Community Meets Luxury
Sleight Farm’s blog about building a custom home and living in Dutchess County, NY.
Which Dutchess County Holiday Activities are Happening in 2020?
November 20, 2020
The holidays are definitely going to look different this year, COVID-19 prevention measures mean that many beloved Dutchess County holiday events are going virtual…or have been cancelled altogether.
So which festive happenings are still on for 2020? How can you and your family celebrate the season safely? Luckily, you can still enjoy some favorite traditions that help make our region so magical during this time of year:
Visit a Christmas Tree Farm
Dutchess County is home to no fewer than 19 tree farms where you can safely spend time outside with family, make memories, get into the holiday groove, and of course, find that perfect tree to deck the halls. Our favorites are Battenfeld’s in Red Hook, Bilmar Nurseries in Pleasant Valley, BJ’s Christmas Tree Farm in Pleasant Valley, and Evergreen Farm in Millbrook. Check out Dutchess Tourism for a full list of all our local beautiful tree farms.
Kevin McCurdy’s Holiday Spirit Festival
A Dutchess County favorite for sixteen years, this kitschy winter wonderland never fails to delight with its enchanted light forest, interactive displays, live music, and performing characters. This year, the event will be an all outdoor show, with private groups entering together at set times to ensure social distancing. The fun starts on November 27 and tickets are now available.
38 Sheafe Road in Wappingers Falls
www.holidayspiritfestival.com
Hudson Valley Art Market at Locust Grove
The art market at Locust Grove is a popular Thanksgiving Weekend staple here in Dutchess, and this year the market is ON. Shoppers will be limited to 25% of the building’s regular capacity to enable social distancing. Not only will you find unique gifts and treasures from a curated selection of 30 local arts, artisans, and vendors, but you’ll also be helping support these small businesses when they need it most. Free and open to the public. Masks are required, and be prepared to wait if you arrive at a busy time. 10am – 5pm Friday November 26 and Saturday November 27; 10am – 4pm on Sunday, November 28.
Locust Grove Estate
2683 South Road, Poughkeepsie
https://hvartmarket.wixsite.com/hvartmarket
A Christmas Carol
Drive-In Live Theatre Experience
Now in its 15th year, Rhinebeck’s Center for Performing Arts is pleased to present Charles Dickens’ classic, A Christmas Carol. This season, the show will be performed on a raised outdoor stage so the audience can watch from their cars. Appropriate for all ages and let’s face it, probably one of the most unique evenings of live theatre you’ll ever have. Visit the Center’s website for more information on tickets and the drive-in seating. November 19th – December 20th; Thursdays through Sundays at 7pm.
Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck
661 Route 308 Rhinebeck
https://www.centerforperformingarts.org/whats-playing/item/a-christmas-carol-2020
The Catskill Mountain Railroad Christmas Express
Although it’s not in Dutchess County, we have to recommend the wonderful Catskill Christmas Express across the river in Kingston, which takes passengers on an enchanting ride through the Catskill Forest to “Santa’s Workshop at the North Pole.” Santa himself will greet each train as it passes by. Bundle up and bring a blanket: this year as a precaution against COVID-19, the railroad is using festively lit and decorated open-air flat cars.
November 27th, 28th, 29th: 4pm & 6pm
December 5th, 6th, 12th, 13th, 19th, 20th: 4pm & 6pm
Westbrook Lane Station in the Kingston Plaza
55 Plaza Road, Kingston
https://catskillmountainrailroad.com
Drive-Through Light Displays
It’s comforting to know that one holiday tradition won’t be different this year: local light displays that are meant to be enjoyed from the comfort of your car. Here are two don’t-miss drive-throughs this year:
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ERDAJT Holiday Light Display: For over a decade, one family of five has established their home as New York state’s largest private residential light display, with over 600,000 lights, 1,200 individually controlled items, and a synchronized musical soundtrack on local radio frequency 95.3FM. It’s also spectacle with a cause: all donations collected from drive-through visitors are donated to local charities. You’ll find ERDAJT at 8 Patrick Drive in LaGrangeville; this year’s dates and hours are listed at www.erdajt.com.
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A new, free light display event called “Go Light Your World” is set to take place at Wilcox Memorial Park in Stanford, hosted by the Dutchess County Parks department.