Spring has sprung here in Dutchess County, the heart of the Hudson Valley, and it’s a perfect time to visit! The flowers are blooming, the birds are chirping, and the countryside has awoken from its winter slumber.
Pride Month is right around the corner, and there’s no better way to kick off the festivities than with the second annual “Pride in the Sky” festival on the Walkway Over the Hudson on May 17. Hosted by Big Gay Hudson Valley, last year’s inaugural event welcomed thousands of participants and hundreds of volunteers for a celebration of the unity, diversity and freedom that make the Hudson Valley such a wonderful place.
A refurbished railroad bridge built in 1889, the Walkway rises 212 feet above the majestic Hudson River. It's the longest elevated pedestrian bridge in the world and offers breathtaking views of the river and its surrounding highlands.
Other can’t-miss Pride Month events include the Pride Night with the Hudson Valley Renegades minor-league baseball team on June 11, the Poughkeepsie Pride Parade and Festival at Waryas Park on June 14, and Pride Weekend at the Omega Institute for Holistic Studies June 13–15.
Omega is a unique, 250-acre educational retreat center tucked quietly away among the wooded hills of Rhinebeck. It offers all-inclusive stays that include a choice of accommodations, farm-to-table meals, and daily classes, workshops and activities. If you’re looking to relax and rejuvenate, Omega is the place to do it. Pride Weekend will feature a Pride celebration on Saturday night along with workshops all weekend highlighting queer stories, exploring sexuality and gender, nourishing spirit, and cultivating liberating self-love.
If you like fresh strawberries, be sure to visit Fishkill Farms in Hopewell Junction this spring when their pick-your-own season opens and you can pluck juicy, ripe berries right off the vines (it doesn’t get any fresher than that!). Their Saturday morning Farm Yoga sessions will be starting back up this spring, too! And head to the Beacon Sloop Club’s annual Strawberry Festival on June 8 at Pete and Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park in Beacon for all sorts of strawberry treats along with live music, family-friendly activities and dozens of food and craft vendors.
Immerse yourself in peace and tranquility with a stroll through Innisfree Garden in Millbrook. Bring a book and relax under a shady tree. Pack a picnic to enjoy by the secluded Tyrell Lake. The 185-acre garden features the 40-acre glacial lake surrounded by scenic cliffs, hills, waterfalls, streams and all sorts of beautiful flowers, plants and landscape elements. It is the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle. Landscape artist Lester Collins found inspiration in Chinese cup gardens and Japanese design to create this curated yet naturalist garden.
Beacon LitFest is an annual celebration of the literary arts and brings together a diverse group of award-winning poets, playwrights, fiction writers and nonfiction writers for readings, lively conversation, performances, and connection. This year's festival is planned for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, June 12, 13, and 14, and features events at several Beacon locations, including the Howland Cultural Center, Denning’s Point Distillery and the Beahive event space.
At Locust Grove Estate's monthly Sunset Sensations Wine and Food Tasting events, enjoy a delicious tasting menu prepared by the Hudson Valley's best chefs paired with fine wines from local expert wine merchants. Each month, a different chef creates tastings inspired by the bounty of Locust Grove's historic kitchen garden.
Also this spring, guided tours are being offered at Edgewater in Barrytown. Built in 1820, this opulent estate on the Hudson River has been a sanctuary of sorts for several prominent Americans, including Gore Vidal and the "Last Gentleman of Wall Street," Richard Hampton Jenrette.
These are just a few of the many unforgettable experiences waiting for you here in Dutchess County.
Sometimes called “New York City’s Backyard,” Dutchess is easy to get to by car, train or plane — but oh-so-hard to leave!
