Hudson Valley Event Round-Up

Hudson Valley has got it all! From inspirational landscapes and historical sites to wine tasting and zip-lining, there is always something new to discover. Make sure to check out these upcoming Hudson Valley events, listed chronologically below, and all reachable by Amtrak:

Dragon Boat Race & Festival (0.9 miles from the Poughkeepsie train station): Head over to the Hudson River on Saturday, July 25 for a day of fun in the sun. Whilst boat races transpire on the water, the Asian Culture Festival will occur on the shore. Games, food and drink, souvenirs, and dancing will be available for attendees.

Caramoor International Music Festival (18.5 miles from the Croton-Harmon Amtrak station): Held now through August 2 at the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts, this international music festival offers an abundance of cultural experiences. Featuring string quartets, soloists, jazz, pop, chamber music, and everything between, the musical diversity is sure to intrigue. Performances such as Donizetti’s Lucrezia Borgiaand Verdi’s Rigoletto closely correlate with the cultural history presented by the festival’s venue.

Falcon Ridge Folk Festival (14.1 miles from the Hudson Amtrak station): From July 31 – August 2, Dodd’s Farm will host this 3-day festival at which there will be dancing, a craft village, an international food court, workshops, comedy and spoken word performances, the Activities 4 Kids Tent, on-site camping, and of course—folk music! The campgrounds will open for guests on Wednesday, followed by Pre-Fest Tastings Day and a Farm Market on Thursday. Experience the Berkshires while enjoying live music with fellow fans of folk. 

Photo Credit: Aldon Hynes, Flickr

Basilica Soundscape (0.2 miles from Hudson Amtrak station): Located in a reclaimed factory from the 1880s, this 3-day festival, occurring September 11 – 13 this year, has gained recognition for its dedication to music and the arts, as well as for its unique venue. Noise specialists, metal bands, and experimental folk groups are some of many types of performers featured. Reviewers and past attendees of the event have voiced a desire for more events to follow Basilica’s footsteps in creating a genuine artistic experience.

Photo Credit: Leonard Nevarez, Flickr

Hudson Valley Wine & Food Fest/Hudson Valley Craft Beer Fest (3.1 miles from Rhinecliff-Kingston Amtrak station): From September 12 – 13, the Dutchess County Fairgrounds will host the 13^th annual Hudson Valley Wine & Food Fest and the inaugural Hudson Valley Craft Beer Fest. Numerous vendors will attend the simultaneous events, including over 150 wineries; distilleries; gourmet specialty food vendors; market vendors; breweries; hard cider; restaurants; food trucks; and food concessions. Cooking demonstrations, beer and wine education seminars, live music, shopping, and a wine pick-up service are available for attendees as well.

The Hudson Valley hosts events for all ages and interests. Take a trip to this renowned region of beauty and admire the landscape through the window of an Amtrak train in transit to any of these exciting events. For more information on other New York events reachable by Amtrak and a 15% discount for Amtrak travel within New York State, visit NewYorkbyRail.com.

For more ideas regarding what to do in the Hudson Valley region, visit New York by Rail’s “Connections” section on pages 77 – 80 by clicking here or by checking out the print edition of our magazine.