SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5
Sinterklaas returns to Rhinebeck
What is it about the Sinterklaas event on Saturday, December 5 in Rhinebeck? Well, for starters, this day of festivities draws from our region’s Dutch roots, but is customized to our own Hudson Valley. With activities going on all day, you can pick and choose which events you wish to attend. If an activity feels too congested for a little one with sensory challenges, you can easily switch gears to another location for a change of pace.
This is a community event unlike any other in our region, filled with good cheer and enchantment and a focus on children, and it’s a good example of why many of us choose to live here. I encourage you to attend, especially if it’s your first time, and just take it in; don’t try to do everything. Go online to get the schedule, dress warmly, pack a water bottle, then just find a parking spot and dip your toe by wandering and exploring. When you come back next year, you’ll have a much better idea of what it’s all about.
Sinterklaas takes place throughout the Village of Rhinebeck, such as the Oskar and the Eight Blessings book-reading and -signing taking place at Oblong Books at 3 p.m., especially geared for ages 4 to 7 years. For a complete schedule and more information, visit www.sinterklaashudsonvalley.com. Write back and let me know what you think!
Sensor Place opens at Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries
Sensor Place is exactly the answer that you imagined whenever you’ve asked yourself, “How could science and technology be made fun for learning about environmental issues such as water?’ It’s here! You have manifested it! Check out the sensor station using sensor probes to learn about salt water in the Hudson estuary, use the hands-on 3-D Interactive Watershed to manipulate sand and create a virtual ecosystem and much more at the opening reception this Saturday, December 5 from 12 noon to 2 p.m. at the Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries of Clarkson University. The opening reception is free and open to the public, and children are encouraged to attend!
The Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries is located at 199 Main Street in Beacon. For more information, call (845) 838-1600 or visit www.bire.org.
A Child’s Christmas at Clermont
Connect your children with local historic roots this holiday season. A Child’s Christmas takes place on Saturday and Sunday, December 5 and 6 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at the Clermont State Historic Site. Children ages 3 to 10 years will appreciate the special tour just for them, surrounded by opulent Christmas décor, stories by the Christmas tree and treats in the historic kitchen. Admission costs $4 per person.
The Clermont State Historic Site is located at 1 Clermont Avenue in Germantown. For more information, call (518) 537-4240 or visit www.friendsofclermont.org or https://nysparks.com/historic-sites/16/details.aspx.
Book event at Hudson’s Winter Walk
The Winter Walk in Hudson on Saturday, December 5 from 5 to 8 p.m. is a twinkly big deal all along Warren Street. In addition to Mr. and Mrs. Claus, live reindeer, a petting zoo, horse-drawn wagon, carolers, music, street performers and more, this year’s Winter Walk includes award-winning children’s author Barbara Mojica and illustrator Victor Ramon Mojica and their books Little Miss History Travels to: Ellis Island, as well as five other Little Miss Travels titles. Books will be available for purchase and signing, and Victor will be drawing with children throughout the event.
The Mojicas will be at 217 Warren Street in Hudson during the Winter Walk. For more information, call (518) 828-1792 or visit https://hudsonoperahouse.org/winter-walk. To learn more about the Little Miss series, visit www.littlemisshistory.com.
School holiday gift fairs in Stone Ridge, Zena & New Paltz
For gifts and fun for all ages, check out one of these special school sales events this weekend:
The Gifted Handmade Market at the High Meadow School takes place on Saturday, December 5 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Highlights include a Secret Gift Workshop for ages 5 to 12 to create and purchase their own gifts for giving, and over 20 Hudson Valley artisans. The High Meadow School is located at 3643 Main Street in Stone Ridge. For more information, call (845) 687-4855 or visit www.highmeadowschool.org.
The Sudbury Winter Gift Sale at the Hudson Valley Sudbury School is held on Saturday, December 5 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Over 25 vendors include students and local professionals, a free photo booth and a special Kid Zone. The Hudson Valley Sudbury School is located at 84 Zena Road in Kingston. For more information, call (845) 679-1002 or visit www.sudburywintergiftsale.org.
The Winter Faire and Outdoor Marketplace at Mountain Laurel Waldorf School takes place on Sunday, December 6 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Held both indoors and outdoors, this event includes crafts, food, song, dance and artisan wares, and is held rain or shine. The Mountain Laurel Waldorf School is located at 16 South Chestnut Street in New Paltz. For more information, call (845) 255-0033 or visit https://mountainlaurel.org.
Winter Wonderland at SUNY-Dutchess
Lose yourselves in a multicultural Wonderland for families, and it’s free! On Saturday, December 5 at 11 a.m. at the James & Betty Hall Theatre at SUNY-Dutchess, you and your family from kindergarten through sixth grade can experience a production of Winter Wonderland, as a modern-day Alice searches for the real meaning of the winter holiday season. While encountering adventures with zany characters, she learns how embracing differences is the essence of the holiday spirit.
SUNY-Dutchess is located at 53 Pendell Road in Poughkeepsie. For more information, call (845) 431-8050 or visit www.sunydutchess.edu/studentlife/studentactivities/famfest.html. To learn more about the performers, visit www.flyingshipproductions.com.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6
Holiday Whodunit returns to Mills Mansion
Many of you have been looking forward to more Holiday Whodunit experiences at the Mills Mansion since last year! Beginning Sunday, December 6, Holiday Whodunit takes place every Sunday in December from 1 to 4 p.m. to solve the mystery of: Who drew a moustache on a priceless painting of Ruth? Children play detective to narrow down the list of suspects based on information from costumed interpreters and try to solve the case. All children who submit a guess are entered into a raffle for a gift certificate from Oblong Books.
Mills Mansion, also known as the Staatsburgh State Historic Site, is located at Old Post Road in Staatsburg. For more information, including pricing, call (845) 889-8851 or visit https://nysparks.com/historic-sites/25/details.aspx.
Community menorah-lightings in Poughkeepsie
How about starting Chanukah with a community celebration? Beginning Sunday, December 6 and daily through December 11 at 3 p.m., the lighting of a 25-foot menorah takes place at the Civic Center Main Mall in Poughkeepsie. Festivities include Chanukah songs, hot latkes, donuts, apple cider, dreidels and chocolate gelt. All are welcome.
The Civic Center Main Mall is located along Market Street in Poughkeepsie. Then, nearby at the Walkway over the Hudson, another menorah-lighting to celebrate Chanukah takes place the same day: Sunday, December 6 at 4 p.m., with Rabbi Chaim Vogel. For more information about either event, call (845) 463-5801.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9
Multiculti holiday tales in Rhinecliff & Kingston
Are your weekends getting too packed? Here are two events to enjoy during the week instead:
Author and poet Jerrice Baptiste has a new children’s book, Astrid’s Wish for Papa Noël, and you can attend a reading this Wednesday, December 9 at 4:15 p.m. at the Morton Memorial Library. This Haitian Christmas story – about Astrid wondering how Papa Noël will find her village on the island of La Gonave in Haiti – sounds terrific, and it makes a great multicultural gift for children ages 2 to 8 years. The Morton Memorial Library is located at 82 Kelly Street in Rhinecliff. For more information, call (845) 876-2903 or visit https://morton.rhinecliff.lib.ny.us. To learn more about the author, visit www.guanabanabooks.com.
Here’s a performance by Mark Rust to start the holiday season off right! On Wednesday, December 9 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Kingston Library, Rust performs a Family Holiday Show with music and stories of Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, the black gospel tradition, Diwali, Yule, Solstice, Three Kings Day, featuring tunes from Europe and Latin America. This event is free and open to the public. 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 performer, visit https://markrust.com.
Erica Chase-Salerno loves looking for lights. She and her husband, Mike, live in New Paltz with their two children: the inspirations behind hudsonvalleyparents.com. She can be reached at [email protected].
