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With spirits soaring and holiday cheer all around, December truly is an enchanting time of year in New York’s Hudson Valley. Here in Dutchess County, there are plenty of attractions that will warm your heart and brighten your day.
Many Dutchess County historic sites will be all decked out for special holiday tours and festive events. If you’re searching for unique, handmade gifts for your family and friends, grab your holiday shopping list and head straight to one of Dutchess County’s many holiday craft fairs. Be sure to check out our list of Holiday Festivals and Lights Displays in Dutchess, and stay tuned for details on our Top 25 Places to Ring in 2025!
Here’s a look at some more can’t-miss Dutchess experiences in December. Get your camera ready! And if you’d like to share your pictures, click here or tag @dutchesstourism on social media.
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Step back in time to Victorian England and dine with the Cratchit family and beloved Tiny Tim at these dinner theater performances of Charles Dickens' heartwarming holiday classic, "A Christmas Carol." Enjoy an evening of laughter, nostalgia and holiday cheer the whole family will cherish.
• The Beekman Arms, Rhinebeck (Sunday, Dec. 1, 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.; Wednesday, Dec. 11, 7 p.m.): Treat yourself to a scrumptious three-course meal and a wonderful theater experience. Make a night of it and book a room in America's Oldest Continuously Operated Inn, which was built in 1766 and features 80 beautiful rooms in several different historic buildings, all located in the heart of the quaint Village of Rhinebeck.
• Curry Estate, Hopewell Junction (Sunday, Dec. 15, 4 p.m.): Settle in for a delicious three-course dinner with your choice of entree and enjoy the show. If you'd like to experience all the charm and elegance of a European inn, be sure to book a room and spend the night at this 1863 Georgian Colonial Estate, which features 16 spacious, recently renovated rooms with luxury linens and all the modern conveniences.
Friday and Saturday, Dec. 6 and 7, 4–8 p.m., at Eastdale Village, Poughkeepsie
Head to Eastdale Village — Poughkeepsie's trendy new live-work-play community — for a two-day shopping, dining and entertainment extravaganza! Participating establishments will offer perks and incentives so you can finish (or start) your holiday shopping, enjoy a tasty meal and treat yourself to a fun night out and about. Every purchase you make earns you a raffle ticket for a chance to win prizes worth hundreds of dollars. There will be live holiday music by SoulSense on Friday from 6–8 p.m. and photos with Santa on Cottage Square on Saturday from 1–4 p.m. Click here for complete details and a list of participating businesses.
Saturday, Dec. 7, 12–3 p.m. at Happy Valley Arcade Bar, Beacon
Santa Claus will certainly be busy in the weeks leading up to Christmas Eve, but he will be taking time out of his hectic schedule to pose for pictures with some four-legged friends in Happy Valley Arcade Bar’s outdoor courtyard. Click here for details. Inside Happy Valley, you’ll find more than two dozen fully operational vintage video game consoles, including Missile Command, Donkey Kong, Pac-Man and Space Invaders, as well as several vintage pinball machines. Happy Valley features a well-stocked bar featuring a full assortment of beer, wine and spirits — including some locally produced favorites like Beacon Bourbon, Great 9 Gin and Viskill Vodka from Denning’s Point Distillery in Beacon, and Tod and Vixen Gin from the Vale Fox Distillery in Poughkeepsie, as well as beer from Sloop Brewing in Hopewell Junction, Industrial Arts Brewing in Beacon, and the Hudson Valley Brewery in Beacon — along with some tasty bites.
Saturday, Dec. 7, 3–5 p.m. at Maxon Mills, Wassaic
The Wassaic Project presents the opening of its winter art exhibition, titled "A Space Between Worlds,” in its Maxon Mills gallery. Maxon Mills is an historic, seven-story wooden grain elevator along the train tracks that has been repurposed into a uniquely magnificent venue for contemporary artists of all types to show their work. “A Space Between Worlds” features the work of nine artists and will be on display through March 15. Click here to learn about the featured artists. While you’re in Wassaic, be sure to walk across the street to The Lantern for a delicious meal and a beverage or two.
Saturday, Dec. 7, 4 p.m. at FDR High School, Staatsburg
Guest conductor William Stevens leads the Northern Dutchess Symphony Orchestra in its "Sounds of the Season" holiday concert. Titled "Home for the Holidays," the evening’s program incorporates performances by several local choruses as well. Hear songs from "Home Alone," "Sleigh Ride" and "The Polar Express," along with other festive Christmas and Hanukkah medleys. Click here to purchase tickets, and be sure to check out other concerts on the NDSO’s 2024-25 schedule, which picks up after the new year and continues through the spring.
Related: Interact With Indigenous Culture in Dutchess County
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Saturday, Dec. 14, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 15, 3 p.m., at the Bardavon 1869 Opera House, Poughkeepsie
The New Paltz Ballet Theatre returns for its 25th season to present this classic holiday production at the historic Bardavon, The Oldest Continuously Operating Theater in New York State. Come along with Marie as she dreams of a fierce battle between giant mice and toy soldiers followed by a magical journey through the Land of Snow to the Kingdom of Sweets. Click here to purchase tickets.
The Bardavon will also team up with ThinkDIFFERENTLY to host a sensory-sensitive performance of "The Nutcracker" on Dec. 13. This select performance will allow families with children on the autism spectrum and those with special needs a chance to enjoy this timeless classic without the sometimes over-stimulating aspects of the show. The house lights will stay on, the sound will be kept low and the doors will remain open throughout the performance. Click here to complete the required registration before the deadline of Dec. 9.
Saturday, Dec. 14, 6 p.m., at the MJN Convention Center
Tigman from WPDH 101.5-FM, "The Hudson Valley's Home of Rock 'n' Roll," hosts Mistletoe Jam '24 at the MJN Center (formerly the Mid-Hudson Civic Center). Rock out to two headline sets from two classic rock legends: Blue Oyster Cult and Zebra. Add them to the list of noteworthy acts who have graced the stage at the 3,000-seat venue since it opened in 1976, including Bruce Springsteen, Meatloaf, Bob Marley, Willie Nelson and comedian Sebastian Maniscalco, to name a few. Click here to purchase tickets, including VIP meet-and-greet experiences.
If time allows, make a weekend out of it! The MJN Center is adjacent to the DoubleTree by Hilton Poughkeepsie hotel and within walking distance of a host of great restaurants.
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Friday, Dec. 20, 8 p.m. at the All Saints’ Chapel, Trinity-Pawling School, Pawling
Woodwind members from Orchestra New England present a program of holiday music, including arrangements from Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Ballet, Vaughan Williams' Greensleeves, traditional seasonal carols, and other holiday favorites. Click here to listen to recordings of Orchestra New England and to purchase tickets for this concert. After this show, this 51st season of the Pawling Concert Series will pick up again in the spring with two more sensational shows at the Trinity-Pawling School.
Friday, Dec. 20, and Saturday, Dec. 21, 8 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 22, 2 p.m., at Kaatsbaan Cultural Park, Tivoli
Choreographer David Parker and The Bang Group present their version of "The Nutcracker," which offers a playful, witty rendition of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s iconic work. Featuring a blend of dance styles that includes ballet, tap and disco, "Nut/Cracked" combines humor and artistry to create a delightfully unique production. All three performances will take place in the Black Box Theater on Kaatsbaan's scenic 153-acre campus on the Hudson River. Click here to reserve tickets.
Tuesday, Dec. 24, 5–9 p.m., at Terrapin, Rhinebeck
Treat yourself to the best of farm-to-table cuisine in an elegant setting at Terrapin in the Village of Rhinebeck. Chef Josh Kroner's special prix fixe Christmas Eve menu offers a diverse assortment of entrees featuring local and organic ingredients, including multiple vegetarian, vegan and wheat-free options.
Click here to see the menu and book your reservations.
Terrapin is ADA compliant and offers handicapped parking, an access ramp that leads directly into the main dining room, and an accessible, gender-neutral bathroom. Terrapin is also a member of the the Village of Rhinebeck Autism Supportive Community, which works to make the community more welcoming for people on the autism spectrum and with other disabilities. Chef Kroner is an active committee member, and Terrapin has sensory kits available and offers reduced noise in the dining space at designated times of day.
It’s never too early to start planning your summer excursions, and several of Dutchess County’s most popular summer attractions are already gearing up for next season. Tickets are available for these events and would make wonderful holiday gifts:
• Hudson Valley Renegades (Wappingers Falls) — The Renegades minor-league baseball team celebrated their 30th season in 2024 and made it all the way to the South Atlantic League Championship Series. The High-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, the Renegades play 66 home games each season at Heritage Financial Park (formerly Dutchess Stadium). Current Yankees who sharpened their skills with the Renegades include Anthony Volpe and Jasson Dominguez. Full-season and half-season ticket packages are available for the 2025 season, and their team store is stocked with all sorts of great merch (their new Big Apples alter-ego uniforms look sharp!).
• SplashDown Beach (Fishkill) — “America’s Biggest Little Water Park” features water slides and attractions for all ages. Get your pulse racing on the Humunga Half-Pipe (New York’s only zero-gravity half-pipe) or The Megalodon raft ride. Relax and cool off as you float down the Croc Creek Wavy Lazy River in your own tube. The Pelican Bay Water Playground has four new water slides and a 500-gallon dumping bucket. Discounted season passes for 2025 are available.
• Bannerman Castle (Beacon) — The ruins of this Scottish-style castle on Pollepel Island in the Hudson River are truly a sight to behold. Built by military surplus dealer Frank Bannerman in the early 1900s, the castle, the adjacent residence and the surrounding gardens are all being painstakingly restored by the Bannerman Castle Trust. Special events like musical and theatrical performances, movie nights, lectures and themed dinner events are popular attractions on the island, which is easily reachable aboard the Estuary Steward tour boat or your own kayak or canoe. Stay tuned for ticket information for the 2025 cruise and walking tours of the island, which pick up again in April.
• Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome (Red Hook) — Hold onto your hats for this thrilling experience high above the Hudson River! Schedule a flight in an authentic 1929 open-cockpit biplane and look down from above upon the many scenic wonders of the Hudson Valley. The half-hour Lighthouse Tour offers breathtaking views of Hudson River lighthouses (including the Saugerties Light, the Rondout Light, and the Esopus Meadows Light) and Gilded Age mansions, along with all the natural beauty of the river and the surrounding Taconic, Berkshire and Catskill mountains. You'll want to keep your camera handy for this! Shorter biplane rides are also available. Flights run from May through October, and you can schedule your reservation for next year now.
• Omega Institute for Holistic Studies (Rhinebeck) — This unique educational retreat center offers workshops, professional training, and rest and rejuvenation retreats. Book your reservation for select 2025 retreats now and receive the early bird discount.
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