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With its impossibly beautiful foliage, its crisp autumn air and its bountiful harvests, there is nothing quite like October in Dutchess County! There are so many wonderful places to explore and so many memorable experiences to enjoy. Bring a camera, and be sure to savor every moment as you check out these exciting events in October:
Sept. 29 through Oct. 9 at locations to be announced
Presented by the New York Cider Association, this 11-day festival celebrates all the best of the booming craft cider industry in the Hudson Valley. Stay tuned for a list of local participants, tastings, tours and more. For updates, click here.
Related: Prettiest Places to Dine Outdoors in Dutchess
Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 1-2 at the Brinckerhoff House Historic Site, Hopewell Junction
Step back in time more than 200 years and experience what life was like for soldiers, camp followers and civilians in the Hudson Valley during the American Revolution at this fourth-annual living-history event presented by the East Fishkill Historical Society. Watch military drills and enjoy demonstrations of cooking, baking, woodworking, blacksmithing, gunsmithing, broom-making and more! The Brinckerhoff House Historic Site features several historic buildings, including a 1750-1785 Dutch-style farmhouse.
Saturday, Oct. 8, 12-9 p.m. at Tymor Park, LaGrangeville
Last year’s inaugural festival was a tremendous success, with more than 1,000 participants coming to celebrate all things Irish. This year’s festival, organized by the Dutchess County Gaelic Athletic Association, promises to be even bigger! There will be live music, including Derek Warfield and The Young Wolfe Tones, as well as Irish dance performances, kids' inflatables, raffles and, of course, plenty to eat and drink! To buy tickets, click here.
Related: Top 10 Places to Get Ice Cream in Dutchess
Multiple dates at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds, Rhinebeck
Sure, the Dutchess County Fair will have come and gone by October, but there is still plenty of action at the Fairgrounds all month long! On Oct. 1 and 2, Quail Hollow Events presents its Handcrafted Oktoberfest. Celebrating the ideas of small-batch and hand-spun, this family harvest festival has something for everyone, including fine arts and crafts, specialty foods, local beer, wine and spirits, live entertainment, carriage rides, a master pumpkin carver, a petting zoo and so much more! The following weekend, Oct. 8-9, is Barn Star’s Fall Antiques Show, where you will see many of your favorite antique dealers along with new exhibitors. Find everything from art and furniture to jewelry and quilts! The weekend after that, Oct. 15-16, is the New York State Sheep and Wool Festival, presented by the Dutchess County Sheep and Wool Growers Association. There will be plenty of workshops covering all sorts of weaving, knitting and basket-making topics, along with kids’ activities, a used equipment auction and, of course, the Black and White Sheep Show!
Saturday, Oct. 15, 5-8 p.m. at the Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum, Poughkeepsie
Do your kids love to experiment and explore, create and collaborate? Then the Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum is the place to go! On the third Saturday of every month, the museum stays open late, and admission is free starting at 5 p.m.! Everyone is welcome to come and learn and have fun. The many hands-on exhibits are designed to be accessible for children 12 and younger with a wide variety of needs. For more information about this jewel on the Poughkeepsie Waterfront, click here.
Related: Let the Dutchess Tourism Connection Finder Passport be your Guide to Family Fun
Saturday, Oct. 15, 1-6 p.m. at Dutchess Stadium, Wappingers Falls
Hops on the Hudson presents this afternoon of live bands, food trucks, games, raffles and, of course, beer! Enjoy unlimited pours of more than 100 beers from more than 50 different breweries at "The Dutch," the home of the Hudson Valley Renegades minor-league baseball team. Local participants include Mill House, Dutchess Ales, King's Court, Sloop Brewing Company and Industrial Arts Brewing Company. Getting there is a snap with the free trolley from the Beacon Metro-North train station! For ticket options, click here.
October 15, 16, 22 and 23, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., at various locations
Talented artists across Dutchess County invite you into their studios for an up-close look at where they create their masterpieces. Painters, sculptors, photographers, woodworkers, potters and more! Plan your own self-guided tour with stops in Amenia, Dover Plains, Wingdale, Pawling, Holmes and Patterson along the Route 22 corridor and the Metro-North Harlem Line, and Poughquag, Hopewell Junction and LaGrangeville a little further west. Brochures are available at many local businesses in the Hudson Valley, or check out the ArtEast website for tour details. You can request a brochure by emailing info@arteastdutchess.com. For helpful tips on where to stay and eat during your tour, click here.
Related: Top 10 Picnic Spots in Dutchess County
Wednesday, Oct. 19, 6 p.m. at the MJN Convention Center, Poughkeepsie
Your “little piggies” will certainly love this! Join Peppa Pig and her friends for a delightful, family-friendly evening full of singing, dancing, games and surprises! Sing along as Peppa, her brother George and her friends embark on an exciting camping adventure in the forest! To purchase tickets, click here. If time allows, grab a bite to eat before the show at one of the dozens of restaurants within walking distance or a short drive away from the Convention Center, such as Hudson and Packard Detroit Pizza.
Saturday, Oct. 22, 12-5 p.m. at The Family Partnership, 29 N. Hamilton Street, Poughkeepsie
The heart of Poughkeepsie provides an atmospheric backdrop as Arts Mid-Hudson presents an afternoon of gospel singers, choirs and praise dancers! Featured performers include the Hudson Valley Gospel Festival Choir, the Hudson Valley Gospel Festival Praise Dance Team, the New Stars of Harmony and the Sisters of the Spirit, among others. Get ready to let your spirit soar! To purchase tickets, click here.
Sunday, Oct. 30, 4 p.m. at The Stissing Center, Pine Plains
The Stissing Center concludes its 2022 Chamber Music Series with this festive program featuring piano virtuoso Llewellyn Sanchez-Werner and the series’ director, pianist Sophia (Shuhui) Zhou. The evening’s program will include the music of Tchaikovsky, Mozart and Gershwin, among others. To purchase tickets to this or any of the other fantastic events at The Stissing Center, click here.
(Main photo, a view from Ferncliff Fire Tower, by Michael Coluccio)
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