“I have found the best way to give advice to your children is to find out what they want and then advise them to do it.”
– Harry S. Truman
FRIDAY, JUNE 19
Diversity Day Parade & Let’s Move, Ulster! in Kingston
There is a place for everyone at this Friday’s first annual Diversity Day Parade and fifth annual Let’s Move, Ulster! Lineup is at 5 p.m. on Andrews Street Broadway in Kingston, between Kingston High School and City Hall; then the parade marches to Kingston Plaza for free community activities beginning at 6 p.m. Check out the fitness demonstrations from Dance Xcross Fitness, yoga, Zumba, African dance, Tai Chi and more, as well as performances by POOK, the Percussion Orchestra of Kingston, and the Energy Dance Company.
You are also invited to join in the Fitness Flashmob group dance to “Uptown Funk” by Bruno Mars. To learn the movements, visit the Facebook page or https://cce4me.org. For more information, call (845) 338-7664 or visit www.facebook.com/centerforcreativeeducation.
SATURDAY, JUNE 20
Dragonfly workshop at Olana
Did you know that dragonflies can eat 30 to hundreds of mosquitos per day? That they catch insect prey with their feet, and only while flying? Learn more about these fascinating insects this Saturday, June 20 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at the Olana State Historic Site for “21st-Century Damsels and Dragons.” The workshop includes an introduction to dragon- and damselflies, followed by a chance to catch some!
Preregistration is required. Olana is located at 5720 State Route 9G in Hudson. For more information or to make a reservation, call (518) 828-1872, extension 109.
Rescheduled Hudson Valley Family Fest at Dutchess Stadium
Readers will recall a previous mention of the Hudson Valley Family Fest last month, which has since been rescheduled to this Saturday, June 20 due to weather. The Hudson Valley Family Fest is a free event for families to learn about area family resources and organizations. Exhibitors include the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Abilities First and Macaroni Kid, and since each vendor is required to have a hands-on children’s activity, such as Home Depot children’s workshop, everyone will have a great time!
The Hudson Valley Family Fest takes place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Dutchess Stadium, and admission is free. Dutchess Stadium is located at 1500 Route 9D in Wappingers Falls. For more information, call (845) 838-0094 or visit www.facebook.com/hvfamilyfest.
Midtown Make a Difference Day in Kingston
It’s the tenth anniversary of Midtown Make a Difference Day in Kingston, and this year’s theme is “Honoring Our Past, Building Our Future.” Midtown Make a Difference Day is a chance for the community to get together, learn about area services and resources and have fun! On Saturday, June 20 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., visit the Everette Hodge Center and Franklin Street, which will be closed between Broadway and Prospect Street, for great entertainment, delicious food and interesting information tables on a variety of topics, such as health, education, employment, faith, legal issues, recreation and more. To volunteer for this event, or for more information, call (845) 331-1110 or visit www.familyofwoodstockinc.org, or check out www.ulstercorps.org/events/midtown-make-a-difference-day-2.
Children’s Play Day at Clermont
Did you know that the man who administered the oath of office to George Washington, negotiated the Louisiana Purchase and helped develop steamboat technology lived at what is now known as the Clermont State Historic Site? Chancellor Livingston’s family spans over 200 years of history at Clermont! To connect kids with what life was like during those years, Clermont offers Junior History Club, two weeks of hands-on history camps for children.
Want a free, hands-on preview? Or just looking for an excuse to visit a beautiful historic site with Hudson River views? This Saturday, June 20 from 11 a.m. to 12 noon, Clermont presents Children’s Play Day, where children from ages 6 to 12 will learn the basics of 18th-century social dancing. Some period costumes will be on hand to wear, too.
The Clermont State Historic Site is located at 1 Clermont Avenue in Germantown. For more information, call (518) 537-4240 or visit www.friendsofclermont.org or https://nysparks.com.
FDR Royal Hotdog Picnic reenactment in Hyde Park
My entire life is filled with understanding of Great Britain as “besties” with the US, from the wedding of Lady Diana and Prince Charles to the photos in my newsfeed of Duchess Kate holding newborn baby Charlotte. But we didn’t always have that relationship, and the turning point came in 1939, when president Franklin Delano Roosevelt invited King George VI to the US. It was the first time that a reigning British monarch had ever set foot on American soil, and hosting them at Roosevelt’s home in Hyde Park was a way to bypass diplomatic formalities. There, Roosevelt presented them with a picnic, complete with hotdogs and beer, instead of a fancy dinner; the relationship warmed; and that shift helped to mobilize US support for Britain during World War II.
You and your family can relive this pivotal moment in British/US ties by attending the FDR Royal Hotdog Picnic. The picnic takes place on Saturday, June 20 from 12 noon to 5 p.m. at the Hyde Park Station, and is free and open to the public. The Hyde Park Station is located at 34 River Road in Hyde Park. For more information, visit www.hydeparkstation.com.
Washington’s Headquarters in 1850
History buffs are going to love this one: What was it like to visit Washington’s Headquarters State Historic Site during its early years, when it opened to the public in 1850? On Saturday, June 20 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., and again on Sunday, June 21 at 2 p.m., “Capturing Our Past: Visiting Washington’s Headquarters in the Mid/Late 19th Century” gives insight as to why this site was the first publicly owned historic site in the US, and how it functioned. This event is part of Newburgh Illuminated, a big festival in Newburgh on Saturday, June 20 from 11 a.m. to midnight, celebrating Newburgh’s historic legacy, such as being the second city in the entire US to have a street lit with electric lamps.
Washington’s Headquarters State Historic Site is located at 84 Liberty Street in Newburgh. For more information, including parking suggestions due to the anticipated crowds for the festival, call (845) 562-1195 or visit https://nysparks.com. To learn more about Newburgh Illuminated, visit www.newburghilluminatedfestival.com.
Join the family! 
