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The holidays are right around the corner once the calendar flips to November, and New York’s Hudson Valley has its own, distinctive charm at this time of year.
There are many exciting experiences waiting for you here in Dutchess County this month! Here is a sampling of what November has to in store for you, 10 can’t-miss events that showcase the best of what Dutchess has to offer (plus one bonus event, of course!).
Keep that camera handy! Share your photos here and tag @DutchessTourism on social media.
And be sure to check out our other November Spotlights focusing on Veterans Day, Indigenous History and Culture in Dutchess, Hudson Valley Restaurant Week, Holiday Craft Fairs and Markets, and Decorated Historic Sites.
Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 4 and 5 in Beacon
Last year’s inaugural event was huge, and this year’s two-day festival promises to be even bigger, with more than 300 musicians, artists and performers of all sorts at more than 25 participating venues and galleries throughout Beacon. Snuggle up by one of the cozy campfires all along Main Street, and take advantage of discounts on food, beverages, services, and retail items! Click here to purchase tickets, to see a festival map, and for tips on transportation and parking. And if you’re looking for a little adventure to start the weekend, head to the Mount Beacon Trailhead for the Beacon BonFireball 10-kilometer race in the rugged Hudson Highlands!
Related: Top 10 Places to View Fall Foliage
Saturday, Nov. 4, 11 a.m. at Barton Orchards, Poughquag
Beer, whiskey and wine — those are three perfect reasons to head to Barton Orchards for a fall afternoon filled with good tastes and good times! This festival features dozens of different beers, wines and spirits from around the world and from right here in the Hudson Valley. Enjoy live music and entertainment all day, along with vendors for shopping, a craft beer hayride, a corn maze, and gourmet food trucks. Be sure to stop by the farm market and the bakery for lots of farm-fresh items and tasty treats.
Saturday, Nov. 4, 1 p.m. at Mount Gulian Historic Site, Beacon
Harv Hilowitz, Contributing Scholar for the Maritime Museum in Kingston, presents this discussion about the history of the Lenape Indigenous People, the first inhabitants of this region. This event, hosted by the Mount Gulian Historic Site in conjunction with the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area, will focus on the Lenape culture before the Contact Period in the early 1600s and examine the Lenape diaspora, as well as the current renaissance and return to the area. The property now known as Mount Gulian was part of the Rombout Royal Patent, an 85,000-acre parcel of land that was sold in 1685 by the Native Americans to Gulian Verplanck and Francis Rombout in exchange for about $1,200 worth of goods. For thousands of years prior to the sale, the Lenape had used the property at Mount Gulian as a seasonal encampment along the Hudson River. Verplanck’s grandson built his family’s homestead on the property in 1730 and named it Mount Gulian. In the centuries that followed, Mount Gulian and its residents played important roles in pivotal historic events, including the American Revolution, the Civil War and the Abolitionist Movement.
Saturday, Nov. 4, 2 p.m. at Wilderstein Historic Site, Rhinebeck
Tintype photography, as its name implies, involves capturing black-and-white photographic images on metal plates. Introduced in the mid-1800s, the tintype was a popular — and cheaper — alternative to the other photographic media of the time. At this event, historical photographer Tom Delooza presents a lecture and demonstration highlighting the art and history of the tintype. For an additional fee, you can even have your portrait taken. Click here to purchase tickets. Tintypes were all the rage when Wilderstein’s original residents, Thomas Suckley and his wife, Catherine Murray Bowne, lived in the country home. Built in 1852 and enlarged in 1888, Wilderstein’s ornate beauty and stunning views of the Hudson River and surrounding highlands make it an ideal place to snap a few photos — whether they’re tintypes, digital images or anything in between!
Related: The Dutchess Tourism Story Finder History and Heritage Trail
Sunday, Nov. 5, 10 a.m. at the MJN Convention Center, Poughkeepsie
All aboard! The Hudson Valley Railroad Society hosts its annual train show at the MJN Convention Center (formerly the Mid-Hudson Civic Center), featuring an enjoyable day of model trains and vendors, a kids' ride-on railroad, fully operating model train layouts, raffles and a free holiday character photo-op. Click here to purchase tickets. Proceeds from the hobby show will benefit the 1914 Hyde Park Station Museum, which is also hosting a Build a Holiday Train Night on Nov. 16 and a Christmas Activities Night featuring a “Polar Express” reading, a sing-along, crafts, hot cocoa and Santa on Dec. 18! That historic station was slated for demolition in 1975 when the HVRRS stepped in and saved it. In the nearly 50 years since, the HVRRS has been restoring the station and preserving the history of the railroads in the Hudson Valley.
Sunday, Nov. 12, 2 p.m. at Millbrook Vineyards and Winery, Millbrook
Arts Mid-Hudson and Millbrook Vineyards and Winery team up to present this annual project in which artwork is transformed into original labels for wine bottles. At this closing reception, enjoy hors d’oeuvres and desserts by Simply Gourmet, wine from Millbrook Vineyards (of course!) and live music by the Swing Vipers as you mingle with the participating artists, one of whom will be crowned the winner of this year’s competition. Click here to reserve tickets.
Related: The Dutchess Tourism Taste Finder Craft Beverage Trail
Saturday, Nov. 18, 7 p.m. at The Stissing Center, Pine Plains
Spend an enchanted evening celebrating your inner child with "Fate is Kind," the multi-award-winning cabaret show conceived by New York City-based award-winning vocalist Julie Reyburn and award-winning composer and music director Mark Janas. This cabaret performance weaves two classic children’s books, “Goodnight Moon” and “The Velveteen Rabbit,” along a journey of musical theater and American songbook classics that addresses the realities of adulthood by acknowledging the child within. Enjoy musical selections from Stephen Sondheim, Frank Loesser and Hudson Valley natives Dar Williams and Jason Robert Brown, among others. Click here to purchase tickets.
Sunday, Nov. 19, 3 p.m. at Troutbeck, Amenia
Whether you're an experienced meditator or if you've never meditated but are curious about it, this event is for you. Join acclaimed journalist, bestselling author, former news anchor and meditation expert Dan Harris in the Ballroom at Troutbeck for a discussion on his methods along with a guided meditation and a Q&A session. Click here to purchase tickets. Of course, Troutbeck’s luxurious accommodations and tranquil setting in the Dutchess countryside make it perfect for a weekend of relaxation and deep thought. Click here to book a room. Harris’ story and perspective on the benefits of meditation are told in “10% Happier,” a number one New York Times bestseller. He also hosts the “Ten Percent Happier” podcast and is the co-founder of the “Ten Percent Happier” meditation app.
Related: Top 10 Hidden Gem Hikes
Saturday, Nov. 25, 8 p.m. at the MJN Convention Center, Poughkeepsie
Comedian Jo Koy has performed at sold-out arenas and broken attendance records all over the world, and he brings his unique brand comedy — mainly inspired by his family and his Filipino roots — to the MJN Convention Center (formerly the Mid-Hudson Civic Center) for what promises to be one hilarious night. He has had four highly rated and successful comedy specials on Comedy Central and Netflix, and his 2019 stand-up comedy album, “Live From Seattle,” reached number one on the Billboard charts. Click here to buy tickets. If time allows, make a weekend out of it! The MJN Convention Center is adjacent to the Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel and within walking distance of several great restaurants. The Poughkeepsie Grand offers a shuttle to and from the Poughkeepsie train station, which provides service to Metro-North and Amtrak trains. Call the front desk at (845) 485-5300 to confirm.
By appointment, November through January at Hudson Beach Glass, Beacon
It only takes 15 minutes to create a beautifully festive glass holiday ornament of your very own, one which will bring holiday cheer to your home year after year and can be handed down from one generation to the next. It’s a terrific activity to do as a family (ages 6 and older can participate). Choose from more than two dozen styles. You can either pick up your ornament the following day after it cools or arrange to have your ornament shipped to you. Click here to book your appointment. Located in a re-purposed historic firehouse on Main Street, the Hudson Beach Glass studio is within walking distance of the Beacon Metro-North train station, so getting there is a breeze! Plus, Beacon’s walkable downtown area features a variety of great restaurants and attractions, so make a day of it!
Ongoing at multiple locations
It’s time to start planning those holiday cards, and if you’re looking for a warm and fuzzy photo opportunity, Dutchess County has you covered.
• Clover Brooke Farm (Hyde Park): Clover Brooke hosts a variety of animal experiences, including llama and alpaca hikes. Shop in their store for a variety of yarn products, as well as handcrafted soaps – perfect to give as gifts, or to keep for yourself!
• Lilymoore Farm (Pleasant Valley): Schedule a trek or a tour and meet and greet alpacas, llamas and an assortment of other farm animals. If you’re looking for gift ideas, look no further than Lilymoore’s shop, which is open Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. and offers a variety of sustainable, eco-friendly alpaca products!
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