-
Things to Do
-
Plan
-
About
Hooray for summer! The weather is beautiful, the kids are home from school and there are a million exciting things to see and do here in Dutchess County.
Located in the heart of the Hudson Valley of New York State, Dutchess is known for its world-class cuisine, fascinating historic sites, vibrant arts and culture scene, burgeoning craft beverage industry and family-friendly attractions, as well as acres upon acres of farmland and vineyards and miles upon miles of hiking and biking trails that offer stunning views of the Hudson River and the surrounding highlands.
Whether you visit for a weekend, a week or the whole summer, you will find new adventures waiting around every corner. Getting here is easy – by car, train or plane – but once you’re here, it’s oh-so-hard to leave.
Here is a list of the Top 10 Dutchess County events in July (the toughest part was narrowing the list to 10). Be sure to keep that camera handy, and feel free to share your photos here.
Of course, July is also the time for Upstate Art Weekend throughout the region and Oaxaca Week in Poughkeepsie, along with plenty of Fourth of July celebrations.
Now through Sept. 4 at Staatsburgh State Historic Site, Staatsburg
Here’s a fun activity for adults and kids alike. Explore the expansive grounds surrounding the Mills Mansion at Staatsburgh State Historic Site, complete 10 specific tasks and win a free ice cream cone from Stewart’s Shops. It’s a great way to learn more about this opulent Gilded Age estate on the banks of the Hudson as you enjoy the natural beauty and breathtaking views of the river and the Catskill Mountains. You’ll need a camera phone to complete the scavenger hunt. Click here to download the instructions and get started. The knowledgeable staff at Staatsburgh does a terrific job with its themed tours of the 79-room mansion, which is still decorated with the family’s original furniture and artwork. Among the most popular tours are the “Tales of the Titanic” tour – Ogden and Ruth Mills had tickets for the Titanic’s return voyage, which, of course, never happened – and the “Gilded Age Scandals” tour – Ogden and Ruth were upstanding citizens, but some of their Gilded Age friends and neighbors certainly were not! Click here to schedule a tour.
Now through October at the Omega Institute for Holistic Studies, Rhinebeck
Relax and recharge in the peaceful tranquility of Omega’s scenic 250-acre campus. The best part about an Omega retreat is that you call the shots – do as little or as much as you like. Enjoy simple, comfortable accommodations and delicious farm-to-table meals made with local, sustainable ingredients. Yoga, tai chi and meditation classes help you to exercise your body and mind. Take a canoe or a kayak out on Omega’s 80-acre Long Pond Lake, select a book from the more than 7,000 volumes on holistic living at Ram Dass Library, explore the garden and woodland trails, or hit the court for some pickleball, tennis or basketball. In the evening, enjoy some musical entertainment, settle in for a movie or gather by a bonfire. Click here to book a Rest & Rejuvenation Retreat. Throughout July, Omega will also be hosting three separate theme weeks: Arts Week (July 2-7), Retreat Week (July 9-14) and Family Week (July 23-28). These theme weeks are among Omega’s longest running and most popular annual programs, and each features its own unique and carefully curated activities and workshops. Click here to learn more about Omega’s theme weeks.
July 1 – 23 at multiple locations
This free scavenger hunt offers a chance to win the grand prize of $2,023, along with other amazing prizes and rewards! Here’s how it works: Visit participating establishments and attractions throughout the Hudson Valley between July 1 and 23 – including quite a few here in Dutchess County – and earn points as you go. Earn 40 points or more to be entered in the grand-prize drawing. There will be other drawings for those collecting fewer points, as well as other awards, including “Best Selfie,” “Best Team Spirit” and “Best Team Name.” It’s a fun way to visit some of the Hudson Valley’s many wonderful landmarks, restaurants, shops and businesses. Click here to see a list of participating establishments and start hunting!
Saturday, July 8, 4 p.m. at the Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park
The Culinary Institute of America presents its senior capstone event, “Lokahi: Evening Luau,” which has been inspired by the cuisines and cultures of the Hawaiian and Polynesian islands. This event is planned, operated and executed by the CIA’s graduating class of bachelor’s degree recipients. Enjoy cocktail hour on Anton Plaza, followed by a delicious six-course dinner in Farquharson Hall. Required attire is upscale casual/semi-formal. Click here to reserve tickets. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Poughkeepsie Farm Project and its efforts to provide equitable access to nutritious food, as well as the Love for Lade Perry Scholarship, which honors the memory of Perry, a 16-year veteran in the U.S. Navy and a CIA student who died unexpectedly in 2022.
Related: CIA Chef Finder Food Lovers Trail
July 10 – 12 at multiple locations
This three-day tour offers exclusive access to many of the Hudson Valley’s most beautiful homes, unique estates and iconic historic sites. Each ticket includes a four-night stay at The Hyatt Place in Poughkeepsie, a dinner at the historic Beekman Arms in Rhinebeck, an exclusive garden lunch at Edgewater in Barrytown, bus transportation between sites and site admission. The tour will also visit Locust Grove Estate in Poughkeepsie; the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum and the Home of FDR National Historic Site (Springwood) in Hyde Park; the Mills Mansion at Staatsburgh State Historic Site in Staatsburg; the Thomas Cole National Historic Site in Catskill; the Oliver Bronson House and the Olana State Historic Site in Hudson; Wilderstein Historic Site in Rhinebeck; and Montgomery Place in Barrytown. This one-of-a-kind tour is sure to sell out quickly. Click here to reserve tickets.
July 14 – Aug. 6 at Marist College, Poughkeepsie
New York Stage and Film has been an incubator for emerging and established artists and their work since 1985, and this summer’s annual festival at Marist College’s scenic campus on the Hudson River features a strong lineup of imaginative and insightful plays and musicals, including the world premiere of the theatrical work “Like They Do in the Movies,” written and performed by Tony Award winner, Emmy Award winner and Oscar nominee Laurence Fishburne. Other highlights include performances of “A Wrinkle in Time” and “Paradise Ballroom,” as well as several play readings. The season opens on July 14 with a concert featuring Joe Iconis & Family at Marist’s Nelly Goletti Theatre. To see the complete season schedule and to purchase tickets, click here.
July 19 – 23, 8 p.m. at Bannerman Castle, Beacon
Don’t miss this chance to see “Nunsense” — the Off-Broadway hit that ran for more than 10 years — on historic and scenic Bannerman Island. The show has been updated with new jokes, additional lyrics and new arrangements. The original production of this musical comedy, written by Dan Goggin, opened in 1985 and ran for 3,672 performances, making it the second-longest Off-Broadway show ever. Click here to purchase tickets. Each ticket to the show includes a scenic cruise to and from Bannerman Island aboard the Estuary Steward tour boat. Boats will leave the Beacon launch dock at 6 and 7 p.m. for the 8 p.m. show. The Beacon dock is adjacent to the Beacon Train Station, which offers rail service on the Metro-North Hudson Line, so getting there is a breeze! There is a fully stocked concession and gift shop on Bannerman Island, and the theater space is heated.
Sunday, July 23, 5:30 – 8:15 p.m., departs from and returns to the Rhinecliff Landing, Rhinecliff
Climb aboard the Sloop Clearwater — “America’s Environmental Flagship” — and explore the majestic Hudson River as the sun sets behind the overlooking highlands. Be sure to check out some Hudson River critters in the fish tank and join the captain at the helm to take a turn on the tiller. The Clearwater is a 106-foot replica of the Dutch vessels that sailed the Hudson in the 18th and 19th centuries. The brainchild of folk musician Pete Seeger and his wife, Toshi, the Clearwater was launched in 1969 — at a time when the Hudson was suffering from decades of industrial pollution — and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004 for its groundbreaking role in the environmental movement to resurrect and preserve the mighty river. Click here to reserve tickets for this event. To learn more about the Clearwater’s Hudson River-based environmental education programs, click here.
July 27 – 30 at the Riga Meadow Equestrian Center, Coole Park Farm, Amenia
Head to the rolling hills and bucolic countryside of Eastern Dutchess and celebrate the deeply rooted equestrian traditions of the Hudson Valley at the Millbrook Horse Trials. Enjoy four days of dressage, cross-country and show jumping competitions, as well as a country fair with vendors, food trucks, a petting zoo and other family-friendly activities. As the only remaining competition in the Northeast to offer an Advanced division, the Millbrook Horse Trials is an important event on the national calendar and will feature roughly 400 competitors of all levels, from Olympic riders to local amateurs. Spectator admission is free! Click here to see the full schedule of events.
Related: A First-Timer's Guide to Dutchess County
Saturday, July 29, 12 – 4 p.m. at College Hill Park, Poughkeepsie
There are many examples of people in Dutchess County who have heroically championed the fight for equality in America, from the Abolitionist Movement through the Civil Rights Movement. Celebrated activist, writer and orator Frederick Douglass — who had escaped bondage in Maryland and went on to become an iconic figure in the antislavery and women’s suffrage movements of the 19th century — delivered an inspirational speech at the Collegiate School in Poughkeepsie (now College Hill Park) on Aug. 2, 1858, and implored the audience of 4,000 to demand justice and end slavery in the United States. In commemoration of this important event, the City of Poughkeepsie and the nonprofit organization Celebrating the African Spirit have joined forces to present the third-annual Frederick Douglass Day on the site of his impassioned speech. Music, food and performances will honor the significance of Douglass' speech and applaud the local people who were in attendance and witnessed history that day. To learn more about the history of College Hill Park and ongoing efforts to preserve it, click here.
Every Friday in July and August, 12 – 5 p.m. at Wethersfield Estate and Garden, Amenia
In recognition of National Teacher Appreciation Week, Wethersfield Estate & Garden will offer free admission to teachers and their immediate families every Friday in July and August. Set on 1,000 acres of beautiful rolling hills, the estate includes a gorgeous formal garden inspired by the villa gardens of the Italian Renaissance. Tours of the Carriage House Museum, with 22 restored horse-drawn carriages, and the Main Residence, which includes extensive art and furniture collections, are available by reservation only. Wethersfield’s network of trails is open for hiking, cross-country skiing and horseback riding. Click here to learn more.
Covid-19 Information 
Our top priority is the safety, health, and wellbeing of our community, its residents and visitors.
Information for visitors & residents Information & Resources
