“In a gentle way, you can shake the world.”
– Mahatma Gandhi
Local hunts and hikes
Want an easy hook to help discover new places in our area? Try a local scavenger hunt!
Dutchess County
It’s the final week for the Oblong Books Where’s Waldo? scavenger hunt. Participants choose a town, Millerton or Rhinebeck, and pick up a Where’s Waldo? passport book at Oblong Books. Then visit as many listed stores as you can to find Waldo, and ask the staff to stamp your passport. After ten stamps, you could get a Waldo button at Oblong Books (while supplies last), and after 18 stamps in Millerton or 20 in Rhinebeck, you qualify to enter a drawing for a set of Waldo books and other prizes. The hunt culminates in a Great Waldo Celebration and Prize-Drawing Party on Friday, July 31 from 4 to 6 p.m. at your local Oblong store: 26 Main Street in Millerton or 6422 Montgomery Street in Rhinebeck. For more information and a list of participating businesses, visit www.oblongbooks.com/event/wheres-waldo-local-2015-scavenger-hunt.
Did you know that Tymor Park is the largest municipal park in New York State? That the town of LaGrange was originally named Freedom? You can learn more of these Dutchess County nuggets from your free Dutchess County Passport, available at clerk’s offices at municipal halls throughout Dutchess County; and after you’ve visited that village, town or city, you can get your passport stamped at the clerk’s office, too. Perfect for local history buffs! For more information and a downloadable passport, visit https://dutchesstourism.com/passport.
You can get a free sew-on patch by completing any five of Hyde Park’s Walkabout Trails. Just download or pick up a Hyde Park Walkabout Trail Map and choose your walks! These trails are a great way to explore the Hyde Park area with all ages, and they’re all free. For more information and a downloadable map, visit www.nysparks.com/parks/attachments/ogdenmillshydeparkwalkabouttrailbrochure.pdf.
Ulster County
Are your kids hooked on Ratboy, Jr.’s “What Does the Farm Do?” song? Or are they curious about farm-to-table food in their school cafeterias? Get your free Stick to Local Farms map from a list of participating Rondout Valley farms, and get a sticker for each farm you visit. Collect ten stickers to receive four Homegrown Mini-Golf passes and a Stick to Local Farms cookbook (a $25 value!). Collect 25 stickers to receive a fancy, sparkly completion sticker and a market basket of farm treats and products! For more information, visit www.stick2local.com.
Love to walk around Ulster County? You can get a free sew-on patch for doing just that! Simply complete any five walks from the 27 trails listed in the Esopus Explorer Walking Program. All of the walks are free, great for all ages and a fun way to discover new spots that you may not have seen before. For more information and a downloadable map, visit www.esopus.com/feature/esopus_explorer.pdf.
FRIDAY, JULY 24
Family Circus at PS21 in Chatham
What is it about summer and the circus? Maybe it’s that feeling of freedom as acrobats do aerial tricks most of us could only dream of. On Friday, July 24 at 7:30 p.m., PS21 presents Family Circus with Light Up Troy, which will delight all ages with contortion, gymnastics, juggling and much more. Tickets cost $18 for adults, $10 for students and $5 for children age 12 and under. For families with kids between ages 10 and 12, plan on coming earlier in the day to the free 1 p.m. performance and workshop by magician Jim Snack.
PS12 is located at 2980 Route 66 in Chatham. For tickets, more information or to register for the magic workshop, call (518) 392-6121 or visit https://ps21chatham.org.
Arm-of-the-Sea Theater performs at Kiersted House in Saugerties
Have you and your crew seen an Arm-of-the-Sea Theater oversized puppet production? Whether you live here or are visiting or somewhere in between, Arm-of-the-Sea is a local staple that entertains while educating audiences about Hudson River environmental issues. You can catch a free performance this Friday, July 24 at 7 p.m. at the Kiersted House lawn of the Saugerties Historical Society (rain date Sunday, July 26); just bring your lawn chairs or blankets.
The Saugerties Historical Society is located at 119 Main Street in Saugerties. For more information, call the event host, the Saugerties Public Library, at (845) 246-4317 or visit https://saugertiespubliclibrary.org. To learn more about the performance, visit www.armofthesea.org.
Alice turns 150; party in Millbrook!
One of my favorite quotes is from the Queen in Alice in Wonderland: “Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.” You can help celebrate Alice’s 150th birthday this Friday, July 24 at 10:30 a.m. at the Merritt Bookstore. Festivities include a display of photographs from Alice in Central Park: Statues in Wonderland by G. A. Mudge; a reading from “A Mad Tea Party,” Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll; and an actual tea party.
The Merritt Bookstore is located at 57 Front Street in Millbrook. For more information, call (845) 677-5857 or visit www.merrittbooks.com.
SATURDAY, JULY 25
Silly Billy free at Hudson Opera House
Do your kids love magic? Comedy? Do you appreciate free admission? Then you’re going to want to head over to the Hudson Opera House for Silly Billy. On Saturday, July 25 at 11 a.m., Silly Billy performs a free and entertaining comedic magic show for all ages.
The Hudson Opera House is located at 327 Warren Street in Hudson. For more information, call (518) 822-1438 or visit https://hudsonoperahouse.org.
Dragon Boat Festival in Poughkeepsie
I can’t think where you’d find another festival quite like the Dragon Boat Festival taking place on Saturday, July 25 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hudson River Rowing Association facility in Poughkeepsie. Individuals and teams fill long, stylized Chinese canoes to race for prizes, while spectators of all ages watch and enjoy the offerings of the Asian Cultural Festival on shore.
The Dragon Boat Festival is free and open to the public. The festival can be accessed from North Water Street in Poughkeepsie. For more information, including amusing Dragon Boat team bios, visit www.dutchessdragonboat.org.
Ultimate Comic Book Expo at Civic Center
Are you and your kids into Ant-Man or the Daredevil Netflix series? How about gaming? Then you are going to want to attend this weekend’s Ultimate Comic Book Trade Show & Expo! The event takes place on Saturday, July 25 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, July 26 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It includes an appearance by Sam Jones, star of the Flash Gordon movies; cosplay contests; the Back to the Future DeLorean car; the original Adam West Batmobile; and a whole gaming area by Dragon’s Den with tabletop games, board games and video games.
Tickets cost $10 for adults for one day, $15 for one days; $7 for kids aged 5 to 12 years for one day, $10 for two days; and children under age 5 get in free. The Mid-Hudson Civic Center is located at 14 Civic Center Plaza in Poughkeepsie. For tickets or more information, visit www.midhudsonciviccenter.org, or find the event on Facebook for extra details.
SUNDAY, JULY 26
Poughkidsie Summer Party
Do your kids delight in playing at Poughkidsie? Have you been meaning to get there? This Sunday’s Poughkidsie Summer Party is a fun outing, and you don’t have to worry about lunch or the weather! On Sunday, July 26 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., kids can do imaginative play in the Village, create a craft in the Studio, get hands or faces painted and enjoy pizza and juice. The cost is $16 per child, with discounts for siblings and members, and preregistration is required.
Poughkidsie is located at 50 Springside Avenue in Poughkeepsie. To register or for more information, call (845) 243-3750 or visit www.poughkidsie.com.
Join the family! 
