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.

Celebrate July 4th at New York's Festivals and Fireworks Shows

The Fourth of July is only two weeks away, and this means family barbecues, fireworks, Revolutionary War re-enactments, and most of all, the celebration of our nation’s independence! Take part in a summertime tradition at one of these New York State Independence Day festivals and fireworks shows, all accessible by Amtrak.

New York City

Photo Credit: Affinia

Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular (7.6 miles from Penn Station): On the evening of July 4, Macy’s will light up the skyline of New York City for the 39^th time with its annual Fireworks Spectacular! A tradition since 1977, over 40,000 shells of fireworks are set off from the Brooklyn Bridge and water barges in New York Harbor to a patriotic musical soundtrack. For the best viewing spots, Macy’s recommends Brooklyn Bridge Park, Brooklyn Heights Promenade, and all along the east side of Lower Manhattan. Arrive early to snag a good spot for the 9 p.m. show! Admission is free.

Poughkeepsie

Walkway Over the Hudson’s Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular (0.6 miles from Poughkeepsie Train Station): Enjoy breathtaking fireworks in a unique setting while sitting high above the Hudson River at the Walkway Over the Hudson’s Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular! Relax and enjoy the view as the fireworks fill up the sky and get reflected in the river below. Ticket holders are admitted to the Walkway at 6:30 p.m. and fireworks will begin between 9:00 and 9:30 p.m. Chairs and snacks are welcome! Admission is $12.50 for ages 6 and over. Children 5 and under are free.

Albany

Price Chopper Presents New York State’s Fourth of July Celebration (1.7 miles from Albany Rensselaer Amtrak Station): Since 1976, Price Chopper has presented this annual Albany tradition at Empire State Plaza. The celebration begins at 3 p.m. with a naturalization ceremony, dozens of food and crafts vendors, and children’s activities. Also featuring live music by New Jersey R&B horn band Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes. An afternoon and evening of fun and entertainment will culminate with the Empire State Plaza fireworks show at 9:15, dubbed the “best fireworks show in the region.” Admission is free.

Fort Ticonderoga

Photo Credit: Lake Champlain Region

Independence Day Weekend at Fort Ticonderoga (1.1 miles from Ticonderoga Amtrak Station): Partake in the historical side of Independence Day while also having fun on the grounds of Fort Ticonderoga! Highlights include Revolutionary War battle re-enactments and patriotic performances by the Fife & Drum Corps of Fort Ticonderoga, as well as educational family programs. Single-Day and Two-Day admission tickets are available. Prices vary based on age. Take advantage of one of Amtrak’s current discounts: Buy one adult train ticket and get a second ticket for free when traveling on The Adirondack to and from Fort Ticonderoga! For more information, visit Newyorkbyrail.com/Discounts. Fort Ticonderoga also offers a shuttle service to guests arriving on Amtrak to Ticonderoga’s Best Western Plus Inn and Suites and the Fort Ticonderoga museum campus. Shuttle service is free of charge through September 7.

Buffalo

Photo Credit: Buffalo Rising

Canalside Independence Day Celebration (0.4 miles from Buffalo-Exchange Street Amtrak Station): Celebrate Fourth of July on the waterfront in beautiful downtown Buffalo at the Canalside Independence Day Celebration! Enjoy a wide selection of food vendors and live music from the Buffalo Niagara Concert Band, the George Scott Big Band, Big City Horns, and Lance Diamond. Activities for children include puppet shows, arts & crafts, face painting, and caricature art. A performance by Junior ROTC color guard at 9:15 p.m. and a flag folding ceremony at 9:30 p.m. will set the stage for the big fireworks show at 10:15 p.m. over Lake Erie! Admission is free.

Whether your idea of a perfect Fourth of July celebration is spending it with family and friends amongst good food, live music, and fireworks or paying tribute by learning more about the holiday’s history, New York State has something for everyone and Amtrak can get you there! For more information about upcoming events reachable by Amtrak and a 15% discount for Amtrak travel within New York State, visit Newyorkbyrail.com.

Have Some Fun at 2015’s Food and Drink Festivals

Have Some Fun at 2015’s Food and Drink Festivals

Whether you’re a food, beer or wine lover, there are some great offerings out there in the coming months. Food and drink festivals are being held all across New York state, and here are seven that we recommend you to check out! All are accessible via Amtrak’s fine, scenic routes: 

Montreal Beer Fest 

22nd Annual Montreal Beer Fest (takes place at Montreal Convention Center, 0.5 miles from Montreal Amtrak): Beer lovers and professional brewers will commence from June 10-14 this year at the Montreal Beer Festival. Not only will there be beer tastings, but workshops will be held where attendees can learn the art of beer brewing. Founded in 1994, this event is a hallmark of the brewing industry in Quebec and its success has led to similar showcases in Rio de Janeiro and Europe. Admission to the event itself is free, but the samplings of beer go at a rate of one dollar per ounce. 

NYC Bourbon Bash (takes place in multiple locations in NYC, you can get to all of them via Penn Station Amtrak): On June 13, at eight different bars, you can enjoy the best bourbon the Big Apple has to offer hopefully without blacking out! For $65, you can also indulge in great food and rock out to great music. A portion of all the proceeds go to various non-profit and charitable organizations. Tickets are to be ordered online and you must check in from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm sharp. The event goes on until 10:00 pm.

Saratoga Brewfest 

Saratoga Brewfest (located at the Saratoga County Fairgrounds, 6.6 miles from the Saratoga Springs Amtrak): Also on June 13, the Saratoga Brewfest will showcase some of the best local, regional and national craft beers along with great live music. More than 75 breweries are expected to participate with over 250 brews available to taste in samples. The event will also feature speakers from the craft brew industry. The festivities go on from 2:00 pm-5:00 pm, but VIPs can enjoy from 1:00 pm-5:00 pm. General admission tickets are $45 in advance and $55 at the door, while VIPs get in for $60. 

Empire Brew Fest

World of Beer Empire Brew Fest 2015 (takes place in the Chevy Court at the New York State Fairgrounds, 4.1 miles from the Syracuse Amtrak): For its 2015 outing, going from June 26th to 27th this year, this annual festival returns to Syracuse with more brewers and craft beers to go around. There will also be a Cornhole Tournament and interactive games which will test your knowledge of craft beer in addition to Giant Jenga and Giant Scrabble games for groups of friends to enjoy together! For those who are not big beer connoisseurs, there is a wine festival this year as well attached to the annual festivities. Admission breaks down like this: all day samplings are $35, the pay as you go rate is $10, and the designated driver rate is $5.

Little Falls Cheese Festival (takes place in the historic West End of Little Falls, NY, 21.6 miles from Utica Amtrak): On July 11, the scenic town of Little Falls, NY will host its annual festival showcasing delicious cheeses of all kinds. Plenty of other related products will be on hand as well, including yogurt, artisanal breads, jams and handcrafted cutting boards. Local restaurants will also be participating in a competition for the best pizza, which is the town specialty. Live music will be there, and just added is a one-act mystery play entitled “Where’s the Cheese?” performed by the town’s theater company. Admission is free, and you can call Utica Enterprise for pickup from the station to the event at (315) 736-0002.

Bounty of the Hudson Wine and Food Festival (takes place at Benmarl Winery, 11.2 miles outside the Poughkeepsie Amtrak): From July 25-26, you can sample some of the Hudson Valley Region’s finest wines and produce from local restaurants. All fourteen wineries located in the Shawangunk Wine Trail are participating this year. Along with the wines, visitors can sample local cheese, honey and baked goods while listening to some great live music. Admission is $28 and your ticket will cover the samplings from each of the wineries, the live music, and a souvenir Shawangunk Wine Trail glass. There are bus and taxi services at the station. 

Buffalo Wing Festival 

The National Buffalo Wing Festival (takes place at the Coca-Cola Field in Buffalo, .2 miles from the Buffalo-Exchange Street Amtrak Station): This festival is known as the Super Bowl for the chicken wing industry, with total attendance of over 865,000 people and 4.5 million wings served since it began in 2002. This year it will take place from September 5-6. Participating restaurants showcase their wing sauces in a competition for best sauce known as the National Sauce-Off. Other competitions include the United States Buffalo Wing Eating Championship, the Baby Wing Contest, the Amateur Wing Sauce Competition, the XXXHot Wing Eating Contest, and bobbing for wings in a bowl of blue cheese. All weekend there will also be live music and trivia contests. Admission is $5 per day, but children under 8 get in for free. Tickets are available for purchase at the gate.

There’s food and fun for everyone this year! So come on down and dive into some of the best in food and drink that each of these locations has to offer. You can get to each one of them through Amtrak , and as always, you can look into our discounts for additional savings, including our 15% discount courtesy of ILOVENY. For any other inquiries, visit the New York By Rail website.

Celebrate Spring at These Festivals

After a long, cold winter, the temperature is finally rising and the weather is getting beautiful. It's time to head outdoors and celebrate the season. New York is home to tons of events that welcome spring; between the flower festivals and food and drink festivals, there is plenty going on to keep you busy every weekend.


Buffalo Cherry Blossom Festival - Buffalo was hit hard by snow this winter, but they're ready for a "springtime blizzard" of cherry blossoms and flowers at the Buffalo Cherry Blossom Festival. The event takes place from May 2 - 9 in the Japanese Garden in Delaware Park; the focal point is the bright pink cherry trees and admission is free! Events during the week-long celebration include a tea ceremony, a tree planting, traditional Japanese performances and more. Buffalo-Exchange Street Station is 5 miles from Delaware Park.

Hudson Valley Garden Fair - The Hudson Valley Garden Fair is a great event for those with a green thumb- and even those without one! Guests can listen to a lecture on gardening, tour historic gardens, and shop the many plant and garden vendors in attendance on May 2 at Montgomery Place in Red Hook. The garden fair is 7.5 miles from the Rhinecliff-Kingston Amtrak Station.

Photo from Flickr by Liz Lawley

Rochester Lilac Festival - The history of the Rochester Lilac Festival dates back to 1890, but the tradition has remained in place and has continued to grow. From May 8 - 17, go to Highland Park to enjoy 10 days of beautiful spring blooms and live music, as well as art shows and shopping for lilac products and souvenirs. Admission to the festival is free, though a few events, like the wine and chocolate tasting, require guests to purchase tickets. The Lilac Festival is 2.5 miles from Rochester Amtrak Station.

The Albany Tulip Festival - Stroll through Washington Park and admire over 100,000 tulip bulbs in full bloom at The Albany Tulip Festival. The festival takes place on May 9 & 10, and ends with a Mother of the Year Award on Sunday, Mother's Day. Other events include the Tulip Queen Coronation and the Royal Tulip Ball. The festival is free to the public, though the Royal Tulip Ball and the Tulip Queen and Court Luncheon require guests to purchase tickets. The Tulip Festival is 2.5 miles from the Albany-Rensselaer Amtrak Station.

Ninth Avenue International Food Festival - The Ninth Avenue International Food Festival is the oldest and largest food festival in New York City. On May 16 - 17, visit the vendors that line Ninth Avenue between 42nd and 57th Streets, offering samples of food from all over the world. In addition, there are tons of merchants selling jewelry and crafts, as well as international entertainment. The festival is about 1 mile from New York-Penn Station.

Photo from Flickr by Benjamin Golub

Hudson-Berkshire Wine and Food Festival - Head to the Columbia County Fairgrounds on May 23 - 24 for the 3rd Annual Hudson-Berkshire Wine and Food Festival. The $25 admission fee covers your souvenir tasting glass, as well as all of the beer, wine and spirits samples you care to try. For food, there will be meats, cheeses and baked goods for sampling and sale. The festival is 13.2 miles from the Hudson Amtrak Station.


New York is coming alive after a long winter. Head outdoors to one of these great festivals located throughout the state. Take an Amtrak train to these destinations for a fun weekend away, and get there using a discount. For more information about these destinations and other getaway ideas, check out New York By Rail.