Nursing Moms unite in the Big Latch-On
“Ever used Dr. David Lester’s Chiropractic? Great! Cross off a box in Breastfeeding Bingo!”
– Donna Bruschi, New Baby New Paltz
The Global Big Latch-On is a worldwide breastfeeding event on Friday and Saturday, August 1 and 2 to promote breastfeeding in public in a fun and positive way during World Breastfeeding Week. Participants register at a local site (listings on the Big Latch-On website). To be included in the Big Latch-On count, the child breastfeeds for at least one minute at 10:30 a.m. Last year, the count was 14,536 women and their children; will the total be larger this year? To be a part of the action, here are some local venues participating in the Big Latch-On. For more information, visit www.biglatchon.org.
Friday, August 1: New Baby New Paltz, 15 Plattekill Avenue in New Paltz, 10 a.m. Snacks, games and announcement of the Breastfeeding Bingo winner. (845) 255-0654, https://newbabynewpaltz.com.
Saturday, August 2: Waddle n Swaddle, both locations: 32 Raymond Avenue in Poughkeepsie and 41 East Market Street in Rhinebeck, 9:30 a.m. Nursing moms and their families are welcome for this event. (845) 473-5952 in Poughkeepsie, (845) 876-5952 in Rhinebeck, https://waddlenswaddle.com.
Saturday, August 2: Breastfeeding Coalition of Dutchess County, Poughkeepsie Galleria, 2001 South Road in Poughkeepsie, 10 a.m. Photo booth, breastfeeding support, swag bags and first annual Milk Mama Month Count, counting months of pumping or breastfeeding for those who weaned. dutchessbreastfeeding@aol.com, www.facebook.com/dutchessbreastfeeding.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 1
Hear Tales of the Rainbow Forest at Phoenicia’s Railroad Museum
One highlight of this week’s Phoenicia International Festival of the Voice is the storytelling on Friday, and Saturday, August 1 and 2 at 11:30 a.m.: Tales of the Rainbow Forest by McKenzie Willis at the Railroad Museum. To preview the book or the companion recording of children’s songs about some of the characters in the story, visit https://talesoftherainbowforest.com.
The Railroad Museum is located at 70 High Street in Phoenicia. For more information, call (845) 586-3588 or visit www.phoeniciavoicefest.org.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 2
New York Renaissance Faire returns to Sterling Forest
Thinking about Leonardo Da Vinci, Diane de Poitiers and the printing press might elicit a nostalgia for history. No problem; you can immerse yourself in this era at the New York Renaissance Faire, which opens this Saturday, August 2 at Sterling Forest. The Faire is open Saturdays, Sundays and Labor Day from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. from August 2 to September 21.
Regular admission costs $24 for adults, $11 for ages 5 to 12 and is free for children 4 and younger. Save money by buying online, buying at Walgreen’s or taking advantage of the coupons for opening weekend, the second weekend, special seasonal savings and Labor Day savings on Facebook and on the Faire website!
The New York Renaissance Faire site is located at 600 Route 17A in Tuxedo. For tickets or more information, call (845) 351-5171 or visit www.renfair.com/ny.
Bird Festival at Bear Mountain, Beekeeper Tours at Storm King
It’s time to talk about the birds and the bees, people. Wait, I’m talking about this weekend’s Trailside Zoo Bird Festival at Bear Mountain State Park and Beekeeper Tours at Storm King. What were you thinking about?
At the Bird Festival on Saturday, August 2 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., families can participate in activities such as Bird Olympics and the Great Migration Challenge, as well as visit their feathered favorites: the bald eagle, owls, hawks, turkeys and vultures. Parking at Bear Mountain costs $8 per vehicle or is free with your current Empire Passport car sticker, and admission to the Trailside Zoo is a suggested donation of $1 per person.
Bear Mountain State Park is located on Hessian Drive in Bear Mountain. For more information, call (845) 786-2701 or visit www.trailsidezoo.org.
Weekly on Saturdays at 1 and 2 p.m., the Storm King Art Center presents Beekeeper Tours of Peter Coffin’s Untitled (Bees Making Honey). Participants will learn about how bees use light in the honeymaking process and get a honey sample. Come back on Sunday, August 3 for the Children and Families program “Shifting Perspectives” at 1 p.m., including hands-on activities.
Programs are included with admission. Admission costs $15 for adults, $12 for seniors 65 and over, $8 for children ages 5 to 18 and students with ID and is free for children age 4 and under as well as members. Storm King is located at 1 Museum Road in New Windsor. For more information, call (845) 534-3115 or visit www.stormking.org.
Brazilian band Matuto at Unison in New Paltz
One reason you want to hear Matuto at Unison this Saturday, August 2 at 6 p.m. is to be able to have something really cool to say on Monday morning when everyone asks about your family’s weekend: “We grooved at an outdoor Brazilian concert with international musical sensation Matuto. How about you? Did you catch any roots/Brazilian/improv experimentation music?”
Bring blankets or lawn chairs. Tickets cost $25 at the door, $21 in advance, $3 less for Unison members. The Unison Arts & Learning Center is located at 68 Mountain Rest Road in New Paltz. For tickets or more information, call (845) 255-1559 or visit https://unisonarts.org. To learn more about the musicians, visit https://matutomusic.com.
Drum & Bugle Corps Competition at Kingston’s Dietz Stadium
If you like your entertainment to be big, filled with bright sound and strong choreography, then the 20th annual Drum & Bugle Corps Competition on Saturday, August 2 at Dietz Stadium fits the bill. Opening ceremonies take place at 7 p.m., and the competition begins at 7:30 p.m. featuring groups from Connecticut, New Jersey and New York. The doors open at 5:30 p.m. Admission costs $20 and benefits the Children’s Home of Kingston.
Dietz Stadium is located at 170 North Front Street in Kingston. For tickets or more information, call (845) 331-1448, extension 1122, e-mail marchofchamps@gmail.com or visit www.childrenshomeofkingston.org.
Kids on Stage perform Disney’s Peter Pan at Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck
“If you believe in fairies, clap your hands!” Disney’s Peter Pan is performed by Kids on Stage at the Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck this Saturday, August 2 at 11 a.m. Tickets cost $7 for children, $9 for adults and seniors.
The Center is located at 661 Route 308 in Rhinebeck. For tickets or more information, call (845) 876-3080 or visit https://centerforperformingarts.org.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 3
Bon Odori Festival at Hasbrouck Park in New Paltz
Taiko drumming, Japanese martial arts, Vanaver Caravan dance, Native American women’s drumming with Spirit of Thunderheart, food and environmental exhibits are the highlights of this weekend’s fourth annual Bon Odori Festival at Hasbrouck Park. On Sunday, August 3 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., be a part of this Buddhist tradition of observing Obon, the ritual of remembering our ancestors and reconnecting with family and friends, dancing together for a nuclear-free future.
Hasbrouck Park is located on Mohonk Avenue in New Paltz. For more information, call (845) 255-8811 or visit www.bonodori.org.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 5
World War I art exhibit opens at New Paltz’s Elting Library
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the beginning of World War I. Whether you’re a homeschooling family, or you’ve got a battle buff in your crew, or you’d like to increase your knowledge of this pivotal time in world history, the World War I art exhibition on display at the Elting Memorial Library is worth a visit.
Artist Mavis Harris features paintings from this era: “My paintings were an expression of my antiwar sentiments. In them I try to depict the inner wounds that war carves onto the souls of all involved: soldiers, medics, nurses and the families left at home. It is my attempt to say we should think long and hard before entering war, because its poison remains long after the external wounds have healed.”
The art opening takes place on Tuesday, August 5 at 7 p.m. and will include light refreshments, as well as reading lists, links to websites and general educational resources. The show runs through August.
The Elting Library is located at 93 Main Street in New Paltz. For more information, visit www.joyousgarden.biz.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 6
Interpreting animal skulls at Staatsburgh Historic Site
Last week I mentioned Christmas in July at Hurd’s Farm. Now I feel like I’m infusing your summer week with a bit of Halloween. On Wednesday, August 6 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., the Staatsburgh State Historic Site invites your 6-to-9-year-olds to become nature detectives, examining animal skulls that distinguish predator from prey. The program is repeated on Wednesday, August 20.
The cost is $2, registration is required and children must be accompanied by an adult. Ask the staff about additional admission fees when you register. Quick tip: I suggest leaving extra time for the gift shop.
The Staatsburgh State Historic Site is located on Old Post Road in Staatsburgh. For more information or to register, call (845) 889-8851 or visit https://nysparks.com.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 7
Minecraft Game Day at LaGrange Library
Calling all Minecrafters ages 10 to 14: Come build structures, explode hissing creepers and connect with fellow players this Thursday, August 7 from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. at the LaGrange Library. Registration is required. The LaGrange Library is located at 488 Freedom Plains Road, Suite 109, in Freedom Executive Park in Poughkeepsie. For more information about this and other Minecraft game days, other youth events or to register, call (845) 452-1974 or visit www.laglib.org.
Spring Valley Puppet Theatre at Woodstock Library
The Spring Valley Puppet Theatre is coming to the Woodstock Library to delight and entertain. On Thursday, August 7 at 6 p.m., watch these puppets perform The Three Wishes and The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing. One wish will probably be to get this terrific talent back here again soon! This event is recommended for ages 5 and up.
The Woodstock Library is located at 5 Library Lane in Woodstock. For more information, call (845) 679-2213 or visit ulsterpub.staging.wpengine.org. To learn more about the show, visit www.springvalleypuppets.com.
Erica Chase-Salerno wishes her amazing boy a wonderful birthday and a fantastic new year ahead, filled with raining tacos and mods and dubstep and pie. She can be reached at kidsalmanac@ulsterpublishing.com.
Join the family! 
