Hooray for summer! The weather is beautiful, the kids are home from school and there are a million exciting things to see and do here in Dutchess County.
Located in the heart of the Hudson Valley of New York State, Dutchess is known for its world-class cuisine, fascinating historic sites, vibrant arts and culture scene, burgeoning craft beverage industry and family-friendly attractions, as well as acres upon acres of farmland and vineyards and miles upon miles of hiking and biking trails that offer stunning views of the Hudson River and the surrounding highlands.
Whether you visit for a weekend, a week or the whole summer, you will find new adventures waiting around every corner. Getting here is easy — by car, train or plane — but once you’re here, it’s oh-so-hard to leave.
Here is a list of the Top 10 Dutchess County events in July (the toughest part was narrowing the list to 10). Be sure to keep that camera handy, and feel free to share your photos here.
July 1–31 at multiple locations
This free scavenger hunt offers a chance to win the grand prize of a three-night stay at Hilton Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and $2,025 in cash, along with other amazing prizes and rewards! Here’s how it works: Visit participating establishments and attractions throughout the Hudson Valley between July 1 and 31 — including quite a few here in Dutchess County — and earn points as you go. The teams with the most points will have a chance to win the grand prize. There will be other drawings for those collecting fewer points, as well as other awards, including “Best Selfie,” “Best Team Spirit” and “Best Team Name.” It’s a fun way to visit some of the Hudson Valley’s many wonderful landmarks, restaurants, shops and businesses. Click here to see a list of participating establishments and start hunting!
Related: Upstate Art Weekend (July 17–21) is an annual celebration featuring more than 160 destinations and artists from throughout the Hudson Valley. Click here for a guide to the participating locations in Dutchess County.
Ongoing at the Omega Institute for Holistic Studies, Rhinebeck
Relax and recharge in the peaceful tranquility of Omega’s scenic 250-acre campus. The best part about an Omega retreat is that you call the shots — do as little or as much as you like. Enjoy simple, comfortable accommodations and delicious farm-to-table meals made with local, sustainable ingredients. Yoga, tai chi and meditation classes help you to exercise your body and mind. Take a canoe or a kayak out on Omega’s 80-acre Long Pond Lake, select a book from the more than 7,000 volumes on holistic living at Ram Dass Library, explore the garden and woodland trails, or hit the court for some pickleball, tennis or basketball. In the evening, enjoy some musical entertainment, settle in for a movie or gather by a bonfire. Click here to book a Rest & Rejuvenation Retreat. Omega will also be hosting Family Week July 27–Aug. 1, a week where you and your family can leave behind the daily hustle and immerse yourselves in quality time together — filled with laughter, new friendships, and memorable experiences. Family Week features its own unique and carefully curated activities and workshops. Click here to learn more.
Related: Check out our guide to July Fourth Fireworks and Celebrations
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Saturday and Sunday, July 5 and 6, 12–5 p.m. at Dassai Blue Sake Brewery, Hyde Park
Tanabata, also known as the Star Festival, is a wonderful Japanese tradition celebrated each year on the seventh day of the seventh month. According to legend, two celestial lovers — Vega (known as Orihime) and Altair (known as Hikoboshi) — are separated by the Milky Way but are able to meet once a year on this special day. Dassai Blue, the state-of-the-art sake brewery from the prestigious Japanese sake brand Dassai, invites you to celebrate this festival with them. Enjoy live music and activities, including Origami and Wishing Trees, as well as an outdoor market with local artists, various food pop-ups, freshly prepared sushi from Dassai's own sushi chef, and, of course, Dassai Blue sake! Click here to learn more about sake tastings at the brewery.
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July 11–26, at the County Players Falls Theatre, Wappingers Falls
Perfect for the summertime, the County Players theatre company presents the adult comedy/drama “Lips Together, Teeth Apart” by Terrence McNally. Set on the beachside deck of a house on Fire Island during the 1990 Fourth of July weekend, McNally’s story imagines a gathering between two mismatched couples. Debate, discussion, and disclosure (including secrets, a mystery, and an affair) follow. Performances are scheduled for Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., with matinees on Sunday, July 20, and Saturday, July 26, at 2 p.m. (there will be two shows on July 26). One of the longest-running community theatre companies in the area, County Players is an all-volunteer organization that has presented more than 200 productions and has served thousands of theatergoers since 1958. County Players Falls Theatre is equipped with an assistive listening system, and if you require wheelchair accessibility, be sure to contact the Box Office at (845) 298-1491. Click here to purchase tickets.
July 11–Aug. 3 at Marist University, Poughkeepsie
New York Stage and Film has been an incubator for emerging and established artists and their work since 1985, and this summer’s 40th annual festival on Marist University’s scenic riverfront campus features three weeks full of imaginative and insightful plays and musicals. Be sure to catch a performance of the musical "Shelter," which was written by Kirsten Greenidge and Lauren Sandler and features music and lyrics by Crystal Monee Hall. "Shelter" (July 19 and 20) features an infectious score that sounds like the city itself and tells the unforgettable story about the often-unseen New York and one determined young woman's struggle to succeed against impossibly stacked odds. "The TeeTee and Lala Show" (July 12) follows two LGBTQ+ teens on the coldest night of the year as they try to scheme their way off the streets. In "I Said Evolution" (July 26), the whole world between two queer siblings is rendered raw with resentments, desperate confessions, dark humor, and devastating love. To see the complete season schedule and to purchase tickets, click here. Tickets are selling quickly, so don't wait!
Saturday, July 12, 8 a.m., at Lakeside Park, Pawling
Test your physical and mental endurance amid the scenic charm of eastern Dutchess at the Pawling Triathlon. This sprint-style triathlon features events for adults and youths, so it's perfect for families. The adult course includes a 0.3-mile swim, a 12-mile bike ride and a 3.1-mile run. The two youth courses (under 10 and 10 and older) feature shorter courses. There will be finisher medals and age-group prizes. Take advantage of the post-race fuel station and the on-site recovery tent. Click here to register.
Sunday, July 20, 11:30 a.m. at the former Millerton Elementary School, Millerton
This annual event showcases the farm-to-table cuisine and sustainable farming practices for which Dutchess County has become famous. Enjoy a delicious feast prepared by local chefs using locally sourced ingredients and featuring all your favorite Hudson Valley flavors. Click here to reserve tickets.
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July 22–25, 8:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m., at the Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park
Explore Italy's different regions and the flavor profiles that distinguish each one in this four-day boot camp at the world-famous Culinary Institute of America. Cook with indigenous ingredients and create specialties from areas like Piemonte, Lombardia, and Veneto in the north; Apulia, Calabria, and Sicily in the south; or Emilia-Romagna, Toscana, and Umbria in central Italy. Alongside unique dishes, you'll taste regional wines with each meal. Plus, you'll work with fresh Italian cheeses, prepare antipasti dishes, and learn to make handmade pizza dough. Click here to reserve your spot.
If time allows, make a weekend out of it! The Inn at Bellefield is right across Route 9 from the CIA and is the perfect base of operations for an excursion to Hyde Park's historic sites, Rhinebeck's walkable shopping and dining district, and many other attractions.
Related: CIA Chef Finder Food Lovers Trail
July 24–27 at the Riga Meadow Equestrian Center, Coole Park Farm, Amenia
Head to the rolling hills and bucolic countryside of Eastern Dutchess and celebrate the deeply rooted equestrian traditions of the Hudson Valley at the Millbrook Horse Trials. Enjoy four days of dressage, cross-country and show jumping competitions, as well as a country fair with vendors, food trucks, a petting zoo and other family-friendly activities. As the only remaining competition in the Northeast to offer an Advanced division, the Millbrook Horse Trials is an important event on the national calendar and will feature roughly 400 competitors of all levels, from Olympic riders to local amateurs. Previous competitors have included Michael Plumb, the most decorated U.S. Olympic rider and the only equestrian to be inducted to the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame; and Olympic medalists Phillip Dutton, Leslie Law, and Karen O’Conner. Spectator admission is free! Click here to see the full schedule of events.
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Friday, July 25, 5:30 p.m., at Bannerman Castle, Pollepel Island
In celebration of Francis Bannerman’s Scottish Heritage and remembrance of world-famous Scottish poet and lyricist Robert Burns (1759-1796), this special dinner event will include great traditional Scottish food and delicacies, along with music, dancing and merriment! Step aboard the Estuary Steward tour boat and enjoy a scenic, refreshing ride from the Beacon dock to Pollepel Island in the Hudson River, home of Bannerman's Castle. It's the perfect way to spend an enjoyable summer evening. Be sure to ask about the optional "Whisky Flight" tasting experience! Click here to make reservations.
Now through Oct. 31 at Staatsburgh State Historic Site, Staatsburg
Here’s a fun activity for adults and kids alike. Explore the expansive grounds surrounding the Mills Mansion at Staatsburgh State Historic Site, complete 10 specific tasks and win a free ice cream cone from Stewart’s Shops! It’s a great way to learn more about this opulent Gilded Age estate on the banks of the Hudson as you enjoy the natural beauty and breathtaking views of the river and the Catskill Mountains. You’ll need a camera phone to complete the scavenger hunt. Click here to download the instructions and get started. The knowledgeable staff at Staatsburgh does a terrific job with its themed tours of the 79-room mansion, which is still decorated with the family’s original furniture and artwork. Among the most popular tours are the “Tales of the Titanic” tour — Ogden and Ruth Mills had tickets for the Titanic’s return voyage, which, of course, never happened — and the “Gilded Age Scandals” tour — Ogden and Ruth were upstanding citizens, but some of their Gilded Age friends and neighbors certainly were not! Click here to schedule a tour.
