Bombs bursting in air at Knox’s Headquarters & New Windsor Cantonment
Another way to celebrate Independence Day is to honor the Revolutionary soldiers who made our freedom possible. On Thursday, July 4, Knox’s Headquarters will fire a small cannon at 1 and 4 p.m. The New Windsor Cantonment hosts a military firing demonstration at 2 p.m. Knox’s Headquarters is located at 289 Forge Hill Road in Vails Gate. The New Windsor Cantonment is located at 374 Temple Hill Road in New Windsor. For more information, call (845) 561-1765 or (845) 561-5498.
“Pirates of the Hudson” invade Philipsburg Manor
For a different slice of history, bring your family to this weekend’s “Pirates of the Hudson” event at Philipsburg Manor. From Thursday, July 4 through Sunday, July 7, all types of pirates arrive for the Siege of Sleepy Hollow, including musical pirates and Gypsy sword dancers, but watch out: These pirates want your gold! Activities for children include a Pieces of Eight treasure hunt, checking out a pirate shipwreck, getting their picture taken with a mermaid and a talkative parrot named Peterwick. Tickets for timed entries from 1 to 5 p.m. are priced at $16 for adults, $12 for children under 18, with a $5 discount for members.
Philipsburg Manor is located at 381 North Broadway in Sleepy Hollow. For tickets or more information, call (914) 631-3992 or (914) 631-8200, or visit www.hudsonvalley.org.
Persen House in Kingston hosts Redcoat brigade
This weekend marks such a rich, historical and commemorative time, and on Saturday, July 6, one of Ulster County’s oldest buildings hosts the British Brigade of the 16th Queen’s Light Dragoons. The Brigade will occupy the Matthewis Persen house once again, and engage visitors in reenactments. This could be a wonderful way to tie history and action together for your most ardent first-person-shooter videogame fans.
The site is part of the only intersection in the US with pre-Revolutionary stone houses on all four corners, and there are more facts to discover through historical exhibits on display as well. Admission is free. The Matthewis Persen House is located at 74 John Street in Kingston. For more information, call (845) 340-3040 or visit www.co.ulster.ny.us/countyclerk/persenhouse.html.
Living History Encampment and Muster at Historic Huguenot Street
For more reenactments, stop by Huguenot Street for its Living History Encampment and Muster on Saturday, July 6 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The encampment and muster are free and open to the public and demonstrate aspects of daily lives of villagers as well as military personnel during the late 17th and early 18th century, such as chores, cooking, sewing, tenting, weapons and musical instruments. Guided tours of Historic Huguenot Street homes are available at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. Admission for tours costs $16 for adults; $15 for seniors, students, military and AAA members; $40 per family; and $10 for children ages 10 to 13 years. The event is free for members, enlisted military personnel and their families and children under 10 years.
The encampment and muster take place on the lawn next to the DuBois Fort Visitor Center, located at 81 Huguenot Street in New Paltz. For more information, call (845) 255-1660 or visit www.huguenotstreet.org.
Eribeth Chamber Players present Young People’s Concert at Maverick
Speaking of history, our local cultural treasure Maverick Concerts is the longest-running continuous summer chamber music festival in the US. Get your crew over to Maverick Concerts in Woodstock this Saturday, July 6 for this weekend’s Young People’s Concert: Eribeth Chamber Players featuring music of Benjamin Britten. I’m grateful to Maverick for offering these concerts because the setting is so special, and in our area, it’s pretty rare to find top-quality musicianship geared specifically toward a younger audience.
The Eribeth Chamber Players include founding core members violinist Elizabeth Silver, cellist Erica Pickhardt and pianist Kristen Tuttman. In addition to traditional chamber music concerts, the Eribeth Chamber Players specialize in innovative educational programming for children and are on the faculties of Berkshire Music School and Emma Willard School in Troy.
The Young People’s Concert begins at 11 a.m. and lasts between 45 minutes and one hour. Admission is free for children under age 16 and $5 for adults. Maverick Concerts are located at 120 Maverick Road in Woodstock. For more information, call (845) 679-8217 or visit https://maverickconcerts.org or www.facebook.com/maverickconcerts.
Join the family! 
