SUNDAY, JUNE 21
Maverick Mash in Woodstock
Maverick Concerts is one of my absolute favorite places in the Hudson Valley: The rustic hall conveys a natural simplicity, letting you focus on the music rather than on fanciful, distracting surroundings; as the longest, continuously running summer music festival in the US, Maverick knows music and presents performances by some of the most fantastic performers of our time; and Maverick loves families, offering several Young People’s Concerts every summer. Maverick Concerts is celebrating its 100th anniversary and invites you to attend Maverick Mash this Sunday, June 21 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., free! Hear music for all ages: From 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., families and young people will enjoy Mark Rust and the Marc Black Band. Rust is an engaging artist whose songs about families and other stories delight and draw you in, along with the variety of instruments that he plays, including piano, guitar, fiddle, banjo and dulcimer (www.markrust.com). The Marc Black Band embodies the sounds of the Catskills, and the toe-tapping tunes are irresistible to all ages. He was awarded Best Children’s Album by the American Library Association (www.marcblack.com).
From 1 to 2:30 p.m., it’s jazz at the Maverick, with the Teri Roiger Quartet, co-founder of JazzStock (www.teriroiger.com), and Warren Vache on trumpet and cornet (www.warrenvache.com) with John di Martino on piano (www.johndimartino.com). From 3:30 to 5 p.m., classical music is performed by Nancy Allen on harp (www.juilliard.edu) with Carol Wincenc on flute (www.carolwincenc.com) and Peter Serkin (www.cmartists.com/artists/peter-serkin.htm) with Julia Hsu (www.julia-hsu.com) on piano four hands.
In addition to the music, children’s crafting with FiberFlame and provisions from Lucky Noodles and Pippy’s food trucks will be available. The Maverick Concert Hall is located at 120 Maverick Road in Woodstock. For more information as well as a complete summer schedule, visit https://maverickconcerts.org.
Historical destinations for Fathers’ Day
Here are some local historic sites offering specials to history-buff Dads and their families on Fathers’ Day, Sunday, June 21. Each of these places also has green spaces for curious young explorers who need a break from indoors.
Gomez Mill House: Enjoy a tour of this home that shows the passage of time simply through its additions over the centuries, and take a family photo on the sweet bridge crossing the creek to the mill. Fathers are admitted free when accompanied by their families; admission costs $10 for adults, $7 for seniors aged 55+, $4 for children aged 7 to 17 and is free for ages 6 and under. Be sure to follow the website directions, not your GPS, to 11 Mill House Road in Marlboro, (845) 236-3126, www.gomez.org.
Historic Huguenot Street: With free admission and free guided tours for everyone on Fathers’ Day, here’s your chance to take your whole crew to see living history on the oldest street in America with its original houses. My favorite challenge: Have the kids look on the wall of the fort, to see when it was constructed, hidden in plain sight. Huguenot Street in New Paltz, (845) 255-1889, www.huguenotstreet.org.
Mt. Gulian: In just moments, you go from busy highways to a serene country setting. Dads get in free on Father’s Day, where all can enjoy a one-time tour at 1:30 p.m. of this historic home, featuring rarely shown antique pieces, including an 18th-century edition of Virgil, once owned by Thomas Jefferson. Admission costs $8 for adults, $6 for seniors, $4 for children aged 6 to 18 and is free for ages 5 and under. 145 Sterling Street in Beacon, (845) 831-8172, https://mountgulian.org.
New Windsor Cantonment: Fathers’ Day is Children’s Day from 1 to 4 p.m. at this Revolutionary War campsite for Washington’s troops, with a petting zoo, period magician Mr. Bayly and a variety of 18th-century games. Admission is free. 374 Temple Hill Road in New Windsor, (845) 561-1765, www.nysparks.com.
MONDAY, JUNE 22
Hudson Valley Renegades opener at Dutchess Stadium
It’s here! It’s here! It’s here! Hudson Valley Renegades opening day! Our family loves this local baseball experience because every seat is great, the prices are terrific, announcer Rick Zolzer keeps things moving and the between-innings games are hilarious. And did I mention the bounce houses? Our family gets out here at least a few times every summer.
On Monday, June 22, the gates open at Dutchess Stadium at 4:30 p.m., with the first pitch at 6:35 p.m. as the Renegades take on the Lowell Spinners. Come for the game, but stay for the fireworks: Watch the colors light up the sky in comfort right from your seat! The Renegades do themed game nights, too, so mark your calendars this week for Minecraft Night on Tuesday, June 23 and Scouting Jurassic Times on Wednesday, June 24.
Dutchess Stadium is located at 1500 Route 9D in Wappingers Falls. For tickets or more information, call (845) 838-0094 or visit www.hvrenegades.com. Go, ‘Gades!
THURSDAY, JUNE 25
East Fishkill Fire District offers Parents’ Summer Safety Course
I feel so much more confident doing coaching, camping and taking other people’s kids with my family on local trips to the beach after enrolling in a First Aid/CPR class. With summer underway, here’s a class for anyone else interested in gaining or refreshing these skills: the Parents’ Summer Safety Course. It takes place on Thursday, June 25 at 7:30 p.m. at the East Fishkill Fire District Headquarters, and is free and open to the public. Light kosher refreshments will be served.
The East Fishkill Fire District Headquarters is located at 5202 Route 52 in Hopewell Junction. For more information, visit www.mypardess.org.
Jerrice Baptiste reads from new book at Highland Public Library
Regular readers will recall my past mention of local author Jerrice Baptiste’s book, Tu Es Ma Belle (You Are My Beautiful), a loving, affirming story for children of all ages. French phrases are interspersed throughout the book, a nod to Baptiste’s Haitian heritage.
Like Tu Es Ma Belle, her new book, Look What the Mouse Dragged In, is illustrated by local artist April Matula. Look What the Mouse Dragged In will be featured at Storytime with Jerrice Baptiste at the Highland Public Library this Thursday, June 25 at 4 p.m.
The Highland Public Library is located at 30 Church Street in Highland. For more information, call the library at (845) 691-2275 or visit Baptiste’s website at www.authenticpoetry.com.
Last Thursdays free at Storm King Art Center
The Storm King Art Center offers free admission on the last Thursday of the month during June, July and August, which means that you can take your family to experience the wonders that this outdoor sculpture park has to offer, and see as much as you like without the kids overdoing it. Impress visiting cousins and friends with your familiarity with this special art oasis. Let your kids sound the mallet at Beethoven’s Quartet.
The Storm King Art Center is located at 1 Museum Road in New Windsor. For more information, call (845) 534-3115 or visit www.stormking.org. Afterwards on the way home, I like to gild an already-excellent day with a treat from the epic frozen yogurt bar at Hoopla! located at 1217 Route 300 in Newburgh.
Erica Chase-Salerno wishes a very Happy Fathers’ Day and much love to Robert Chase, Sal Salerno and Michael Chase-Salerno. She can be reached at kidsalmanac@ulsterpublishing.com. She invites you to listen to her Kids’ Almanac segment on Radio Woodstock 100.1 WDST on Friday mornings around 8:20 a.m.
Join the family! 
