“You will find that it is necessary to let things go, simply for the reason that they are heavy.”
– C. Joybell C.
Earn your Esopus Explorers’ badge at Sleightsburg Spit
Do you have any tugboat fans in your family? See if you can find all 25 painted tugboats along Route 9W in Port Ewen by the end of August, at which point they will be moved to Headless Horseman for Tugfest, where they will be auctioned off.
For a glimpse of some real tugboats, follow the trail along the creek at Port Ewen’s Sleightsburgh Park. This short walk is located across the water from where a couple of tugs are docked. The park has benches, a porta-john and easy parking, but since it’s also a popular boat launch and fishing area, it’s a good spot to watch boats but not so much of a play park.
For the more adventurous among you, follow the creek trail as it bends right into the brush and follow it over and under grasses and fallen branches all the way out to the end of the spit for a sweet view of the wider river. I understand that at low tide you can walk out even further.
Sleightsburgh Park is part of the Esopus Explorer Walking Program, which grants an Esopus Explorers’ badge to participants who walk any five trails in the network. For a map and list of trails, visit www.esopus.com/feature/esopus_explorer.pdf.
Cocoon Theater celebrates move to Poughkeepsie
What would you say if I told you that a cool, creative performing arts organization seeks to make classes available to students in need of reduced tuition, and to schools and other communities interested in on-site performances of The Illustrated Man, a recent adaptation of six Ray Bradbury short stories, or instruction? No, you are not dreaming, this is real! Cocoon Theatre received a grant from the Ellis L. Phillips Foundation enabling these special opportunities, and is scheduling now for fall and spring.
Cocoon’s office is moving from Rhinebeck to the Garden Suite at 9 Vassar Street in Poughkeepsie. As a celebration of its 15 years at 6384 Mill Street in Rhinebeck, Cocoon invites you to a performance on Friday, September 27 at 7 p.m. of You Say Goodbye… The evening includes dance, theatre, an art auction, hors d’oeuvres and more. Tickets cost $15. For tickets or more information, call (845) 876-6470 or visit www.cocoontheatre.org.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 30
Philipsburg Manor presents CORNucopia
CORNucopia at Philipsburg Manor sounds like such a fun way for all ages to celebrate this sweet summer treasure, including a corn-shucking contest; a barn dance; a cornhusk doll craft; games such as Conk the Crow, Cornhole and Ring-a-Cob; scarecrow-making; cooking demos; and a mini-maze. The festival has live music and lots of corn-themed foods for sale, and every visitor receives a free bag of popcorn! Tour the 18th-century manor house and gristmill while you’re there. You can even purchase cornmeal ground on-site, which has recipes for some of the food available at the festival, so you can make it at home.
CORNucopia takes place from Saturday, August 30 to Monday, September 1 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets cost $14 for adults, $12 for seniors and $8 for children 3 to 17; admission is free for children under 3 and for Historic Hudson Valley members. Tickets are available online at www.hudsonvalley.org. Philipsburg Manor is located at 381 North Broadway (Route 9) in Sleepy Hollow. For more information, call (914) 366-6900 or visit www.hudsonvalley.org.
Civil War Weekend at Museum Village in Monroe
There are Civil War weekends, and there are Museum Village Civil War weekends where you really feel transported back in time – because in addition to the soldiers’ activities, the entire setting is an 19th-century community, staffed with people doing 19th-century things such as traditional broommaking, handset letterpress printing, blacksmithing and more. With Abraham Lincoln and Harriet Tubman on-site, maybe you can score some selfies!
Museum Village Civil War Weekend takes place on Saturday, August 30 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, August 31 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission costs $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and $10 for children aged 4 to 12 years.
Museum Village is one of my favorite new discoveries, and I’ll bet it becomes one of yours, too. While you’re there, take a look at the mastodon: one of only three complete skeletons in the world, uncovered right in nearby Harriman!
Museum Village is located at 1010 State Route 17M in Monroe. For tickets or more information, call (845) 782-8248 or visit https://museumvillage.org.
Audience participation magic in Rhinebeck
The wide appeal of magic shows makes them an easy option for multi-age outings. If you’re entertaining house guests, or you’re just looking for something special to do with your own crew, head over to the Center of Performing Arts at Rhinebeck for the Great All-American Audience Participation Magic Show. Magician Andy Weintraub will have you believing in your own abilities of mind over matter!
The show takes place on Saturday, August 30 at 11 a.m. Tickets cost $7 for children, $9 for adults and seniors. The Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck is located at 661 Route 308 in Rhinebeck. For tickets or more information, call (845) 876-3080 or visit https://centerforperformingarts.org.
Join the family! 
