“My destination is no longer a place, rather a new way of seeing.”
– Marcel Proust
SATURDAY, MAY 2
Family Day at the Lehman Loeb
One easy, accessible and free way to give children ages 5 to 10 a unique art experience is Family Day at the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center at Vassar College. Students and faculty facilitate hands-on activities, answer questions and create a welcoming environment for cultivating curiosity and individual expression, and my daughter never wants to leave!
Family Day takes place this Saturday, May 2 from 1:30 to 4 p.m., inspired by the theme of the new Buddhist art exhibition on campus, “Embodying Compassion.” Registration is not required; just drop in. Vassar College is located at 124 Raymond Avenue in Poughkeepsie. For more information, call (845) 437-7000 or visit www.vassar.edu.
“Autism Tomorrow” conference at Staatsburg’s Anderson Center
The Anderson Center for Autism hosts an “Autism Tomorrow” conference this Saturday, May 2 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The speaker lineup includes Andrew Solomon at 2 p.m., best-selling author of Far from the Tree, which includes a chapter about families who have a child with autism, as well as Dr. Paul Wang from Autism Speaks, Dr. Vincent Carbone of the Carbone Clinic and Russell Granet of the Lincoln Center of Education. The cost for the conference is $75 and includes lunch.
The Anderson Center for Autism is located at 4885 Route 9 in Staatsburg. For more information or to register, call (845) 889-9594 or visit www.andersoncenterforautism.org.
Redeemer Lutheran Church in New Paltz hosts Family Music Festival
This Saturday’s Family Music Festival by New Paltz Musicales features favorite local “kindie” family bands Dog on Fleas, Fuzzy Lollipop and Bright the Day, and beloved storyteller and puppeteer Grian McGregor. This rollicking good time for children of all ages and their families takes place on Saturday, May 2 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church. Admission costs $12 for adults, $5 for children or $40 per family, and 100 percent of the proceeds go to Crossroads Springs Africa, an organization that cares for the children of Kenya who have lost one or both parents to AIDS.
Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church is located at 90 Route 32 South in New Paltz. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/events/960335073986192. To learn more about New Paltz Musicales, visit www.facebook.com/newpaltzmusicales.
LaGrangeville Middle School hosts NAMI Basic Class
If you have or know of a family or caregiver touched by a child with behavioral issues, undiagnosed emotional issues, ADHD, ODD, OCD, DMDD or have developed symptoms of mental illness, take a look at this National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Basic Class at the LaGrangeville Middle School on Saturdays May 2, 9 and 6 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. This program covers the impact of illness on family, biology, treatment options, overview of the systems available, communication and problem-solving skills, crisis planning, latest research and more. Participants must be able to attend all three sessions, and it’s free.
The Lagrangeville Middle School is located at 110 Stringham Road in Lagrangeville. For more information or to register, call (845) 832-6368 or e-mail programs@namimidhudson.org. For an informational video on NAMI Basics, visit www.nami.org/basics, and for more information about the organization, visit www.namimidhudson.org.
Ratboy, Jr. performs at Poughkidsie
Looking for an evening of live music and family fun without worrying about bugs or rain? Come to Poughkidsie this Saturday, May 2 from 5 to 7 p.m. and hear the awesome “kindie” band Ratboy, Jr. Children can enjoy Village play and a pizza dinner, all for $18 per child, free for adults.
Poughkidsie is located at 50 Springside Avenue in Poughkeepsie. To register or for more information, call (845) 243-3750 or visit https://squareup.com/market/poughkidsie/concert. To learn more about the performers, visit www.ratboyjr.com.
SUNY-New Paltz hosts STE(A)MFest
Bring your family to STE(A)MFest at the Old Main Building and the Old Main Quad at SUNY-New Paltz this Saturday, May 2 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. This free community celebration of science, technology, engineering, art and math includes free interactive workshops for children and families, displays and demonstrations by local non-profit organizations and technology-focused businesses, live music, puppet shows with sustainable materials, 3-D printing demonstrations and more!
SUNY-New Paltz is located at 1 Hawk Drive in New Paltz. For more information, call (845) 257-7869 or visit https://sites.newpaltz.edu/news/2015/04/steamfest-promises-to-inspire-young-minds-with-blend-of-stem-and-art-education.
I Love My Park Day volunteers needed at Minnewaska
Calling all children and their adults: Come on out and volunteer for I Love My Park Day at the Minnewaska State Park Preserve! I Love My Park Day takes place on Saturday, May 2 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Minnewaska has two projects to choose from to improve the park: building a bog bridge along the Mossy Glen Footpath, appropriate for volunteers ages 12 and up with an adult over age 18; and improving the Blueberry Run Footpath, appropriate for volunteers ages 7 and up with an adult over 18.
Bring gloves, water, lunch, snacks, sunglasses, insect repellent, sunscreen, work shoes such as hiking boots and long pants. The regular $10 parking fee is waived for registered volunteers that day. Minnewaska State Park Preserve is located on Route 44/55 in Kerhonkson. For more information or to register, visit www.ptny.org/ilovemypark.
High school hosts Hudson Children’s Book Festival
Over 75 children’s authors and illustrators to meet and greet and read and sign books? Live performances? A free book to every attendee? Largest book festival in New York State? Yes, please! It’s the Hudson Children’s Book Festival, taking place this Saturday, May 2 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hudson Junior & Senior High School, located at 215 Harry Howard Avenue in Hudson. For more information, call (518) 828-4360, extensions 1112 or 8202, or visit www.hudsonchildrensbookfestival.com.
Geocache for artist trading cards along Farm/Art Geo Trail
Geocaching is a modern-day treasure hunt, using coordinates sourced online at sites such as www.geocaching.com to find hidden boxes tucked into brick walls, magnetized to a bridge railing, under rocks and more. You can use your portable GPS unit from your car, or with an app on your cellphone. Interested in trying it? Or perhaps you’re already an experienced geocacher. The new Farm/Art Geo Trail debuts this Saturday, May 2, created by the Wallkill River School of Art and 15 area farms, where hand-painted geocaches are hidden on each farm, all containing Artist Trading Cards featuring paintings of the farm.
The starting point for the tour is Rogowski Farm, located at 341 Glenwood Road in Pine Island. A geotoken will be awarded to each participant who collects trading cards from all of the farms. The tour is free and open to the public year-round beginning May 3, which is noteworthy as it’s also the 15th anniversary of the very first geocache! For more information or a map of the geocache trail, visit https://wallkillriverschool.com and www.orangetourism.org.
Walkin’ the Dog to benefit New Paltz’s Elting Library
Get some exercise and fresh air while taking a walk with your pup, and benefit the Elting Memorial Library at the same time! It’s all part of Walkin’ the Dog, which you can join for a $15 entry fee, or get sponsorships totaling $35 or more. Walkers begin immediately after registering, which takes place between 8:30 and 9:30 a.m. The 1.25-mile walk starts at Gilded Otter at the corner of Main and Huguenot Streets in New Paltz. For more information, call (845) 255-5030 or visit www.eltinglibrary.org.
Oblong celebrates Independent Bookstore Day/Free Comic Book Day
Since 2001, independent comic book specialty shops have participated in Free Comic Book Day, offering free comics to anyone who walks into their stores on the first Saturday in May, such as this Saturday, May 2. Now, get in on the ground floor of the first annual Independent Bookstore Day by stopping by a celebration such as the festivities at Oblong Books & Music in Rhinebeck and Millerton. Highlights include author talks, live music, exclusive books and art pieces, special discounts, children’s activities and more.
Oblong Books & Music is located at 6422 Montgomery Street in Rhinebeck and 26 Main Street in Millerton. For more information, call the Rhinebeck shop at (845) 876-0500 or Millerton at (518) 789-3797, or visit www.oblongbooks.com.
To learn more about Independent Bookstore Day, visit https://cabookstoreday.com. For more on Free Comic Book Day, visit www.freecomicbookday.com.
SUNDAY, MAY 3
Mark O’Connor at Bard, Mozart & Friends at Hudson Opera House
This Sunday, May 3, there are two great opportunities to offer your child some beautiful classical music, they’re both open to the public of all ages and they’re both free!
Hear Grammy Award-winning violinist and composer Mark O’Connor and his wife, violinist Maggie O’Connor, perform and share concepts from the O’Connor Series of method books at the Bard Conservatory Preparatory Division in the Bitó Performance Space at 11 a.m. Bard College is located at 30 Campus Road in Annandale-on-Hudson. For more information, e-mail bardprep@bard.edu or visit www.bard.edu/conservatory/preparatory. To learn more about the performers, visit www.markoconnor.com and www.maggieoconnorviolin.com.
Also on Sunday, May 3, enjoy the family concert Mozart & Friends: Musical Wonderland at the Hudson Opera House at 3 p.m. Hear young musicians along with Bard Preparatory Division faculty, followed by an “instrument petting zoo” where young audience members can try out a violin, cello, double bass and piano. The Hudson Opera House is located at 327 Warren Street in Hudson. For more information, call (518) 822-1438 or visit https://hudsonoperahouse.org.
Join the family! 
