Road closed as filming for Paramount Pictures production begins this week

The Dutchess County Department of Public Works has announced a section of West Dover Road (County Route 20), located in the towns of Dover and Pawling, will be closed from Thursday, July 23 through Sunday, August 9, 2026 for a Paramount Pictures feature film production.

The film production is a closed set, and the road is scheduled to be re-opened to all traffic on Monday, August 10, 2026.

The closure includes a quarter-mile section of West Dover Road near Blackberry Road, with a detour posted redirecting traffic over Route 22 via Pleasant Ridge Road and River Road.

Residents will have full access to their properties throughout the production. Emergency services and postal services have been notified of the closure to ensure emergency services remain accessible.

That same area of West Dover Road near Blackberry Road was previously closed to film the John Krasinski-directed horror-thriller, “A Quiet Place,” in 2017 and its sequel in 2019. According to local officials, the title of the upcoming project to be filmed at the site is called “Little Falls,” though there is speculation that this could be related to the final installment in the “Quiet Place” series, which began production in May 2026; Scenes for “A Quiet Place III” were shot last week in Durham, Greene County.

“Productions like this bring real economic and promotional benefits to Dutchess County, showcasing the beauty and character of our area and bringing millions of dollars into our local communities,” Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino said. “The benefits last long after filming wraps as these productions showcase our communities to wider audiences and support future tourism and investment.”

“We understand the road closure can cause some inconvenience for nearby residents,” Serino added. “We appreciate everyone’s patience and cooperation as we make this exciting opportunity possible.”

Dutchess County has been the scene of several recent productions, including Fox’s “Best Medicine” series, Netflix’s dramedy “The Four Seasons” and the zombie-action-horror film “Zero Protocol.” According to the Hudson Valley Film Commission, film production in the region had an $86 million economic impact in 2025.

While locals – and some officials present at Friday’s opening ceremonies – remember sneaking onto the property to take a dip at the former quarry lake, now everyone of all swimming abilities has a chance to enjoy it’s waters.

After 10am on July 17, 2026, following opening presentations and a ribbon cutting, the first official swimmers took to Lake Sophia at Sojourner Truth State Park – including the Mayor of Kingston, Steve Noble, who may or may not have been the one referenced above, and still has a pretty good cannonball. “I too am very excited to go jump in the lake,” Noble said during the opening ceremony. “I’ve been told to do that a few times by some of my constituents, so today I am officially ready to do it.”

The naturally turquoise-tinted site – the state’s first swimming area in 20-plus years – features a 12,000-square-foot swim crib with an in-pool ramp and ADA-compliant gangway for easy access for all, as well as a 16,000-square-foot guarded deep-water swim area; the total swimming area is larger than two Olympic-sized swimming pools.

Lake Sophia at Sojourner Truth State Park
100 Sojourner Truth Way, Kingston (New entrance right off Route 32)
Swimming hours: Daily 10am – 5:45pm through Labor Day weekend
The park is open daily from dawn to dusk
Cost of admission: $8 per vehicle

Following the opening announcement on Friday, a few of our HVNY readers had some questions about swimming at the new state quarry lake:

Question: Is there a fee to get in?
Answer: There is an $8 fee per vehicle, but no extra fees to swim. If you bike into Sojourner Truth State Park, or take the Ulster County Nature Bus, it’s free.

Question: Where do doggos swim?
Answer: Not here. Dogs are prohibited at New York State Park beaches and swim areas. Leashed dogs are permitted on the trails (make sure you’re cleaning up after them, and take it with you).

Question: Are floatation devices allowed?
Answer: Swimmies and swim vests for kids are allowed but please leave your giant inflatable swan and the like at home. Park rules state only U.S. Coast Guard-approved floatation devices are permitted.

Question: I wonder if you can swim outside of the guarded area?
Answer: No, you cannot. The only place you are allowed to swim, and can access, are the two cordoned off areas – a 12,000-square-foot swim crib and 16,000-square-foot guarded deep-water swim area – when lifeguards are on duty.

Question: How deep is it?
Answer: 16- to 20-feet in the deep swim area, depending on water levels. The swim crib maxes at 4-feet-deep.

Question: Is there a beach area?
Answer: There aren’t waterfront spots to lay out a towel near the lake – you must go down a steel ramp to access the water area – but there are sandy spots overlooking the water with seating areas dotted throughout the rim of the quarry with chairs and umbrellas available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Question: Can we selfishly make it for Ulster County residents only?
Answer: Too late for that! State parks rule.

Question: Are bathing suits mandatory? Asking for a friend…
Answer: Yes, @otsego_skinnydipping_society, this is a public park, please keep appropriately clothed here. (Full disclosure: I did accidentally write ‘pubic park’ at first…but no, no, please, please wear a bathing suit here!) Park officials add: “Proper swimming attire is required to enter the water.”

Question: What’s the temperature?
Answer: Around 11am on opening day (Friday, July 17, 2026), it was around a pleasant 68-degrees, according to one lifeguard. Since it’s a contained quarry lake, it does stay a bit more temperate depending on the amount of rainfall.

Question: Hold up! That quarry pond we used to ride our ATVs to?
Answer: Yes, but park officials really don’t want to hear about it...

Question: Are there trails or hiking paths?
Answer: Lake Sophia is part of Sojourner Truth State Park, and the Empire State Trail also runs through the park. See a map, here.

Have any questions? Reply to this email: hello@hvny.info or comment via the link:

Rangers urge hikers to pay attention to posted advisories

New York State Forest Rangers are advising outdoor recreationists to pay attention to warning signs after a woman and her dog recently became stranded across a rushing stream at a popular hiking area.

On July 8 at 7 p.m., Greene County 911 requested Forest Ranger assistance with a swimmer and a dog stranded below Fawn’s Leap after the dog went over the edge and was stuck on the other side of the stream.

The dog’s owner, a 29-year-old from Poughkeepsie, tried to rescue the dog but also got stuck. Responders utilized a high-angle rope rescue to safely lift both the dog and its owner to the top of Fawn’s Leap.

“This occurred in a restricted area with warning signage,” officials noted. “DEC reminds hikers to follow signs and avoid dangerous locations.”

The victim, a 15-year-old from Poughkeepsie, was swimming in the area with a 24-year-old family member when he slipped beneath the waterfall and went underwater for several minutes. Bystanders attempted to rescue him, but were unsuccessful, according to a press release from state police.

Down by the Riverside
Monday, July 20, 2026 at 7pm
Orpheum Theatre, 198 Main Street, Saugerties, NY 12477
Cost of admission: $11.50
An intimate portrait of Pete Seeger and the grassroots community he anchored in the Hudson Valley for over forty years with his wife Toshi, Down by the Riverside shows how an unconventional campaign to save a beloved American waterway prompted a green revolution. Join us for a special screening and Q&A with directors Jodie Childers and Dan Messina. Website

Country Line Dancing
Tuesday, July 21, August 4, 2026 from 6-8pm
Cost of admission: Free
8000 Mall Walk, Yonkers
Grab your boots and hit the dance floor! Join Cross County Center for FREE Country Line Dancing with Cherko Country Line Dancing. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned dancer, everyone is welcome to step in, learn the moves, and enjoy a lively night out. Select Tuesdays, 6pm – 8pm. (June 23, July 21 and August 4) For the complete Summer Fest schedule and weather-related event updates, please visit Cross County Center Events. All events are open to the public, most are free to attend, and guests can enjoy complimentary parking in Cross County Center’s convenient open-air setting. Whether you’re bringing the family, meeting up with friends, or just coming for the music and entertainment, Cross County Center is where summer happens. Website

Twilight Music in the Parks
Wednesday, July 22, 2026 from 6 to 7pm
Cost of admission: Free
Walkway Over the Hudson State Park
Featuring O’Sullivan’s March. Continues July 29 with Straight Ahead Jazz. Website

Waterfront Wednesday with Arm-of-the-Sea Theater
Wednesday, July 22, July 29, 2026 with doors at 6pm, show at 7pm
Cost of admission: Free with suggested donation of $15 adults, $7 kids
Arm-of-the-Sea Tidewater Center, 57 E. Bridge St, Saugerties
Waterfront Wednesdays is Arm-of-the-Sea Theater’s weekly summer performance series at our seasonal cultural space, the Tidewater Center. Join us for a variety of pre-show activities and displays for all ages before the show. This year's show features a playful Dog and a thoughtful Snail who guide a disheartened Everyman through a series of medicine tales in the hope of re-sparking joy and elemental wonder. These medicine tales show the magic of DNA, the cycles of the cell, and glorious processes of photosynthesis, awakening the most downtrodden hearts. Developed with support from the Jim Henson Foundation and the Upstate Coalition for a FairGame. Opening acts TBA. Website

Music in the Parks
Wednesday, July 22, 2026 at 7pm
Cost of admission: Free
Vanderbilt Mansion
Featuring Matt Jordan at Vanderbilt. Continues July 29 with Flirtin’ with Disaster at Mills, August 5 starting at 6:30pm with the Way Behind The Sun at Mills, and August 12 with the West Point Military Band at Vanderbilt. Rain location: Taconic Offices, 9 Old Post Road, Staatsburg. Updates will be posted on the Hyde Park Recreation Facebook page: Website

Free Movies in the Parks
Wednesday, July 22, 2026 at 8pm
Cost of admission: Free
Beacon Recreation Settlement Camp
Showing of “Zootopia.” Continues July 29 with “Lilo and Stitch” at the Green Street Park, August 5 with “Grease” at Memorial Park, and August 12 with “Space Jam” at South Avenue Park. Website

"Anna by the Window" Movie Premiere
Thursday, July 23, 2026 at 7:30pm and Sunday, July 26, 2026 at 5pm
Cost of admission: $15, $5 student tickets are available day of the event at the box office
DENIZEN Theatre, 10 Main Street, Suite 501, New Paltz
Baggysuit, a film production company formed by Newpaltzians Myles Flusser, James Hyland, and Alex Young, will premiere their newest feature-length movie, Anna by the Window. A coming-of-age portrait of a teenager, Ryan over 24 hours as he attempts to reunite with his estranged, AI startup founder brother. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers. Website

Little Miss Sunshine 20th Anniversary Drive-In Screening
Thursday, July 23, 2026 from 8:30 to 10:30pm
Cost of admission: Free
10699 U.S. 9W, Coxsackie, New York, 12051, Coxsackie
Special introduction with producer Peter Saraf and others TBA. Before becoming one of the most celebrated indie films of its generation, this heartfelt and hilarious road-trip adventure first captivated audiences 20 years ago at the Sundance Film Festival with its unforgettable characters, sharp humor, and story of family, resilience, and chasing dreams. Starring: Steve Carell, Paul Dano, Toni Collette, Abigail Breslin, Alan Arkin and Greg Kinnear. Free to the community, courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. Reservations are required. Website

Goddesses: A Weekend Retreat with the Feminine Divine
July 24 - 25, 2026 at 6pm
Living Stone, 95 Foxfire Rd, Round Top, NY 12473, USA
Cost of admission: $585
Join a woodland retreat exploring the mythology and experience of the feminine divine through music, stargazing, hands-on artmaking, and reflective writing workshops. Set amongst the beauty of the Catskills in Round Top, the weekend will also feature a special farm-to-table Goddess feast curated by Living Stone’s acclaimed owner-chef team alongside artisanal offerings from Catskill Chocolate Co.. In partnership with the Joseph Campbell Foundation, this immersive gathering invites guests into a weekend of creativity, reflection, connection, and wonder. Website

Voices of Revolution 250th Lecture Series: New York's Hidden Discoveries
Friday, July 24, 2026 at 6:30pm
Cost of admission: Free
296 Fair Street Kingston, Kingston
Join author Debra Bruno to explore New York’s 200-year history of slavery through her own family’s past. After discovering that her own Dutch ancestors had been enslavers, Debra began her journey to uncover hidden histories. Along the way, she met Eleanor Mire, a descendant of the very people her ancestors enslaved. Together, they worked to tell the stories of people long forgotten, investigating history hidden in plain sight. Copies of A Hudson Valley Reckoning will be available for purchase. Lectures are free and take place in the Senate House Museum Building. No reservations required.

Walkway at Night
Friday, July 24, 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 July 31, August 21, September 25 and October 24, 2026. RSVP

Growing Together: A Tour of Mid-Hudson Gardens
Saturday, July 25, 2026 from 9am to 3pm
Cost of admission: Free
Various gardens in Dutchess County
A self-paced tour of eight of the area’s established gardens: Beatrix Farrand Garden in Hyde Park, Blithewood and Montgomery Place in Red Hook, Clermont in Germantown, Eden Share and Garden of Eatin’ in Poughkeepsie, the Pleasant Valley Community Garden in Salt Point and Wilderstein in Rhinebeck. Website

Clearwater End-of-Season Celebration
Saturday, July 25, 2026 from 3:30 to 5:30pm
Cost of admission: Free
Grey Barn, Hudson River Maritime Museum, 50 Rondout Landing, Kingston
Celebrate the close of Clearwater's 2026 sailing season with an afternoon of live music, community, and Hudson River fun! Enjoy live music, connect with local businesses and nonprofit organizations, and join to reflect on an incredible season before Clearwater heads into her historic restoration.

Cirque Du Creep- Invasion of Camp Cryptid
Saturday, July 25, 2026 from 5 to 11pm
Cost of admission: $12 advance, $15 general admission, free for kids under 15
The Yard, 4 Hanna Lane Beacon
Experience an otherworldly night unlike any other featuring more than 80 vendors, live bands, sideshow, stiltwalking cryptids, fireshow, flash tattoos, piercings, tooth gems, henna, tarot and astrology, aliens and monsters, creatures and cyptids, and so much more. Free shuttle from the Beacon train station. Website

ArtsWestchester Mobile Art Workshops
Sunday, July 26 and August 9, 2026 from 11am – 2pm
Cost of admission: Free
8000 Mall Walk, Yonkers
Cross County Center is Westchester’s go-to summer destination, offering a full lineup of events, entertainment, shopping, and dining all season long. For the complete Summer Fest schedule and weather-related event updates, please visit Cross County Center Events. All events are open to the public, most are free to attend, and guests can enjoy complimentary parking in Cross County Center’s convenient open-air setting. Whether you’re bringing the family, meeting up with friends, or just coming for the music and entertainment, Cross County Center is where summer happens. Website

Varroomba! Barcelona
Sunday, July 26, 2026 at 4pm
Tompkins Corners Cultural Center, 729 Peekskill Hollow Road, Putnam Valley
Cost of admission: $25
Join us for an unforgettable outdoor concert with Sam Lardner & Varroomba!, whose vibrant Mediterranean fusion blends Americana, Flamenco, and irresistible rumba rhythms into a joyful celebration of music. Enjoy lively new takes on classics like You've Got a Friend, I Say a Little Prayer, What the World Needs Now, and Viva La Vida from the band's latest album, Nothing New! Best of all, this special pro bono performance benefits the Putnam Valley Community Food Pantry, helping raise funds and awareness for neighbors facing food insecurity. Bring a chair, bring your friends and family, and enjoy an afternoon of great music for a great cause. Food by Panchos and Gringos, home-baked goods, and beverages will be available for purchase. Children and students are free. Website

Powerhouse Theater at Vassar
Continues through July 16, 2026
Vassar College
New plays, musicals, readings and more from influential theatrical voices to the next generation of theater artists. Website