Act out Alice, wassail the apple trees, meet YA authors or climb a hay pyramid
“Mama, I love you more than Toys ‘R’ Us…wait, no, not Toys ‘R’ Us…I love you more than ice cream cones.”
– Parker, age 6, Highland
FRIDAY, MAY 20
High Ridge Choir in New Paltz
Got kids who love music? Head out to hear kids perform at the High Ridge Choir’s concert this Friday, May 20 at 6:30 p.m. at the Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church. The one-hour-long concert features choir singers ages 7 to 11 years, professional musicians and a pre-concert mini-recital by teenage voice students, with a reception to close out the evening. Admission costs $10 for adults, $5 for students and seniors.
The Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church is located at 90 Route 32 South in New Paltz. For more information, call (845) 255-6415 or visit www.facebook.com/highridgechoir.
SATURDAY, MAY 21
Spring Faire at Rhinebeck’s Primrose Hill School
Nostalgic for an old-fashioned festival for your kids? If puppet shows, games of courage and challenges, farm animals, live music, hayrides, a hay pyramid and sandbox treasure hunt appeal to you, then stop by the third annual Spring Faire at the Primrose Hill School this Saturday, May 21 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Primrose Hill School is located at 23 Spring Brook Park in Rhinebeck. For more information, call (845) 876-1226 or visit https://primrosehillschool.com.
Rosendale Theatre hosts “Alice’s Adventures in Theater” workshop
Want to bridge drama skills for your kids with the newest mainstream movie offerings? Register your young thespians for the “Alice’s Adventures in Theater” workshop taking place this Saturday, May 21 from 12 noon to 4 p.m. at the Rosendale Theatre. Kids ages 8 to 14 years will work together to create a short theatrical production adapted from selections from Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, including improv games, choreography, a script, costumes and props, music and sound effects. Participants are encouraged to bring costume pieces, props or instruments that might be useful for the production, which culminates in a performance for families at the end of the workshop. And the kids’ familiarity with the story and characters are just in time for the upcoming movie Alice through the Looking Glass, opening on May 27.
The cost for the workshop is $30. The Rosendale Theatre is located at 408 Main Street in Rosendale. For more information or to register, visit www.rosendaletheatre.org/youth-arts.
Seven 21 Media Center in Kingston presents Tarot’s Street Show
Why limit your kids’ weekends to Saturday morning cartoons? Bring story and fantasy to life with the Tarot’s Street Show marionette performance at the Seven 21 Media Center, Studio A, this Saturday, May 21 at 10:30 a.m., presented by the Kingston Library. This special circus-themed puppet theater show includes snake-charmers, sword-swallowers, dancers, jugglers, trapeze artists and horseback riders. This performance is free and open to the public and geared for school-aged children.
The Seven 21 Media Center is located at 721 Broadway in Kingston. For more information, call (845) 331-0507, extension 7, or visit www.kingstonlibrary.org.
Krazy Kids Inflatable Fun Run at Barton Orchards in Poughquag
I don’t need a thesaurus to know that another way to say “youthful bliss” is “inflatable fun run.” What’s not to love about the Krazy Kids Inflatable Fun Run this Saturday, May 21 at Barton Orchards? The first wave begins at 8:30 a.m. and continues every 15 minutes after that, through 11:30 a.m. This inflatable fun run boasts a 1.5 mile course with 11 inflatables, and it even has a dedicated parent viewing lane for parents to run alongside their kids. If you’ve got children from ages 3 to 12 years, with a minimum height of 36 inches, you will want to infuse their weekend with this blast of healthy excitement!
Preregistration costs $35, or $39 on the day of the event; or go for the all-access pass for $49, which enables doing the course again multiple times, along with other benefits. Barton Orchards are located at 63 Apple Tree Lane in Poughquag. For more information or to register, visit https://krazykidsinflatablefunrun.com/hudson-valley-ny.
Millbrook Literary Festival returns
Do you live by this Dr. Seuss motto? “Fill your house with stacks of books, in all the crannies, and all the nooks.” Then you’ll be right at home at the eighth annual Millbrook Literary Festival this Saturday, May 21 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Millbrook Library.
In addition to author panels and workshops, the entire day includes children’s activities, such as a Young Writers’ Showcase, Teen Writing Workshop, Illustrating Children’s Books, Marketing Your YA Novel, Owl Pellet Dissection and more. Highlights for me include the chance to connect with literary luminaries Jennifer Castle, Joe Cosentino, Owen King, Joseph Luzzi, Lisa Thiesing and Iza Trapani.
The Millbrook Library is located at 3 Friendly Lane in Millbrook. For a complete schedule, to volunteer or for more information, e-mail info@millbrookliteraryfestival.org or visit https://millbrookliteraryfestival.org.
Volunteer Restoration Workday at Falling Waters Preserve
Have you been looking for a chance for your kids to volunteer in the community? Do you like to get dirty? Here’s a good one for you! Parents and groups with kids of all ages are welcome to participate in Scenic Hudson’s Volunteer Restoration Workday: Invasive Plant Removal this Saturday, May 21 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Falling Waters Preserve. Participants learn how to identify several invasive plants, remove them and replace them with native species, restoring natural habitats.
And have you been to the Falling Waters Preserve yet? It’s one of my favorite easy local hikes, combining historic ruins, river views and a sweet waterfall. The Falling Waters Preserve is located at 996 Dominican Lane in Glasco (within the Town of Saugerties). For more information or to register to volunteer, call (845) 473-4440, extension 273, or visit https://scenichudson.org/events.
Wildflower Walk at Mohonk Preserve
Do you keep meaning to learn the difference between coltsfoot and crowfoot? Or the names of any blooms that you come across out in nature? Then you and your crew ages 15 and up will want to join the Wildflower Walk at Mohonk Preserve’s Spring Farm this Saturday, May 21 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Who knows what floral treasures you might find along this four-mile guided hike?
There is no charge for this event, but be prepared to pay for a day use fee at the parking kiosk of $12 for ages 13 and up, if you are not already a Mohonk Preserve member. Space is limited and registration is required. Spring Farm is located at Upper 27 Knolls Road in High Falls. For more information or to register, call (845) 255-0919 or visit https://mohonkpreserve.org/events/late-spring-wildflowers.
Balkan-style apple tree wassail in Staatsburg
Have you heard the buzz about the Wassail Balkan Dance Party? This annual spring event takes place this Saturday, May 21 from 2 p.m. “‘till the wee hours” at Breezy Hill Orchard and is popular with both adults and kids. You’ll experience live performances of Balkan brass, Balkan and Bulgarian dance bands, Macedonian Romani music, the Bard Georgian Choir, Vanaver Caravan dance and more, including singing to the apple trees, all in celebration of Djurdjevdan/Herdelezi (St. George’s Day), as well as cider-tastings and all kinds of topnotch food.
Admission costs $70 for adults in advance or $80 at the door; $15 for youth under 18; free for children under 6; and $25 after 8 p.m. Camping in the orchard costs $10 extra. Breezy Hill Orchard is located at 828 Centre Road in Staatsburg. For tickets or more information, call (845) 266-3979 or visit www.hudsonvalleyfarmhousecider.com.
BioBlitz in Hurley
Tired of drawing a blank or relying on an app in nature every time your kid asks, “What’s this?” Join the Hurley Conservation Advisory Council BioBlitz this Saturday, May 21 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon on the unpaved section of the Ontario & Western Rail Trail. This is a chance to explore the wooded and wet areas to discover which plants and animals live along the rail trail, including birds and insects. Are you handy with nature identification and field guides? Come on out and volunteer!
This event is free and open to the public, and you can come and go at any time for the duration of the BioBlitz. Due to limited onsite parking, participants are asked to use the Russell Road lot and walk or bike south to the start of the unpaved section off Route 209 in Hurley. For more information, e-mail cac@townofhurley.org or visit https://townofhurley.org.
Slabsides Day Open House in West Park
Wish you could get away from it all without the drive? Dying to get inside John Burroughs’ hand-hewn cabin? Come to the Slabsides Day Open House this Saturday, May 21 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Slabsides at the John Burroughs Nature Sanctuary. Hear guest speaker educator Eleni Ramos and “The Art of Seeing Things, Updated for New York City Teenagers,” drawing on Burroughs’ essay The Art of Seeing Things, on observations and reflections of the natural world. Spend some time hiking the awesome trails and nourish your senses with a rich dose of spring.
This event is free and open to the public of all ages, and I highly recommend checking it out. It’s one of my top nature spots because of its quick, easy access for total nature immersion. Slabsides and the John Burroughs Nature Sanctuary are located at 261 Floyd Ackert Road in West Park. For more information, call (845) 384-6320 or visit www.johnburroughsassociation.org.
Cunneen-Hackett Arts Center hosts Cocoon Theatre’s Movie Favs
Frustrated by your tween or teen’s apathy, or even disdain, for live theater? Here’s one avenue of inspiration: Movie Favs, staged performances by youth ages 10 to 16 of scenes from your favorite films. This performance is presented by Cocoon Theatre and takes place in the charming and historic Cunneen-Hackett Arts Center on Saturday, May 21 at 5 p.m. Admission is by donation.
The Cunneen-Hackett Arts Center is located at 12 Vassar Street in Poughkeepsie. For more information, call (845) 452-7870 or visit www.cocoontheatre.org.
Boat-themed storytime at Morgan Lake in Poughkeepsie
Wouldn’t a boat-themed storytime be so much more fun lakeside than indoors? Well, that’s exactly what the volunteers at Morgan Lake have planned for you and your crew! “Story Time by the Lake: Boats!” takes place this Saturday, May 21 from 11 a.m. to 12 noon at Morgan Lake. Bring a folding chair or blanket, and relax at this free event for all ages.
Morgan Lake is located on Creek Road in Poughkeepsie. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/morganlakepoughkeepsie.
THURSDAY, MAY 26
Children’s Museum presents Snack Right Night
I don’t know about you, but snacks are a pretty good motivation to get me out on a weeknight! The Mid-Hudson Children’s Museum (MHCM) hosts “Family Learning Night: Snack Right Night” on Thursday, May 26 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. You and your preschoolers will have a great time: The kids participate in fun, hands-on activities while you collect cards with helpful snack tips and ideas to support health and nutrition at home. The cost is $8, or $6 for MHCM members, and preregistration is required.
The Mid-Hudson Children’s Museum is located at 75 North Water Street in Poughkeepsie. To register or for more information, call (845) 471-0589, e-mail pjacobsen@mhcm.org or visit https://mhcm.org/event/family-learning-night-snack-right-night.
Erica Chase-Salerno is writing about the Forsyth Nature Center in Kingston and would like your impressions and feedback about this treasure. She can be reached at kidsalmanac@ulsterpublishing.com.
Join the family! 
