View fireworks from Walkway over the Hudson this Saturday
For one of the most spectacular positions from which to see the City of Poughkeepsie’s Independence Day fireworks display, the Walkway over the Hudson State Historic Park is open to ticketholders only from 6:30 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, July 2 (the rain date is Sunday, July 3). Guests must have a paid reservation or wristband to enter the event, as the Walkway will close at 5:30 p.m. to the general public. Fireworks are scheduled to begin between 9 and 9:30 p.m. Bring-your-own seating may be set up on the south side of the Walkway in designated viewing sections only.
Some special regulations apply during this event: no pets – this event is not pet-friendly, as fireworks may frighten the animals; no bikes, skates, skateboards or hoverboards allowed; no fireworks, glass or firearms; all bags and coolers will be subject to inspection, and prohibited items must be removed. Walkway State Historic Park is a smoke- and alcohol-free New York State Park. Elevator access is not available for this event. Directions and parking information are found on the website at www.walkway.org.
Wristbands cost $12.50 general admission, $10 for Walkway members; children under age 5 get in free. Wristbands are available for purchase at Adams Fairacre Farms in Poughkeepsie and Wappingers Falls, Mahoney’s Irish Pub and Steakhouse and Pomodoro in Highland.
Walkway over the Hudson Fireworks, Saturday, July 2, 6:30-10 p.m., 87 Haviland Road, Highland or 61 Parker Avenue, Poughkeepsie; (845) 454-9649, www.walkway.org.
War reenactment in New Paltz this Saturday
Historic Huguenot Street will again host a Revolutionary War Reenactment with members of the Fifth New York Regiment this Saturday, in a camp scene set up on the DuBois Fort lawn at 81 Huguenot Street. Reenactors will converge on the evening on Friday, July 1 and spend the night, performing demonstrations throughout the day on Saturday.
Come witness living historians as they demonstrate marching and drilling, showing how arms at the time were handled and fired. And check out the various types of muskets and weaponry used during the Revolutionary War. Demonstrations include candlemaking, blacksmithing, woodworking, musketball and cartridge manufacturing and Colonial cooking. Children can participate in reenactment military drills and various Colonial games.
The event is free. Ticketed guided house tours will be available on their regular hourly schedule throughout the day.
Reenactment: New Paltz in the War for Independence, Saturday, July 2, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Historic Huguenot Street, New Paltz; (845) 255-1660, www.huguenotstreet.org/calendar-of-events.
Tannersville parade and 23Arts Summer Music & Jazz Festival
The 23Arts Summer Music & Jazz Festival 2016 kicks off on Saturday, July 2 in the Village of Tannersville, with its fifth annual Independence Day festivities. Featuring back-to-back weekends from July 2 to August 14 of intergenerational dialogue, dynamic new projects chosen by world-class artists and all-ages-friendly events in venues across the mountaintop, the summer series is highlighted by weekly regional collaborations with the Catskill Jazz Factory program.
From 12 noon to 4 p.m. on Tannersville’s Main Street (Route 23A) this Saturday, the band Wyld Blu will perform smoky Texas-style blues, funky R & B, classic rock and original compositions while craft and food vendors lining the street. The annual Independence Day Parade begins at 3 p.m., with everyone stepping to the Celtic strains of the Pipe Band of Greene County. Afterwards, free hot dogs and refreshments will be provided at the fire station.
23Arts’ summer chamber music series begins this Sunday, July 3 at All Souls’ Church, located at the junction of Routes 23C and 25 in Tannersville. The Helena Baillie Trio will perform a family-friendly children’s concert titled “Fireworks and Pageantry” beginning at 11:30 a.m.; admission is free.
The Jazz Festival component of 23Arts’ summer offerings launches in the Spiegeltent at Bard SummerScape on Thursday, July 7 at 8 p.m. with a performance by vocalist Jazzmeia Horn. Ticket prices range from $25 to $45. The Marc Cary Ensemble will perform a program called “The Heartbeat of Harlem” on Thursday, July 14 at 8 p.m. in the Spiegeltent on the Bard College campus ($25-$45) and on Friday, July 15 at 8 p.m. at the Last Chance Tavern at 6009 Main Street in Tannersville (by donation). The Mountain Top Library at 6093 Main Street will host a free pre-concert jam session with the Marc Cary Ensemble at 7 p.m. on July 15 as well.
Sammy Miller and the Congregation will perform “Born from the Blues” at the Bard Spiegeltent on Thursday, July 21 at 8 p.m. ($25-$45) and again at the Hathaway House at 791 County Road 25 in Tannersville on Friday, July 22 at 8 p.m. ($25). On Saturday, July 23 at 2 p.m., Professor Louie & Friends will give a free concert of “Blues at the Arboretum” at the Mountain Top Arboretum, located at 4 Maude Adams Road in Tannersville. And the Peter and Will Anderson Quintet will present “The Joy of Sax,” celebrating the 175th anniversary of the saxophone, at the Bard Spiegeltent on Thursday, July 28 at 8 p.m. ($25-$45) and again on Friday, July 29 at 7:30 p.m. at the Villa Vosilla resort at 6302 Main Street in Tannersville ($25).
In August the jazz series continues at various venues with programs on “Ragtime & the Birth of Jazz” and “The Sounds of Brazil” with Chris Washburne and “Fictions: Borges in Tango” with the Chris Pattishall Octet. For details and to order tickets, visit www.23arts.org or www.catskilljazzfactory.org.
Highland holiday on Sunday
Old-fashioned fun and fireworks are on the agenda this Sunday, July 3 when the Town of Lloyd throws an Independence Day celebration. Come to the Town Field (behind the Methodist Church) on Vineyard and Main Streets in Highland for local food vendors, games and a bounce castle for the kids from 6 to 10 p.m. For entertainment, live music will be performed by the Americana Oak Band and deejay Rick Knight, with a great fireworks finale after dusk.
Fun & Fireworks, Sunday, July 3, 6-10 p.m., free, Town Field, Highland; (845) 691-2144, extension 100, www.townoflloyd.com/pages/lloydny_bcomm/events/index.
Rosendale hosts reading of Declaration of Independence on July 4
The annual reading of the Declaration of Independence brings to life the words that changed the world. The Rosendale Theatre presents this free family event on Monday, July 4 at 9:30 a.m., sponsored by Blue Stone Press. Twenty locals have been selected to take turns on stage to read from the immortal document, among them Fre Atlast, Ken Foo, March Gallagher, Keith Kortwright, Andrew Lutz, Marian McCorkle, Rob McDonough, Heidi Racioppo, Perry Soule, Carol Caru Thompson and Nadia Welden. Donna Cohen-Viertel and Edward Schoelwer will host, and Carl Welden will read “A Letter from George Washington.” A community sing-along will culminate the half-hour experience. Afterwards. share in a cup of coffee and a breakfast/birthday cake from the Alternative Baker.
Annual Reading of Declaration of Independence, Monday, July 4, 9:30 a.m., Rosendale Theatre, 408 Main Street, Rosendale; (845) 658-8989, www.rosendaletheatre.org.
Bed Race, parade & fireworks in Saugerties July 4
The Fourth of July Parade put on by the Saugerties Fire Department steps off at 11 a.m. on Monday morning from the lineup location on Washington Avenue across from the High School. After winding through the village and finishing at Cantine Memorial Field, celebrators can witness a true Saugerties anomaly: All it takes is five good people and a bed on wheels to participate in the Great Saugerties Bed Race – that means, four runners and a rider per bed with no motors permitted. “But why?” you might ask. To be held at Cantine Field after the parade, the Bed Race brings out the creative best in the town’s emergency service providers and any other agency that wants to meet the challenge posed by the Saugerties Police Department. (Contact harry39a@aol.com for more info.) The evening will be capped off with the always-amazing fireworks display that can be seen up and down the Hudson River after dusk.
Saugerties Bed Race/Parade/Fireworks, Monday, July 4,11 a.m.-dusk, free; (845) 246-9701, tamr5310@aol.com, aalbelli@hvc.rr.com, https://village.saugerties.ny.us/content/calendars/view/1/2016/7;/content/calendarentries/view/3826.
18th-century Independence Day at Clermont
Celebrate Independence Day in historic fashion this year at the Clermont State Historic Site on the Hudson River in Germantown! On Monday afternoon on July 4, the Friends of Clermont will host a great day of family fun at the site of Robert Livingston’s modest manse. The grounds will be filled with 18th-century crafts, reenactors creating scenes from the past and lots of music and entertainment. Visitors from far and wide are invited to enjoy live music and hot food while viewing the Saugerties Fireworks over the river at dusk.
Old-Fashioned Independence Day, Monday, July 4, 2-10 p.m., $10/vehicle, Clermont State Historic Site, 87 Clermont Avenue, Germantown; (518) 537-4240, www.friendsofclermont.org.
Kingston’s fireworks take off over the Rondout on July 4
The Strand Park in Kingston’s historic Rondout District is the place to settle into a viewing spot and watch the annual Fourth of July fireworks display being launched from the John T. Loughran Bridge. Sponsored by the Law Firm of Mainetti, Mainetti & O’Connor, the celebration will include lots of food with music and activities for one and all at the T. R. Gallo Park on West Strand in the Rondout. The fireworks are set to go off at 9:30 p.m. on July 4 and end around 11. That’s a spectacular hour-and-a-half-long display of brilliant, colorful explosives! The City of Kingston and the Kingston Waterfront Business Association extend thanks to their sponsors for supporting the program.
Ulster County Fairgrounds host New Paltz fireworks next Friday
Make your way to the Ulster County Fairgrounds for the New Paltz Independence Day Celebration on Friday, July 8. (The previous date of July 1 was cancelled due to weather.) The grounds will be open at 5 p.m. for an evening of music – the Saints of Swing and Soul Purpose! – food and festivities for all ages and fireworks at dusk. A slew of food trucks will be parked inside to provide sustenance. For the kids, there will be bouncy houses and a zero-gravity experience, face-painting and henna body art.
Emcee Carl Welden will be on hand to lead the festivities, and the National Anthem will be performed by Esme Hyman. Admission is free; bring a chair or a blanket to sit back, relax and enjoy your independence!
Town of New Paltz Independence Day Celebration, Friday, July 1, 5 p.m. on, Ulster County Fairgrounds, Libertyville Road, New Paltz;
www.townofnewpaltz.org/home/news/independence-day-celebration-friday-july-1st.
Join the family! 
