CELEBRATING 400 YEARS OF HISTORY & THE HUDSON
HUDSON-FULTON-CHAMPLAIN QUADRICENTENNIAL EVENTS
Celebrate the 400th anniversary of the voyages of discovery made by Henry Hudson and Samuel de Champlain, plus the 200th anniversary of Robert Fulton's Hudson River steamship voyage. Come join in our celebration at Dutchess River Days!
The Dutch influence throughout our region, initially “New Netherland”, dates back to Hudson's discovery. We invite you to do the same - come discover Dutchess County, known for its striking natural scenery and recreational possibilities
The 2009 celebration is marked by exciting events at historic sites and parks, in all of our towns and villages, and along the banks of the majestic Hudson River. The Walkway Over the Hudson opens as the longest pedestrian bridge in the world in October, 2009. Standing on the former railroad bridge, you'll see panoramic views you'll never forget.
2009 Highlights include:
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May 23-25: Half Moon visits Poughkeepsie riverfront; family festival
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May 23-25: National Cup VIII LaGrangeville Regional Soccer Tournament
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June 6-13: River Days, flotilla of tall ships and boats travels from New York City to Albany, with stops in Poughkeepsie and Beacon for festivities June 8-10
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June 6: Joseph Bertolozzi's Bridge Music premier, Poughkeepsie
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July 4 & 5: Water front festival, historic boats and fireworks, Poughkeepsie
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July 17 & 18: Mid-Hudson Hot Air Balloon Festival, Poughkeepsie
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September 6 & 7: Water front festival, historic boats, Poughkeepsie
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Mid-September to October: "Light on New Netherland" exhibit at 4 locations
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October 2-4: Walkway Over the Hudson opens; the unique pedestrian park is 212 feet above the river and 3,000 feet long
Visit
www.Dutchess400.com
Dutchess County Tourism's official website for all area Quadricentennial activities. Read about regional history, the arts, Dutch food and trivia, the Native Americans who greeted Hudson, and profiles of historic sites and museums.
Four hundred years later, it's well worth discovering Dutchess County on your own travel adventure! The Quadricentennial is a great time to have fun exploring the history, arts and recreational offerings here for yourself. The journey continues….
GRAND OPENING OF THE WALKWAY OVER THE HUDSON
Millions of patrons eagerly anticipate the grand opening of the Walkway Over the Hudson and are thrilled to know that the design and construction of the Walkway is on schedule and has progressed smoothly. The walkway bridge is expected to be finished in October! Hikers, bicyclists, joggers, and visitors from outside Dutchess and Ulster County are enthusiastic about the walkway and feverishly await it as the time gets nearer and nearer.
With the arrival of the warm weather, the Harrison & Burrows team has resumed the placement of concrete panels. In March, panels started to be placed on the east end of the bridge in addition to picking up where they left off on the west end of the bridge. Currently there are over 50 people working on the bridge to help finish building by October, the 1.25-mile, longest walkway bridge in the world!
The grand opening of the walkway bridge is on October 3rd, and is a free event! Come join this extraordinary experience and watch as two nautical ropes coming from the East and West sides of the bridge tie a knot. People are still needed to help hold extend this mile long rope across the bridge. There will be gala bands, lots of ceremony, kites, windsocks, and a Grand Parade that will flow in both directions across the bridge. From your high perch you will see rowing races, the Parade, a jet-ski ballet, a fly-over by the Olde Rhinebeck Aerodrome vintage planes and more! To help hold the rope, call or email Jeanne Fleming at (845) 758-5519 or visit
openingcelebration@walkway.org.
To get more information about the Walkway Over the Hudson, visit
www.walkway.org
THE HALF MOON
Get ready to go back in time as the Half Moon (Halve Maen in Dutch) sails into Dutchess County from Saturday to Monday, May 23-25. No, not the Dutch East India Company ship that sailed into New York Harbor in 1609, but the beautiful full-scale, operating replica of the Dutch ship. The Half Moon now acts as a traveling museum, conducting programs about the unique history of the Dutch colony, New Netherland. Walk the plank and tour inside the ship, where Hudson and his crew of 23 ate, slept and worked for an entire year. Don’t miss this unique chance to mark our Quadricentennial celebration!
The Half Moon will be open to the public for guided tours in Poughkeepsie on Sunday and Monday of Memorial Day weekend from 12 noon to 5pm. Admission is $7, $5 for seniors and students ages 12-18; children under 12 are admitted free but must be accompanied by an adult.
Enjoy plenty of waterfront activities including a children’s festival at Waryas Park before and after your tour. This is the first time the Half Moon has ever docked in Poughkeepsie! The Half Moon then hosts school children and conducts group tours on Tuesday and Wednesday. Visit
www.Dutchess400.com
and
www.halfmoon.mus.ny.us
for information.
BRIDGE MUSIC
On June 6th, you can experience a new type of music that is unique and rare! Joseph Bertolozzi is using the railings, spindles, fences, trusses, panels, cables, and suspender ropes of the Mid-Hudson Bridge in Poughkeepsie to create one-of-a-kind music.
Bertolozzi’s music is original and an inventive way to create new music. He is using the suspension bridge that spans over the Hudson River as an instrument itself. He has expanded the boundaries of known music making and has used the river and mountains themselves as his theater.
Emotionally and physically, Bertolozzi’s music moves you. On June 6th you have the chance to experience what millions of people have never seen or heard before! His new form of bridge music is inspiring and a must see! For more information, visit
www.josephbertolozzi.com
CLEARWATER'S 2009 PUBLIC SAILS SCHEDULED
Clearwater’s three-hour long sails on its tall ships are looked upon as one of the most incredible and unforgettable experiences imaginable on the Hudson River. Each sail offers an opportunity to view our region’s beautiful vistas and historic landmarks while sitting back and relaxing on the water. You'll even pitch in on the working replica of the 19th century sailing vessels once so prevalent on the Hudson. You'll learn about the river’s ecosystem and environmental concerns as well.
Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, America’s flagship environmental organization, posted the 2009 spring and summer public sailing schedule aboard their sloops. The first public sail of the year takes place on Saturday, April 25 out of Beacon. A full schedule of the public sails aboard both the Clearwater and Mystic Whaler can be found online at
www.clearwater.org
Each sail allows about 50 passengers to participate on the Clearwater and 65 can take part on the Mystic Whaler. There’s no better way to celebrate this Quadricentennial, the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson’s voyage of discovery up the river!
The charge to join the sails is $50 for adults and $15 for children 12 and under. Carry-on food and beverages are permitted.
CRAFTS AT RHINEBECK
Each June the lovely Dutchess County Fairgrounds is the site for the premier arts and crafts shows in the northeast. For the past thirty years, Crafts at Rhinebeck has been the home of only the finest artists and craftspeople nationwide. This year, Crafts at Rhinebeck comes to life on Saturday and Sunday, June 20 and June 21.
Enjoy a day of meandering through the Crafts at Rhinebeck Festival featuring a selection of the finest handmade crafts from across the country, set against the background of the beautiful Dutchess County Fairgrounds. It is a perfect place to pick out a gift for someone or to buy something nice for yourself. This “high end” festival features jewelry, fine art, home décor, wood works, fiber, ceramics, and gourmet foods from more than three hundred juried artisans.
Crafts at Rhinebeck is an indoor festival and is held rain or shine. The expo runs from 10am to 6pm on Saturday and 10am to 5pm on Sunday. For more information, call 845/876-4001 or visit
www.CraftsatRhinebeck.com
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POWERHOUSE THEATRE
Powerhouse Theater, a collaboration between New York Stage and Film and Vassar College, is celebrating their 25th anniversary season this year. Powerhouse Theatre is devoted to both new and up-and-coming artists and well-known, established artists. Together, these artists work in the development and production of new works for theater and film.
More than 200 professional artists and theatre students spend eight intense weeks of the summer engaging in many different projects. They work hard and dedicate their time to have plays, musicals, and screenplays presented in a variety of forms such as: readings, workshops, and fully staged productions.
Since the first Powerhouse Theater season in 1985, New York Stage and Film and Vassar have served more than 2,000 artists and over 175,000 audience members through the development and production of artistically exceptional and affordably priced performances. This season takes place from June 26-August 2, and the schedule is to be announced. Times and admission varies.
For information, call (845) 437-5902 or visit
http://powerhouse.vassar.edu
. Vassar College, Box 225, 124 Raymond Avenue, Poughkeepsie.
Smart Shoppers Head to the Stormville Antique Show & Flea Market
Who doesn’t love a bargain, especially this year? Faced with a list of gifts to buy this May and June? Want to spruce up your home on a budget? Need some lighter threads - for less green? You'll go home with a shopping bag full of terrific deals from the Stormville Airport Flea Market.
More than 600 vendors trek from eight states to set up their merchandise. You'll find a tremendous variety of antiques and collectables, plus new merchandise and apparel, arts and crafts, and useful household items - something for every taste and budget. Begun in 1970 with a mere two dozen vendors, it’s one of the largest antique shows and flea markets in the Northeast, with hundreds of vendors.
Shop ‘til you drop on these dates: Sunday, April 26; Memorial Day weekend, May 23 & 24; July 4 & 5; Sunday, August 2; Columbus Day weekend, October 10 & 11 and finish up with “Christmas in November” on November 1.
There’s even a food court with a world of flavors. The flea market goes on rain or shine, dawn to dusk, but please leave your pet at home. Parking and admission is free.
The Stormville Airport Antique Show & Flea Market is located at a private airport on Route 216, right off the scenic Taconic State Parkway. One visit and you’ll agree, “It’s worth the trip from anywhere!” They’ll never know that unique gift came from the flea market! Call 845/221-6561 or
www.stormvilleairportfleamarket.com
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