8/2-11: Kingston Film Festival revisits Wall Street
Music Documentaries constitute the newest category to be added this year to the Kingston Film Festival’s lineup. Mostly indie, low-budget films, many by local filmmakers, will be screened at various venues on Wall Street in Uptown Kingston over the ten days of the Festival, competing for the coveted Red Goat Award. For more info, visit https://kingstonfilmfestival.org.
8/3-9/22: New York Renaissance Faire
Dress up like a knight, a wizard or a fool, a fairy, a scullery wench or a pirate queen and escape to Sterling Forest in Tuxedo Park any of these eight weekends for the ever-fabulous New York Renaissance Faire. Even in jeans and a tee-shirt, you’ll revel in the experience of total immersion in a faraway place and time. Watch jousts and jugglers and falconers, try your hand at archery or quaff a flagon of ale while you listen to minstrels belt out a ribald 16th-century song or three. And ladies, definitely drag your Significant Other to the Washing Well Wenches show and point to him when they ask for volunteers (presuming he has a sense of humor)! The huge site is located on Route 17A, not far from the Harriman Thruway exit, and open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and Labor Day. Admission costs $22 for adults, $11 for children aged 5 to 12, but early purchase discounts are offered at www.renfair.com/ny, where you can also find lots more info about this year’s performers, daily schedules and special themed weekends. Huzzah!
8/10-11: German Alps Festival at Hunter Mountain
Everyone goes Sturr-crazy when the Orange County-based emperor of polka starts to play at Hunter Mountain’s German Alps Festival; but check out Die Schlauberger, the Alex Meixner Band and the Radlpass Trio as well. That fresh Alpine air will surely give you an appetite for hearty traditional German-American fare like bratwurst, schnitzel and spätzle. There’s even a Polka Mass on Sunday morning for those who need to repent their Saturday-night overindulgence in excellent German beer! Hunter Mountain is located just off Route 23A in Hunter. Ticket prices had not yet been advertised as of presstime, but you can get more info at www.huntermtn.com/huntermtn/festivals/summer-festivals-gaf.aspx.
8/17-18: Hudson Valley Ribfest in New Paltz
Serious barbecuers from throughout the Northeast converge on the Ulster County Fairgrounds this weekend to enter their secret sauces and gourmet grilling techniques in competition. The rest of us get to watch them cook, or to line up to buy ribs, chicken and other barbecued savories from an array of vendors. No, you don’t get to sample the winning entries, but there are grilling demos and live country-flavored music performances both days. The price of admission is $5 for everyone over age 12, and the site is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. The Ulster County Fairgrounds are located at 249 Libertyville Road, on the west side of the Wallkill from New Paltz. For info, visit www.hudsonvalleyribfest.org.
