AFS Essay Contest
“What change would you like to see in the world? What type of volunteer project would you design to solve it?” If you’re a youth between eighth and 12th grade, your answers to these questions could win you an American Field Service scholarship for a two-week trip abroad that brings your vision to life. Choose from five issue areas in one of 14 countries and submit a 200-to-500-word essay or a one-minute video outlining your idea by December 10. The five key issue areas are: arts & technology; education; health & nutrition; sustainability; and human rights & cultural understandings. Submit your essay online at www.afsusa.org/project-change. For more information, contact local AFS-US rep Jessica Greenstein at jgreenstein@afsusa.org.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 28
Massive holiday light display opens in LaGrangeville
Ever wonder what 422,000 holiday display lights look like? You can see them for yourself at the 2014 ERDAJT holiday light display on opening night, Friday, November 28 at 8 Patrick Drive in LaGrangeville, and continuing every night after that from 4:50 to 9:30 or 10:30 p.m., until December 30. This family has been creating an outdoor light show since 1995, and the donations collected support the community. The lines can get very long for this event, so remember to bring extra patience as you wait your turn to go through the fancifully decorated driveway. For more information, visit https://erdajt.com.
Tour a candy kitchen in Newburgh
For a chance to see how real homemade candy canes are created, plan a visit to Commodore Chocolatier. After a demo, each child rolls out a candy cane, shapes it and eats it or takes it home. This year’s event takes place from 12 noon to 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, November 28 and 29. The tours are first-come, first-served, no reservations necessary, and they are for children of all ages. The tour line queues up outside, so dress warmly, but in layers because the tour kitchen is very warm.
Commodore Chocolatier is located at 480-482 Broadway in Newburgh. For more information, call (845) 561-3960 or visit www.facebook.com/commodorechocolatier.
Frosty Fest in Ulster Park/Holiday Spirit Festival in Wappingers Falls
Friday, November 28 is opening night for holiday festivals on both sides of the river, and that means lots of delightful holiday weekend fun for your family. Both offer stage shows, outdoor light displays, visits and photos with Santa and more. A Frosty Fest takes place through Sunday, December 28 and is open on Fridays from 6 to 8 p.m., Saturdays from 4:30 to 8 p.m. and Sundays from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Tickets cost $12 for adults, $9 for children under 12, and are available online or on-site. A Frosty Fest is located at Headless Horseman at 778 Broadway in Ulster Park. For more information, call (845) 339-2666 or visit www.afrostyfest.com, including free printable kids’ activities.
Kevin McCurdy’s Holiday Spirit Festival takes place on weekends through Saturday, December 27 and is open on Fridays from 6 to 9 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 4:30 to 9 p.m. Tickets cost $12 for adults and $8 for children aged 2 to 11 years. The Holiday Spirit Festival is located at 38 Sheafe Road in Wappingers Falls. For more information, call (845) 297-XMAS or visit https://holidayspiritfestival.com.
Ulster Ballet Company performs A Christmas Carol at UPAC
Spice up your shopping this Friday, November 28 between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. in the Food Court at the Hudson Valley Mall, where the Ulster Ballet Company will perform excerpts from its upcoming production A Christmas Carol as well as distributing free balloons before Santa’s arrival. Regular performances of A Christmas Carol are scheduled for Friday, December and Saturday, December 5 and 6 at 7:30 p.m. and on Sunday, December 7 at 2 p.m. at the Ulster Performing Arts Center.
Tickets cost $22 for adults, $18 for seniors and UPAC/Bardavon members and $15 for children age 12 and under. There are also group rate for parties of ten or more, and reduced ticket prices of $15 are available to employees of HealthQuest, Health Alliance, Mid-Hudson Regional Hospital of Westchester Medical Center, Marist, Bard and Vassar Colleges, City of Kingston and County of Ulster employees and members of the YMCA when you present your employee/student ID or membership card at the UPAC box office when purchasing tickets. The Ulster Performing Arts Center is located at 601 Broadway in Kingston. For tickets or more information, call the UPAC box office at (845) 339-6088, visit TicketMaster at www.ticketmaster.com or call (800) 745-3000. To learn more about the performers, visit https://ulsterballet.org.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29
Wreathmaking workshop at Hyde Park Florist
Add a little do-it-yourself crafting to your holiday preparation this year with a wreath workshop at Hyde Park Florist. You choose the date and the time: Saturday, November 29, December 6 or 13 at 10 a.m., 12 noon, 2 or 4 p.m. Each workshop can hold up to 15 wreathmakers, and the cost is $19.95 per wreath. Prepayment and preregistration are required.
Hyde Park Florist is located at 4202 Albany Post Road in Hyde Park. For more information or to register, call (845) 229-9522 or visit https://www.hydeparkfloristandgifts.com.
Magic show at Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck
Infuse your Thanksgiving weekend with some magic and mystery! On Saturday, November 29 at 11 a.m., the Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck introduces Mysterious Deceptions: Magic, Mindreading and Comedy with illusionist David Garrity and mindreader Denny Corby. Tickets cost $20.
The Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck is located at 661 Route 308 in Rhinebeck. For tickets or more information, call (845) 876-3080.
Sinterklaas Sendoff Celebration in Kingston
The annual Sinterklaas festival is a unique way for your families to celebrate the season while connecting with the Dutch roots of our region, and part of the fun lies in the preparation stage of the big event! As part of the Sinterklaas Sendoff Celebration in Kingston, families are invited to craft crowns and branches for children to sport during the Sinterklaas parade. The free workshop is open on Friday, November 28 from 1 to 4 p.m., and Saturday, November 29 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Kingston Home Port & Education Center at the Hudson River Maritime Museum on the Rondout in Kingston.
The parade down Broadway begins at 4:15 p.m.: a sendoff for Sinterklaas, who will depart Spain (Kingston) for the Netherlands (Rhinebeck). All events are free and open to the public. For a complete schedule of the day’s festivities, visit www.sinterklaashudsonvalley.com/sinterlass-kingston.
McKenzie Willis shares Tales of the Rainbow Forest at Olana
Children’s literature comes alive for young people with live readings, especially by the author. On Saturday, November 29 from 10 to 11 a.m., come to Olana for a special storytime and singing fun with McKenzie Willis and his book, Tales of the Rainbow Forest. This event is free and open to the public, and geared for ages 4 to 8 years.
Olana is located at 5720 Route 9G in Hudson. To register or for more information, call (518) 828-1872, extension 109, or visit www.olana.org. To learn more about the story, visit https://talesoftherainbowforest.com.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 30
Nature collage workshop at Minnewaska
Come to Minnewaska State Park Preserve on Sunday, November 30 at 10 a.m. to make a family nature collage with found materials. Children aged 6 to 12 years and their accompanying adults will search the trails for pieces to include in the collage, which they will construct together at the education center. Preregistration is required for this workshop.
Minnewaska State Park Preserve is located at 5281 Route 44/55 in Kerhonkson. For more information or to register, call (845) 255-0752 or visit https://nysparks.com.
MONDAY, DECEMBER 1
A crush of crèches at Luminosa in Hyde Park
An exhibit of more than 200 nativity scenes opens on Monday, December 1 at Mariapolis Luminosa, right in Hyde Park. The pieces are crafted by artists from around the world in a variety of sizes and styles, and admission is free. The display is open Monday through Friday from 2 to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. and other times by appointment. Mariapolis Luminosa is located at 200 Cardinal Road in Hyde Park. For more information, call (845) 229-0230, extension 133, or visit www.focolare.org/usa.
Erica Chase-Salerno is thankful for all of it. She and her husband Mike live in New Paltz with their two children: the inspirations behind hudsonvalleyparents.com. She can be reached at kidsalmanac@ulsterpublishing.com.
Join the family! 
