

Voices of Revolution 250 Lecture Series: You Never Forget Your First
Friday, August 28, 2026 at 6:30pm
Cost of admission: Free
Senate House State Historic Site, 296 Fair Street, Kingston
Presidential historian, senior fellow at New America, inaugural American history columnist at the New York Times Book Review, and New York Times bestselling author Alexis Coe will speak about her hit book You Never Forget Your First: A Biography of George Washington offering her unique perspective on the founding father. This lecture is free and will take place in the Senate House State Historic Site's Museum Building. No reservations required.

These Hot August Nights Story Slam
Friday, August 28, 2026 with doors at 7pm show at 7:30pm
Cost: Update – Sold out!
Maverick Concerts, Woodstock
20 storytellers, 4 minute stories, 3 judges and 1 gong! Tickets

Crime on the Hudson: Gilded Age Pirates and River Thieves
Friday, August 28, 2026 at 7:30pm
Cost of admission: $28
Hudson River Maritime Museum, 50 Rondout Landing, Kingston
Do you ever wonder if there were actual pirates on the Hudson River? Come and learn about a wild chapter in Hudson River history when mercenary sloops prowled the waterway, raiding mansions and plundering merchant ships. Who were these river outlaws stirring up chaos…and how did local communities and the law fight back? The evening will begin with a brief lecture on the real and sometimes legendary criminal activity along the Hudson in the 1860s and 1870s, followed by an immersive performance starring the era’s most infamous characters in the flesh, including the mysterious young woman rumored to have led a notorious Lower Manhattan gang. Watch as she is put on trial for her alleged crimes. Is she guilty? How does her story end? Who decides her fate? This special event weaves scholarship and storytelling, created and presented by HRMM’s Education Department in collaboration with Siren Theatre Company. Registration strongly recommended; walk in space is not guaranteed. Website

Kingston Calling: Battle of the Bands
Friday, August 28, 2026 at 8pm
Cost of admission: $20
Assembly, 236 Wall Street, Kingston
A showcase and competition featuring the best bands in the region. Tickets

Kaatsbaan 2026 Annual Festival Season Opener
August 29, September 5 and September 12, 2026
Kaatsbaan Cultural Park, Tivoli
Each Saturday will feature a distinct lineup and focus: August 29: The festival opener is an all-day celebration filled with live music and geared towards all ages. Dance performances by Calpulli Danza Mexicana, Ballez, and Anna Sperber, and an evening concert by Valerie June. Website

Grow Well Kingston Garden Tour
Saturday, August 29, 2026 from 9am to noon
Cost of admission: Free
Tour starts at Urban Greens Garden, 22 Elmendorph Street, Kingston
Visit five community gardens in Kingston: the Urban Greens Garden, Harambee Heritage, Barmann Park, Kingston YMCA Farm Project and the GW Elementary School Garden. Meet the garden stewards, share the love of gardening and meet new neighbors. Tour is four miles via bicycle but it’s not required. (If you need to borrow a bicycle or helmet, email eflynn@kingston-ny.gov or (845) 334 - 3909.

Insects, Native Plants & Ecological Health
Saturday, August 29, 2026 from 10 to 11:30am
Cost of admission: Free
274 Normung Rd., Ghent
Join a talk and walk around the nursery with Kyle Bradford of the Hawthorne Valley Farmscape Ecology Program on their new Insect Conservation Center and the essential role native plants play in ecological health. Website

Artists in the Garden – Juried Exhibition & Artists Live Demonstrations in Beatrix Farrand Garden
Saturday, August 29, 2026 from 10am to 5pm
Cost of admission: Free
FDR National Historic Site, Wallace Center, 4097 Albany Post Road, Hyde Park
BFGA will present the annual, free Artists in the Garden Juried Exhibition featuring nature-themed artwork created in or inspired by the Beatrix Farrand Garden, celebrating the beauty, complexity, and restorative value of nature. The Juried Exhibition will be open from 10 to 5 at the Wallace Center, adjacent to the Beatrix Farrand Garden. Works in the exhibit will include oil, acrylic, watercolor paintings, drawings, photography, pottery, and mixed media. Subjects will include garden scenes, wildlife, botanical art, and national parks. Twenty local, highly talented artists will be featured, as well as a few budding young artists. Visitors can also enjoy slowly strolling through the garden and watching multiple local artists giving live demonstrations of their various artistic talents – painting, sketching, photography, and more. Garden visitors, both adults and children, can observe the artists, from 10 to 4, ask questions, learn and enjoy – and are welcome to bring their own supplies and try their hand! Several artists will offer hands-on demonstrations. Bring families, enjoy a day of spectacular artwork, be inspired, stay for the evening chamber concert that will have a kids-up-front pre-concert. RSVP

CoSM August Full Moon Gathering
Saturday, August 29, 2026 from 6pm to midnight
Cost of admission: $30
Chapel of Sacred Mirrors, 65 Deer Hill Road, Wappingers Falls
Celebrate the August Full Moon at CoSM with a full day of connection, creativity, and ceremony. During the day, enjoy a Members BBQ and an immersive Sound Journey Workshop (workshop admission includes entry to the evening gathering). As the sun sets, join Alex and Allyson Grey for a Full Moon Ceremony exploring this month's theme, Community, followed by live music from Root Flute, creative activations, and time to explore Entheon, the Grey House, and CoSM's grounds. This alcohol-free gathering offers a meaningful opportunity to connect, create, and celebrate together. Website

Chamber Music Churchtown: 2026 Concert Season
August 29-September 6, 2026
Cost of admission: $95
Churchtown Dairy, 357 County Rt. 12, Hudson
Each summer, when the cows move to pasture, the barn is transformed into a luminous chamber music hall – an experience unlike any other. The only music festival in the world set on a working dairy farm, where music, landscape, and community come together in a truly singular way. This season expands to five concerts, welcoming both returning artists and exciting new musicians for programs of exceptional chamber music. Website

Poughkeepsie Farm Project Summer Soiree
Sunday, August 30, 2026 from 4 to 7pm
Cost of admission: $160
58 Parker Avenue, Poughkeepsie
Some evenings are worth savoring. Join us at the gorgeous Scenic Hudson Northside Hub for a summer celebration unlike anything we've hosted before: an evening of culinary artistry, good company, and the farms and fields that make the Hudson Valley extraordinary. Our Summer Soiree is a dine-around experience, where guests move freely through beautifully appointed stations, each one curated by a celebrated local chef. Expect thoughtful and delicious small plates crafted at the height of the season. Every ticket directly supports the Poughkeepsie Farm Project's work growing food, building community, and creating opportunity right here in our city. Come hungry. Come ready to celebrate what's possible for sustainable farming in the Hudson Valley! Tickets

To enter: Email your (1) best photo of summer in the Hudson Valley from this year to photos@hvny.info. Original photographs from 2026 only. Please limit filters/retouching, and include your full name and location, if it’s a public place.