“Practice self-care, be grateful for what you have, keep it in the day, be as honest as possible.”
– Shana Falana, musician
SATURDAY, JUNE 13
St. John’s Summer Fair in Kingston
Here’s what makes the St. John’s Summer Fair so special: It’s local! This event takes place on Saturday, June 13 from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and helps to raise funds for the local charitable organizations Angel Food East, which delivers free hot meals throughout Ulster County to chronically ill, homebound residents, including those with HIV/AIDS; People’s Place, which has a food pantry serving Ulster County residents and a thrift shop; Family of Woodstock, which provides services to area residents experiencing homelessness, domestic violence and more; and the Ulster Literacy Association, which helps adults to improve their English communication skills.
The St. John’s Summer Fair features kids’ activities donated by local businesses, allowing local families to enjoy a low-cost day of fun, including live entertainment by the Percussion Orchestra of Kingston (POOK) and other musicians throughout the day, a morning petting zoo, hands-on crafts, Rainbow the Magical Clown, face-painting, children’s wooden building kits and more. Local company Stone Pony BBQ prepares the chicken dinners and baby back rib dinners sold that day ($12 for chicken, $14 for baby back ribs), available to eat on-site or to go. The meats come from Adams Fairacre Farms, and the produce is sourced locally as well.
Admission is free. The St. John’s Summer Fair is located at 207 Albany Avenue in Kingston. For more information, call (845) 331-2252 or visit www.stjohnskingston.org. To learn more about the featured local charities, visit www.angelfoodeast.org, www.peoplesplacekingston.org, www.familyofwoodstockinc.org and www.ulsterliteracy.org.
Kelder’s Farm in Kerhonkson hosts Outdoor Youth Expo
Check out the free family fun happening at the Ulster County Outdoor Youth Expo at Kelder’s Farm this Saturday, June 13 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.! Youth up to age 16 are invited to participate in outdoor-based activities such as fishing, archery, BB-gun shooting and building birdhouses, as well as other hands-on learning and demonstrations like the petting zoo. Admission to the event is free, prizes will be awarded and food will be available.
Kelder’s Farm is located at 5755 Route 209 in Kerhonkson. For more information, call (845) 594-4471 or find Ulster County Outdoor Youth Expo on Facebook.com.
Monster Intelligence musical at Sugar Loaf
Looking for a one-hour Broadway-style musical for your family? How about at a fraction of the distance and cost? This Saturday, June 13 at 11 a.m., head on down to the Sugar Loaf Performing Arts Center for Monster Intelligence: A Musical Journey for the Entire Family. Watch as Melvin gets his birthday wish to be old enough for his screaming license, but now must pass the test!
Tickets cost $15 for kids, $20 for adults. The Sugar Loaf Performing Arts Center is located at 1351 King’s Highway in Sugar Loaf. For tickets or more information, call (845) 610-5900 or visit www.sugarloafpac.org.
Snapping Turtle Walk at Boscobel in Garrison
The Boscobel estate is beautiful, so I recommend going for a visit just in general. But for those who prefer to tie in a visit with a special event, consider the 21st annual Snapping Turtle Walk taking place this Saturday, June 13 from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.
The snapping turtle is New York State’s official reptile, and each spring, hundreds of them climb up the hill to Boscobel to lay their eggs. On Saturday, educators from the Constitution Marsh Audubon Center and Sanctuary will share information about these creatures, including live specimens. After the presentation, you are welcome to stay and walk the grounds. My family actually enjoyed a short hike there recently.
Tickets for the Snapping Turtle Walk cost $12, and children under 6 years of age get in free. Boscobel is located at 1601 Route 9D in Garrison. For tickets or more information, call (845) 265-3638 or visit www.boscobel.org.
Lime Kiln Recreation Facility in Hopewell Junction breaks ground for special needs playground
A playground for all children means all abilities, including those with special needs, and that’s precisely the vision of Julie’s Jungle in Hopewell Junction: fenced-in for safety; ramps; accessible routes and paths throughout; spacious decks; short stair heights; Braille play panels; and a sensory garden. Local teen Natalie Keating’s sister, Julie, had special needs, and this playground is a tribute to her memory: “My Mom used to bring us to the playground,” Natalie said. “I could play on anything I wanted; Julie’s wheelchair couldn’t get over the wood chips under the swings.”
The groundbreaking ceremony for this adaptive playground takes place this Saturday, June 13 at 11 a.m. Children will be the ones doing the groundbreaking, so bring your kids, nieces, nephews and grandchildren! With more than 2,500 disabled children in Dutchess County, according to the most recent census, there is a real need for this resource in the lower part of the county, since the closest one is 50 miles away.
Julie’s Jungle will be located at the Lime Kiln Recreation Facility at 5 Old Lime Kiln Road in Hopewell Junction. For more information or to donate, call (845) 226-8395 or visit www.juliesjungle.org.
Walkway inaugurates annual marathon
When I heard about the first annual Walkway Marathon taking place this Saturday, June 13, I figured that it was similar to all of the other walks that take place there. But I’ve since learned how unique this special event really is, because it’s the Walkway over the Hudson’s own event, and it’s a full marathon! The day includes a full marathon, half-marathon including wheelchair participants and a 5K. Wishing friendly temperatures to the runners!
Entrances to the Walkway over the Hudson are located at 87 Haviland Road in Highland and 61 Parker Avenue in Poughkeepsie. If you want to check about any remaining volunteer opportunities, or find out how to watch your loved ones or friends pass through various checkpoints, visit www.walkway.org.
Hands-on science for kids at Denning’s Point Beach
I love everything about this hands-on science program for young people taking place this Saturday, June 13 from 10 to 11 a.m. at Denning’s Point Beach. First of all, the program is part of a series called by this great name: “WoW: Wonders of Where We Live.” Second, the environmental educators are from the Hudson Highlands Nature Museum in Cornwall, which puts on terrific programs, and now they’re taking them to you! In this session, kids will catch and identify interesting, slippery critters from the river.
Denning’s Point Beach is located at 199 Denning’s Avenue in Beacon. To register or for more information, call (845) 838-1600, extension 26, or visit www.bire.org.
Catskill Mountain Railroad in Kingston presents Chuggington show
“Chug Patrol is in control,” which means that the Chuggington show is coming to town! From Saturday, June 13 to Sunday, June 28, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Chuggington: A Traintastic Adventure! takes place at the Catskill Mountain Railroad. A themed train ride with Chuggington songs is followed by The Roundhouse Show, including three challenge activities of speed, building and safety, and additional attractions such as face-painting and temporary tattoos.
Tickets cost $19 per person, and toddlers may take a lap ticket instead. The Catskill Mountain Railroad is located at 149 Aaron Court in Kingston. For tickets or more information, call (845) 688-7400 or visit https://catskillmtrailroad.com.
SUNDAY, JUNE 14
Block Party at Poughkidsie
Community art projects, bubble fun and hula-hoop contests are part of the schedule this weekend at Poughkidsie’s Block Party! On Sunday, June 14, Poughkidsie invites you to help celebrate its first anniversary with a free Block Party. Festivities also include face-painting, chalk art, food truck vendors and more.
With its arts studio on one side and its pretend play village on the other, both staffed to support kids, I think that Poughkidsie adds such a terrific element to the family scene here in the Hudson Valley, and I encourage you to visit if you haven’t been yet. Poughkidsie is located at 50 Springside Avenue in Poughkeepsie. For more information, call (845) 243-3750 or visit www.poughkidsie.com.
Sloop Club’s Strawberry Festival on Beacon waterfront
The Beacon Sloop Club’s Strawberry Festival means that it’s time for sweet, riverside family fun! Enjoy homemade strawberry shortcake while listening to fantastic live music with your kids dancing around, or they can participate in lots of hands-on activities, too. And it’s all along the shoreline of the Hudson River, infused with the legacy of Pete and Toshi Seeger, for whom the park is named.
The Strawberry Festival takes place on Sunday, June 14 from 12 noon to 5 p.m. at the Pete & Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park, located at 1 Flynn Drive in Beacon. For more information, call (845) 463-4660 or visit www.beaconsloop.org.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17
Homeschooler field day at Lagrangeville’s Tymor Park
Homeschoolers can have end-of-year field days, too! On Wednesday, June 17 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Tymor Park, homeschool families will participate in active group games, contests, a nature scavenger hunt, disc golf, tinker tables with local experts, swimming and swim challenges and more! The cost is $10 in advance for kids, $15 at the event and free for adults.
Tymor Park is located at 8 Tymor Park Road in Lagrangeville. For more information or to register, call (845) 724-5691 or visit https://uvparksandrec.com.
THURSDAY, JUNE 18
Circus Goes Green at the Bardavon
With so much emphasis on recycling, I think that an artform that weaves it all together would be fascinating. On Thursday, June 18 at 7 p.m., watch local fourth- and fifth-grade students from the Warring School perform Circus Goes Green at the Bardavon, doing juggling, balancing, clowning and acrobatics, all done with props fabricated from recycled materials! Tickets cost $5. The Bardavon is located at 35 Market Street in Poughkeepsie. For tickets or more information, call (845) 473-2072 or visit https://bardavon.org.
– Erica Chase-Salerno
Erica Chase-Salerno eats strawberries in New Paltz, along with her husband, Mike, and their two children: the inspirations behind hudsonvalleyparents.com. She can be reached at kidsalmanac@ulsterpublishing.com.
Join the family! 
