“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.”
– L. M. Montgomery,
Anne of Green Gables
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7
O+ Festival returns to Kingston
You definitely want to check out the O+ Festival this weekend, because it’s funky, interesting, cool and, with your support, it’s a chance for underinsured artists and musicians to connect with wellness services donated by doctors, dentists and other care providers. The festival takes place in Kingston from Friday through Sunday, October 7 to 9 under the theme “Mothers of Invention.”
Family-friendly elements include puppet theater and workshops in Peace Park on Front and Crown Streets, and Kingston High School students’ Mothers of Invention paintings on the Kingston Library fence on Franklin Street, both all day on Friday, Saturday and Sunday; a kickoff parade at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, leaving from the Kingston Library; a Mending Wall on the corner of Wall and Front Streets from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; a Sacred Tree Creation from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and a Musical Petting Zoo where kids can try different instruments from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., both at the Old Dutch Church on Wall Street; kids’ yoga at the Kirkland Hotel on Main Street and Clinton Avenue from 2:15 to 3:15 p.m.; and Chains of Love, a crochet workshop on Sunday from 12 noon to 4 p.m. at Academy Green Park on Clinton Avenue.
The O+ Festival is open to the public of all ages, and the cost is a “What’s It Worth to You?” donation system. For more information and a complete schedule of events with their locations, visit https://opositivefestival.org.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8
Walkway hosts Feeding the Hudson Valley
Love Walkway over the Hudson events, but wish you could eat more and run less? Then you’ll appreciate Feeding the Hudson Valley, taking place this Saturday, October 8 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Hundreds of folks will be fed at this feast generated from perfectly good reclaimed food that would have been otherwise wasted. You can simply attend, or perhaps you’d like to volunteer with food prep, serving or helping to raise awareness about food waste or food insecurity in our area.
Walkway over the Hudson is located at 61 Parker Avenue in Poughkeepsie. The link to volunteer is https://signup.com/client/invitation/6775657374/1586032/false#!1586032/false/false, or e-mail Siennah Yang at siennah.yang@rescuingleftovercuisine.org. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/events/943195952492271 or www.facebook.com/dutchessoutreach.
Hudson shoreline explorations at Beacon’s Long Dock Park
Have you picked your share of seashells this summer and are now curious to see what you can find along the Hudson River? Come exploring with Scenic Hudson’s Kate Brill, educator, and Daniel Oates-Kuhn, artist, this Saturday, October 8! “Investigating Site Walk I: Guided Walk” starts at Dia: Beacon’s Forecourt at 3 Beekman Street in Beacon and continues to Long Dock Park from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. “Investigating Site Walk II: Hudson Valley Beach Comb” takes place at Long Dock Park at 8 Long Dock Road in Beacon.
This family-friendly outdoor experience is an opportunity to learn about these places’ histories and environments. For more information, call (845) 473-4440, extension 238, e-mail kbrill@scenichudson.org.
Children’s Day at Headless Horseman
What if you could ease your kids into Halloween with a low-scare event? Then you’ll want to check out Headless Horseman’s Children’s Day: A Tiny Taste of Terror. First of all, Children’s Day takes place during the daytime, which helps to alleviate some scare right there. The friendly storyteller on the hayride tells scary tales, kids can try the corn maze, visit the haunted gardens and enjoy the face-paint and entertainment.
Children’s Day takes place on Saturdays, October 8 and 22 (rain dates slated for the next days) at a cost of $17.17 per person. Order online and select your preferred time. Headless Horseman is located at 778 Broadway/Route 9W in Ulster Park. For tickets or more information, call (845) 339-2666 or visit www.headlesshorseman.com.
Dalmatian Day at FASNY Museum of Firefighting
Anything becomes more awesome when you add dogs to the mix, right? Well, just watch what happens when you add Dalmatians to fire safety this Saturday, October 8 at Dalmatian Day at the FASNY Museum of Firefighting. It’s the tenth year of Dalmatian Day, which takes place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and all shows and activities are free, like the magic show, crafts, firefighters explaining how their trucks work and much more! FASNY is also home to two Pokéstops.
The FASNY Museum of Firefighting is located at 117 Harry Howard Avenue in Hudson. For more information, call (518) 822-1875 or visit www.fasnyfiremuseum.com/content/events_and_programs/dalmatian_day.
Community Free Day at Dia:Beacon
Looking for an instant “cool” personality upgrade? You can’t go wrong with Dia:Beacon’s Community Free Day this Saturday, October 8 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Whether you are responsible for entertaining guests, or you just want to expose your family to some culture, Dia:Beacon has got you covered. Join in on the outdoor walks with Scenic Hudson from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; and “Roll Out: Build” is a two-hour drop-in program inviting participants to make an extra-large soft sculpture in the Learning Lab, and more!
Admission is free for residents of Columbia, Dutchess, Greene, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester Counties with identification. Dia:Beacon is located at 3 Beekman Street in Beacon. For more information and a complete schedule, call (845) 440-0100 or visit www.diaart.org/program/calendar/community-free-day-special-event-2016-10-08.
Rosendale Theatre stages Tales of the Hudson Valley
Want to make your pumpkin-picking extra special this year? Take in a performance of Tales of the Hudson Valley before or after your outing, with Rip Van Winkle and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow this Saturday, October 8 at the Rosendale Theatre, complete with live music and sound effects. The shows take place at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.; however, the 11 a.m. sensory-friendly performance is also intended to enhance the performing arts experience for individuals and families with autism or sensory sensibilities. Tickets cost $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, $6 for children and $22 for a family of four.
The Rosendale Theatre is located at 408 Main Street in Rosendale. For tickets or more information, call (845) 658-8989 or visit www.facebook.com/events/1773428872898011.
Longyear Farm Day in Woodstock
Does harvest season have you hankering for an event focused on local foods, farms and nature? Then meander to Longyear Farm Day: Woodstock Land Conservancy’s “Fun” Raiser, this Saturday, October 8 from 12 noon to 6 p.m. at Longyear Farm. For a donation of $20 per family or $8 per individual, attendees will enjoy samples of local beef or vegan burgers and other local foods, live ukulele music, wool-spinning, a solar cooking demonstration, hayrides, farm games, crafts and participation in Riva Weinstein’s communal land art piece, Life Circle. Longyear Farm is located at 46 Schoonmaker Lane in Woodstock. For more information, call (845) 679-6481 or visit www.woodstocklandconservancy.org.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 9
Fall Festival at Forsyth Nature Center
A personal favorite event of my family, the Forsyth Nature Center Fall Festival is a chance to hear terrific live entertainment, including a performance by the fantastic Arm-of-the-Sea Theater, do a variety of children’s crafts and games, jump in bouncy houses to kids’ hearts content, eat delicious food and hang out with the resident animals at the Nature Center. This community festival has free admission, is family-sized, budget-friendly and a great day for all ages: You have a fun time while supporting facility upgrades that help the animals.
The Forsyth Nature Center Fall Festival takes place this Sunday, October 9 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Forsyth Park, located at 157 Lucas Avenue Extension in Kingston. For more information, to volunteer or to become a sponsor, call (845) 339-3053 or visit https://forsythnaturecenter.org or www.facebook.com/forsythnaturecenter.
Family Bonfire Night at Boscobel
How about adding to your family’s fall memories by taking in a bonfire on a crisp autumn evening? Head over to Family Bonfire Night at Boscobel this Sunday, October 9 from 6 to 9 p.m. Guests will be supplied with marshmallows and roasting sticks, led in some stargazing with Boscobel educator Lisa DiMarzo and treated to live music with country/rockabilly band Tenbrooks Molly. The rain date is Sunday, October 16. Admission to Family Bonfire Night costs $15 for adults, $3 for children ages 2 to 10 years and is free for children under 2, with discounts for Boscobel members.
Boscobel is located at 1601 Route 9D in Garrison. For tickets or more information, call (845) 265-3638 or visit www.boscobel.org/events/family-bonfire-night.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 10
Legends of Skating Day at Mid-Hudson Civic Center
If you could gift your child with the chance to connect with an ice-skating legend, wouldn’t you be thrilled? Well, how about three ice-skating legends? And right in Poughkeepsie? This Monday, October 10 is Legends of Skating Day at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center.
The “Figure It out Better” workshop features Janet Lynn and Slavka Kohout Button as they help skaters of every age and body type fine-tune the nuts and bolts of skating, and takes place from 8:45 to 11:45 a.m. at the McCann Ice Arena. The cost is $150 for a single admission or $275 for two (skaters, friends or family), and coaches get in free with a paid student.
“Lunch with Legends” is a four-course meal with Dick Button, Janet Lynn and Slavka Kohout Button, scheduled for 12:30 to 2 p.m. at the Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel. The cost is $150 per adult, including two autographed books, and $50 for youth under 18 years old, featuring a kid-friendly menu.
The McCann Ice Arena is located at 14 Civic Center Plaza in Poughkeepsie, next door to the Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel, located at 40 Civic Center Plaza. For tickets or more information, call (845) 454-5800, extension 1205, or visit www.worldfiguresport.org.
Wind Power Workshop at Mid-Hudson Children’s Museum
When the kids are off from school, you can count on the Mid-Hudson Children’s Museum for extra fun! Round up your budding engineers ages 5 to 8 years and partner to learn all about wind energy at a Wind Power Workshop this Monday, October 10 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. Together, you’ll test wind-powered turbines and cars, and you can explore the rest of the museum together as well. The cost for the Wind Power Workshop is $15 per child, free for adults.
There’s also Preschool Science on Tuesday, October 11 at 2:30 p.m., free with museum admission. And how about working with sugar skulls on Wednesday, October 12 at 2:30 p.m. for Dia de los Muertos, $5 per child plus museum admission?
The Mid-Hudson Children’s Museum is located at 75 North Water Street in Poughkeepsie. For program reservations or more information, call (845) 471-0589 or visit https://mhcm.org/visit/calendar.
Kids’ Day at Kevin McCurdy’s Haunted Mansion
How can you involve kids in the fun parts of Halloween without overwhelming them? Just take them to Kids’ Day at Kevin McCurdy’s Haunted Mansion this Monday, October 10 from 12 noon to 3 p.m. The littles will enjoy pumpkin-painting, magic shows and trick-or-treating with friendly monsters, and it’s a great chance for photos and to use those beloved costumes one more time! Kids’ Day costs $13 for adults, $11 for children, and group rates are available by e-mailing contact@imaginartstudios.com.
Kevin McCurdy’s Haunted Mansion is located at 85 Sheafe Road in Wappingers Falls. For more information, call (845) 297-2288 or visit https://thehauntedmansion.com.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11
Fall for Donkeys at Elting Library
This announcement could be compelling all on its own, simply by mentioning miniature donkeys and an address. But let me tell you more about the Elting Memorial Library’s Fall for Donkeys event on Tuesday, October 11 a 4:30 p.m. We’re talking read-aloud stories about donkeys, mingling with real donkeys, light refreshments and a chance to learn about the local nonprofit Donkey Park, which is also home to Little Brays of Sunshine Therapy Donkeys.
The Elting Memorial Library is located at 93 Main Street in New Paltz. For more information, call (845) 255-5030 or visit www.eltinglibrary.org/elting-events/calendar. For more information about the animals and their work with the community, visit https://donkeypark.us.
Erica Chase-Salerno is on a new round of chemotherapy for her Stage IV breast cancer and appreciative of your kind messages about her journey. She can be reached at kidsalmanac@ulsterpublishing.com.
Join the family! 
