With invigorating mountain hikes and brisk swimming holes aplenty, there’s always outdoor summer adventure to be had in the Great Northern Catskills of Greene County, located just over two hours north of New York City and a half hour south of Albany. Among the beautiful rural landscape, the region’s vibrant, close-knit communities offer a wealth of year-round cultural experiences—from music to live theater and of course, local eats and shopping.
For anyone in search of summer fun in the Great Northern Catskills, here is a round-up of events that can’t be missed.
Beloved Annual Events
The renowned Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival returns to Walsh Farm in Oak Hill, July 12-16, with five days of spectacular performances, workshops, camping under the stars, dancing, and family fun. This year’s lineup is jam-packed with more than 40 performers—from well-known bluegrass pickers like the Del McCoury Band to newcomers like The Henhouse Prowlers.
The county’s Irish community takes the spotlight in East Durham during the 29th annual Catskills Irish Arts Week July 16-22, with workshops and lectures about traditional Irish music, dance, and heritage all day and night. The Michael J. Quill Irish Cultural and Sports Centre will come alive and host the “East Durham Traditional Festival” on July 16.
Fresh Energy from New Performances
Country music lovers will thrill for the Concert in the Catskills on Saturday, June 24 at the Historic Catskill Point, a waterfront venue in the village of Catskill with jaw-dropping views of the Hudson River and Catskill Mountains. The all-star lineup features platinum-selling artist Michael Ray as the headliner, Spencer Crandall and Hudson Valley native and third place winner of “The Voice,” Ian Flanigan.
For its third season, the fun and funky Catskill Mountain Shakespeare troupe moves up the mountain from Mount Tremper to Hunter. This summer’s outdoor staging of the Bard’s joyous comedy “As You Like It” runs July 15-30 under the tent at The Red Barn on Main Street.
Weekly Events on Offer
Whether popping into Greene County for the weekend or spending time in the county’s mountain, valley and river regions the whole summer, there are plenty of vibrant happenings to discover every day of the week.
With an abundance of working farmland throughout the county, there’s a bounty of local produce and artisanal products to be found at the weekly farmers’ markets held in Catskill, Coxsackie, and beyond.
Enjoy FREE live music in community parks all week long throughout the region, June through mid-September. Rock and Roll to blues, country and soul. Grab your lawn chair for an evening of entertainment.
And on the First Friday of every month, Main Street in Catskill becomes an open-air market of fun. Local shops stay open late, luring shoppers with tastings, pop-ups, specials on food and drinks, and great vibes.
Autumn Plans Await
With incredible fall foliage and a stellar seasonal food scene, it’s never too early to mark those calendars for fall events in the Great Northern Catskills, too. The 16th Annual Gavin’s Guinness Oktoberfest runs October 6-8 at Gavin's Resort & Country Inn in Durham, and Windham’s 27th Annual Autumn Affair on October 7 and 8 offers more than 50 vendors of local crafts and food, plus fun for the whole family.
For more inspiration about what happens here, visit GreatNorthernCatskills.com.
