On Saturday, October 11, family-friendly activities are free and open to the public and include the Art Bus, a bouncy castle, a candy-decorating booth and a Kingston High School art exhibition, all located at Academy Green. Then, on Sunday, October 12, hear high school students read letters during Correspondence SalO+n at the Outdated Café from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. You’ll also hear kindie groups Ratboy, Jr. and Gustafer Yellowgold perform sets this weekend! Families are invited to participate in the mural-to-mural RecO+very Ride, which begins on Sunday at 12 noon at the parking lot at the corner of Schwenk Drive and Fair Street.
Children under 12 get in free for all O+ events and programs. Adult caregivers are asked to purchase a weekend wristband for $35 to attend all events, available at the Outdated Café, located at 314 Wall Street, or online at www.eventbrite.com/e/kingston-o-festival-2014-tickets-12991432725. For more information about the O+ Festival, visit https://kingston.opositivefestival.org.
The Den opens in Marbletown, celebrating Steiff stuffies
I’m hearing that some of you are bear-ly able to contain your excitement: The Den of Marbletown announces its Grand Opening Celebration this Saturday, October 10! The Den is a new museum, bed-and-breakfast and shop, all built around the theme of Steiff stuffed animals. The day begins with a ribbon-cutting at 10 a.m. and continues with activities until 4 p.m., such as family scavenger hunts, museum tours, interactive displays and a chance to suggest a name for the giant resident teddy bear.
On Sunday, October 11 from 1 to 4 p.m., Steiff enthusiasts are invited to come to the Steiff Club, where “Steiffgal” Rebekah Kaufman will appraise your Steiff animal; Carolyn Smith of Steiff USA will showcase new Steiff designs; and artist Lora Shelley will show her vintage Steiff paintings.
The Den is located at 1 Basten Lane, right near where Tongore Road intersects Route 209 on the northern outskirts of Stone Ridge (Google Maps identify that spot as part of Kingston). For more information, call (845) 687-6441 or visit https://thedenofmarbletown.com.
Then, if you’re looking for evening fun in the Marbletown area, head a few minutes south to Wild Earth’s Local Harvest BBQ & Dance from 5 to 11 p.m. at the Stone Ridge Orchard, located at 3012 Route 213 in Stone Ridge. Secure your tickets in advance for $35 apiece at https://wildearth.org, or come for free after 8 p.m. for dancing.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11
Guided Gallery family artmaking salons at Hudson Opera House
The Hudson Opera House is cultivating the next generation of artists and art aficionados with its weekly Saturday Salon: The Guided Gallery. Every Saturday in October from 10 a.m. to 12 noon, artist and educator Hawley Hussey leads a hands-on artmaking experience for families. This series is free and open to the public of all ages. Hudson Opera House is located at 327 Warren Street in Hudson. For more information, call (518) 822-1438 or visit https://hudsonoperahouse.org.
Spooky storytelling by Jonathan Kruk at Kingston Library
For an enchanting hour of spooky-but-not-too-scary stories, head over to the Kingston Library on Saturday, October 11 at 10:30 a.m. with master storyteller Jonathan Kruk. I think that any events that feature Kruk are not to be missed. This event is free and open to the public, and generally geared for school-aged children.
The Kingston Library is located at 55 Franklin Street in Kingston. For more information, call (845) 331-0507 or visit www.kingstonlibrary.org. To learn more about the performer, visit www.jonathankruk.com.
Mills Mansion at Staatsburgh offers Downton Abbey & World War I tours
This is a great weekend to combine views of gorgeous foliage while experiencing a new round of events at the Staatsburgh State Historic Site. Downton Abbey tours take place on Saturdays, October 11 and 25 at 1 p.m. and “World War I and the End of the Gilded Age” tours take place on Sundays, October 12 and 26 at 1 p.m. On Sunday, October 19 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., see an array of vintage vehicles at “A Gathering of Old Cars,” including a World War I tank on loan from the Rhinebeck Aerodrome.
Admission to house tours costs $10 for adults and $8 for students and seniors. Reservations are required for the Downton Abbey tours and recommended for the World War I tours. Access to the grounds is free and open to the public. Staatsburgh is located at 75 Mills Mansion Drive, Road 1, in Staatsburg. For reservations or more information, call (845) 889-8851 or visit https://nysparks.com.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12
Fall Festival at Forsyth Nature Center in Kingston
The Forsyth Nature Center’s Fall Festival is a terrific family-friendly event to celebrate the season, and it really is for the whole family: no admission charge; live performances all day on a main stage and a children’s stage; a variety of children’s crafts, games and activities such as making free leaf crowns and low-cost pumpkin-painting; and of course, a chance to visit the animals at the Nature Center or to stop at Forsyth Park’s Kinderland playground. You may also win some of the excellent prizes offered in the raffles.
Forsyth Park is located at 157 Lucas Avenue in Kingston. For more information or to volunteer, call (845) 339-3053 or visit www.forsythnaturecenter.org.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14
Peaceful Parenting workshops at Rosendale’s Creative Co-op
Working with certified parenting coach Marji Zintz, a/k/a the Peaceful Parenting Whisperer, is an infusion of hope, possibility and change in what can otherwise be a frustrating dead-end situation, whether it’s about trying to change habitual patterns in oneself or in a family dynamic. Working with Marji Zintz in a group format makes that support even more affordable, and you’re just in time for her new six-week parenting workshop series, “Making the Switch to Peaceful Parenting,” which begins at the Creative Co-op this Tuesday, October 14 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. and runs weekly through November 18. The cost is $120 per person or per couple, with discounts applied if more than 15 families register. And childcare is available!
The Creative Co-op is located at 402 Main Street in Rosendale, behind the Big Cheese. For more information or to register, call (845) 657-3111 or visit www.peacefulparentwhisperer.com.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15
Scavenger hunt at Red Hook Public Library
My kids love egg hunts, but they wish that they could do it more than once a year. So how about a scavenger hunt? And you don’t have to organize or remember where the treasures are hidden! On Wednesday, October 15 at 5 p.m., the Red Hook Public Library invites families with children of all ages to a scavenger hunt in and around the library and the Children’s Garden. This event is free and open to the public, and all children must be accompanied by a caregiver.
The Red Hook Public Library is located at 7444 South Broadway in Red Hook. For more information, call (845) 758-3241 or visit https://redhooklibrary.org.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16
Hudson River “Snapshot Day”
I didn’t realize what a big deal this event was until I looked into it for Kids’ Almanac, but “A Day in the Life of the Hudson River” began in 2003 and has been growing ever since, with over 3,500 participants last year! The action happens along the entire Hudson River on Thursday, October 16. I’ll be having fun learning and doing river sampling this year with three of my favorite local environmental educators: Julie Noble, Steve Noble and Martha Cheo.
For more information, visit www.ldeo.columbia.edu/edu/k12/snapshotday.
Kids’ Almanac Writes
Kids’ Almanac thanks Michael Reiter for supplying writing prompts during the month of October. Michael is a longtime teacher of English literature in public high schools: “I love to get people reading. I love to get people writing.”
Remember to post your piece on the Almanac Weekly Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pages/almanac-weekly/287633831270607.
Writing prompt: You are the passenger in a truck. You do not know the driver…
Erica Chase-Salerno thanks that fellow customer at Bread Alone for inspiring her outrageously delicious iced cappuccino order. She and her husband Mike live in New Paltz, along with their two children: the inspirations behind hudsonvalleyparents.com. She can be reached at kidsalmanac@ulsterpublishing.com.
Join the family! 
