“Every leaf speaks bliss to me,
fluttering from the autumn tree.”
– Emily Bronte
New Paltz Golf Course to host first State FootGolf Championship
Have you and your kids had a chance yet to check out FootGolf? It’s the sport where you kick a soccerball into holes along the course in as few attempts as possible, just like golf. And get this: The New Paltz Golf Course has been selected to host the first-ever New York State FootGolf Championship, on September 26. The individual winner and team winners win cash, and will then compete in the National FootGolf Championship the following week in Texas!
The State Championship match includes Men’s, Women’s and Club Divisions. Before coming to watch, get out and play a round of FootGolf yourselves! The New Paltz Golf Course is located at 215 Huguenot Street in New Paltz. For more information about the State Championship or about the game itself, call (845) 255-8282 or visit www.newpaltzfootgolf.com.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19
Kingston Library hosts Gustafer Yellowgold
Clear your calendar and get ready for a terrific show celebrating the release of Gustafer Yellowgold’s Dark Pie Concerns! The fun and talented musician/cartoonist Morgan Taylor combines both worlds for a very engaging, humorous, smart and catchy musical story experience, and my kids love his work. His free hometown show takes place at the Kingston Library this Saturday, September 19 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
The Kingston Library is located at 55 Franklin Street in Kingston. For more information, call (845) 331-0507 or visit www.kingstonlibrary.org. To learn more about the show and to hear previews of the songs and videos, visit https://gustaferyellowgold.com.
Jennie Bell Pie Festival in Kerhonkson
Like homemade pie? Country festivals? Children’s talent shows? Local craftspeople’s work? Then you sound like you’ll be spending the day at this weekend’s Jennie Bell Pie Festival and Common Ground Celebration. On Saturday, September 19 from 12 noon to 6 p.m., families can enjoy a pie contest, games, activities and vendor booths, all at Kelder’s Farm, which kids love. Admission to the festival is free.
Pies submitted for the contest must be dropped off between 4 and 6 p.m. on Friday, September 18 or between 8 and 10 a.m. on Saturday, September 19. Kelder’s Farm is located at 5755 Route 209 in Kerhonkson. For more information, call (845) 687-4567 or visit www.rondoutvalley.org.
Ninjago Weekend at LEGOLAND in Yonkers
Do your kids like LEGOs? Ninjas? Scavenger hunts? Then head over to LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester for LEGO Ninjago Weekend! On Saturday and Sunday, September 19 and 20, kids can hunt down their favorite ninjas in a MINILAND scavenger hunt, build an Airjitzu Flyer and more.
LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester is located at 39 Fitzgerald Street in Yonkers. For more information, call (866) 243-0770 or visit www.legolanddiscoverycenter.com/westchester. For a chance to win free tickets to Ninjago Weekend, stop by www.facebook.com/ldcwestchester.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20
Free fishing, Arm-of-the-Sea Theater at Norrie Point
It’s a doubleheader at the Norrie Point Environmental Center this weekend, and it’s all free! On Sunday, September 20, the public is invited to fish on the river from 2 to 5 p.m. All ages are welcome, no license is required, the event is wheelchair-accessible and participants have free use of rods, reels and bait. Then, Arm-of-the-Sea Theater presents a free show, Hook, Line + Sinker, from 3 to 4 p.m. Arm-of-the-Sea uses oversized characters to help tell stories about the Hudson River.
The Norrie Point Environmental Center is located at Mills Norrie State Park at 9 Old Post Road in Staatsburg. For more information, call (845) 889-4745, extension 109, or visit https://nysparks.com. To learn more about the show, visit www.armofthesea.org.
Cemetery talk/tour at Time & the Valleys Museum in Grahamsville
For those of you whose families enjoy making headstone rubbings or exploring cemeteries, here’s a program you might be interested in: “A Walk among the Dead: Cemetery Talk and Self-Guided Tour.” The Time and the Valleys Museum has archivists on hand to answer questions, information about the importance of preserving gravestones and techniques for recording burial information, with a 2 p.m. talk about some interesting local individuals buried in area cemeteries. Museum admission and a self-guided cemetery driving tour map are included in this free program.
The Time and the Valleys Museum is located at 332 Main Street in Grahamsville. For more information, call (845) 985-7700 or visit www.timeandthevalleysmuseum.org.
Poughkidsie hosts allergen-free Day of Yes
Does your child have allergies to gluten, wheat, egg or nuts? That often means saying no to cake or pizza at friends’ birthday parties or other celebratory gatherings. But this Sunday, September 20 from 12 noon to 2 p.m., parents can say yes, because Poughkidsie is hosting “A Day of Yes!” A Day of Yes is a special public event for children ages 3 to 5 years, including sensory materials such as gluten-free Play-Doh, allergen-friendly marshmallows, face-painting with allergen-friendly materials and gluten-free pizza and cupcakes. If your child has a dairy allergy, call in advance to receive that accommodation as well!
Admission costs $20 per child, and $12 per person for any adults planning to eat; otherwise, admission is free for adults!
Community Day means free entry to Thomas Cole House in Catskill
If you’d like to infuse some extra art into your family’s weekend, how about heading to Thomas Cole’s home and galleries for free? This Sunday, September 20 from 1 to 4 p.m., celebrate Community Day with free admission to the house and galleries, as well as live music and refreshments. The “River Crossings” exhibition and “Postcards from the River” show can also be seen.
Thomas Cole’s house is located at 218 Spring Street in Catskill. For more information, call (518) 943-7465 or visit www.thomascole.org.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21
Woodstock Peace Festival for kids
Peace! The weeklong Woodstock Peace Festival kicks off this Monday, September 21 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Bearsville Theater with a youth-organized event filled with music, spoken-word poetry, children’s yoga, peace prayer flagmaking and much more. Admission costs a suggested donation of $20; children get in free.
Other highlights of the festivities include the Speed of Sound Festival happening at the Dutchess County Airport on Saturday, September 26 and the Community Festival taking place on Sunday, September 27. The Bearsville Theater is located at 291 Tinker Street in Woodstock. For more information, e-mail thewoodstockpeacefestival@gmail.com or visit https://woodstockpeacefestival.org.
Erica Chase-Salerno shaved her head and loves it! She and her husband Mike live in New Paltz, along with their two children: the inspirations behind hudsonvalleyparents.com. She can be reached at kidsalmanac@ulsterpublishing.com.
Join the family! 
